Mary Booth by Raelene Frances

Mary Booth was a woman of startling contradictions – one of Australia’s first female doctors, a pioneering feminist and nationalist, she was also a staunch political conservative and a devoted empire loyalist and nationalist. She championed infant welfare, war commemoration, environmental reform, and the place of women in public life, all while navigating a society deeply shaped by gender and race. Feted as the ‘Queen of Anzac’ and hailed as the ‘professional mother’ of Australian soldiers, Booth’s legacy is far-reaching – from founding the Women’s Club and Anzac Fellowship of Women to reshaping ideas of national identity and womanhood.

Drawing on newly uncovered personal correspondence, Mary Booth reveals the intimate world behind the public figure. It not only restores a formidable woman to the historical record but uncovers the pivotal, and often overlooked, role of women in forging Australia’s national story and the enduring myth of Anzac. This is the compelling story of a forgotten feminist and the nation she helped build.

About the Author:

Bruce Scates is a Fulbright Scholar and Emeritus Professor of History at the Australian National University. He has pioneered new forms of life writing, published widely on the culture of commemoration and the human cost of war, and is a major contributor to debates in social, labour and gender history.

Raelene Frances is Emeritus Professor of History at the Australian National University. She is internationally recognised for her contributions to social, gender and labour history, particularly to the understanding of the intersections between work, gender, class and war.

17 Mar 2026
 

Mary Booth: The Woman Who Shaped the Anzac Legend by Raelene Frances ISBN 9780522880717