So Many Firsts examines the political lives of women in the Liberal Party from Enid Lyons to today.

Annabelle Rankin, Margaret Guilfoyle, Helen Coonan and Julie Bishop are among the pioneering women who achieved so many firsts in their achievements as women, and for women.

They had many hurdles to overcome – including the long fight to extend child endowment, the battle to remove the legislative barriers to married women working in the public service, equal work, equal opportunity and equal pay – along with the notion that they could do more than only represent women’s issues. In 1948, The Mail helpfully declared of Senator Annabelle Rankin: “She tackles men’s problem’s too”.

In the Turnbull era, women are occupying many of Party’s key positions, and continue to applying their spirit and talent to achieving even more firsts for the nation.

Summary Table of Contents

Foreword - Tom Harley, Chairman, Menzies Research Centre
Introduction
The Liberal Party Emerges 1943-1945
Into Power 1945-1949
The Menzies Era 1949-1966
In Menzies’ Shadow 1966-1972
Opposition 1972-1975
The Fraser Years 1975-1983
Opposition 1983-1994
The Howard Years 1995-2004
Howard’s Last Term 2004-2007
In Howard’s Shadow
Appendix 1 - Women Ministers and Parliamentary Secretaries in the Federal Parliament
Appendix 2 - Women in Federal Parliament
Appendix 3 -Liberal Policy and Representational Achievements for Women
Notes / Bibliography / Index