1. Single SexClubs – an “amusing relic”?
Russell Grenning
Do youagree that gender-basedclubsare an“amusingrelic”– the descriptiongiventhemin2010 by
the thenVictorianLaborAttorney-General,RobHulls?
Mr Hulls,fumingwithrighteousfury,tried tohave thembannedinthe noble name of political
correctness,buthe was rebuffedbythe ParliamentaryScrutinyof ActsandRegulationsCommittee
chairedbya Labor MP and dominatedbythe ALP.
“The Committeedoesnot recommend a changethatwould preventsingle-sex clubsfromcontinuing
their operations,”the Committeereported.
Oh dear,if the “progressive”VictorianALPcanallow gender-basedclubs,thenitishardlysurprising
that more conservative politicians andpeople have the same view.
In late October,animportantconference willbe heldinBrisbane byagroupof Australianprivate
clubsand I can onlyhope that the sensitivesubjectof denyingmembersof the opposite genderclub
membershipsimplybecause of theirgenderishighonthe agenda.But,sadly,I suspectthatit won’t
evengeta mention.
Afterall,thiswill be the national conferenceof the AustralianAssociationof LyceumClubs –there
are five LyceumClubsincapital citiesaroundthe country – andall are women-onlyclubs,Yes,men
are specificallyexcludedsimplybecause theyare men.
Accordingto the website of the Melbourne LyceumClub, “Membership isrestricted to women
graduatesand otherwomen who havedistinguished themselvesin art,music,literature,
philantrophy orpublicservice” whichmeansthat notonlymenare excludedbutwomenwhoare
less“distinguished”aren’twantedeither.Talkaboutsexistsnobs!Mindyou,the General Managerof
thisaugustMelbourne institutionestablishedin1912 isa man and I wonderhow he fitsinbut,then
again,he is onlya servant.
It isdelightful thatthe Patronof the Brisbane LyceumClubisMrs Paul de Jersey,wifeof the
Governorand formerChief Justice Paul de Jerseysoperhapshe mightbe allowedinnow andagain
as a guestof his goodwife buthe will neverbe invitedtobe a member.
I have,inthe past, peeredenviouslythroughthe gatesof “Bertholme”, the grandVictorian-era
mansiononthe Brisbane Riverclose tothe CBD whichis the home of The MoretonClub.How I have
pinedtobe allowedinbutthe gatesremainfirmlybolted –itis strictlyawomen’sonlycluband,
accordingto its website,the clubwhichwasfoundedin1924, as “a homeaway fromhomefor
women who wished to meet in convivialsurroundings.”
A spokeswomanforThe MoretonClubhassaidthat membershipis “an invitation-only affair.I’mnot
at liberty to discussourcriteria.” Top of the criterialististhat youhave to be a woman.

2. In a 2008 article, “Ladiesprefer to havetheir clubsall to themselves” , “The Australian”reportedThe
MoretonClubPresident,MrsJanetEarnshaw,as saying that clubwould “probably not”give
honorarymembershiptoamale governoror governor-general. “Idon’timaginethey’d considersuch
a thing.The situation hasneverarisen,” she said.
That article alsoquotedKaySaunders,adirectorof the Brisbane Clubanda memberof the Brisbane
LyceumClubas sayingbluntly,“Idon’twantmen there.I’vegotenough to do with men in my
professionallifeand wantsomespacethat I can go to that is women-friendly with a women-only
area.Women wanttheir own space,wherethey can maketheir own decisionswithoutmen trying to
takeit over.”
Who coulddisagree withthat?Afterall womenare suchshy,sensitive andfragile littlecreatures
whoare predisposedtocowerinsubservientcompliance if aman evenliftsadisapprovingeyebrow.
Justthinkaboutwomenlike AnnastaciaPalaszuk,the Premierof Queensland,whoisaparticularly
shypersonso,fortunatelyforher,eightof her14-membnerCabinetare womenincludingthe
DeputyPremier.
Justthinkaboutother womenlike Julie Bishop –ForeignMinisterandlegendarycreatorof the
“deathstare” whichcouldfreeze arampagingelephantatfiftypacesmuchlesssome man.Or
womenlike RosemaryFollett,CarmenLawrence,JoanKirner,LaraGiddingsandAnnaBlighwho
have servedasPremiersorChief Ministers.OrSallyanne Atkinson,LucyTurnbull andCloverMoore
whohave beenLord Mayors.The listcouldgo on.On reflection,none appearedtome to be wanting
theirownspace to make theirowndecisionsawayfromthe intimidatingpresence of men.AndJulia
Gillardonlywantedherspace free of justone man,her predecessorandsuccessor.
Men inMelbourne wouldhave the same badlucktryingto the exclusiveAlexandraClub –sorry,
womenonly.
Sex DiscriminationCommissionerElizabethBroderickhasdeclaredthatitis “notsmart”for an
institutiontolockouthalf of the populationalthoughadmitsthatthe Sex DiscriminationActdoes
allowsingle-sex clubs.
Andwhile single-sexclubs –well,let’sface it,men-onlyclubs –across the nationface a clamourto
admitwomen,atleastone place inMelbourne operateslegallyasamen-onlyclub.The Laird,an
inner-cityhotel,gotapproval in1998 from the VictorianAnt-Discrimination Commissiontooperate
as a male onlyvenue – forgay men.Male-onlyclubswhich,presumably,have alargelyheterosexual
membership,remainunderattack.
Tattersall’sClubinBrisbane –a male-onlyinstitution –regularlycopsabuse foritsrestrictive rules
althoughtheyare frayingat the edges.Itishas supportfrom some unlikelyplaces –the women-only
Brisbane LyceumClubheldits96th
AnniversaryLuncheonthere onMay4.
I justwonderhowtheykeptthe womenintheirdesignatedareaandhow male membersmanaged
to cope withthisfeministintrusion.