Trailblazing war correspondent honoured with Blue Plaque
The extraordinary life and pioneering career of Dorothy Simpson McGregor Drain, one of Australia’s first female war correspondents, will be recognised with a Blue Plaque in the Sydney suburb of Glebe.
Drain, born in 1909, began her career at the Brisbane Daily Mail in 1932, a time when female journalists constituted only about 10 per cent of the profession. A move to Sydney marked the beginning of a 38-year career with the Australian Women’s Weekly.
As one of Australia’s first female war correspondents, Drain reported on several overseas conflicts for the Weekly, including from Japan, Malaya, Korea, and Vietnam.
In 1972, Drain was appointed as Editor of the Weekly, a position she occupied until her retirement in 1975. Under her editorial leadership, the magazine's coverage expanded to include crucial social issues, solidifying its place as an influential publication that resonated with the hearts and minds of Australian women. Drain passed away in 1996.
Blue Plaques NSW celebrates well-known characters many of us are familiar with, but also brings attention to lesser-known stories of people and events that shaped a particular community, town, or field of work or study.
Drain was nominated for a Blue Plaque by The Glebe Society and lived in the building where the Society is now housed. The plaque was chosen from 117 nominations made by the public and assessed by independent historians. The 14 new plaques will be installed in coming months, joining the 35 already in place.
Heritage NSW is working with experts and potential property owners to finalise the plaque’s location and once installed it will be listed on the Blue Plaques NSW website.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Heritage and Duty MLC for Balmain Penny Sharpe:
“The second round Blue Plaques recognises the diverse individuals, events and perspectives that make the history of NSW so intriguing. Whether you’re exploring Sydney’s suburbs or taking a drive off the beaten track to regional towns like Grafton and Pambula, there’s a Blue Plaque for you to discover.
“Dorothy's journey from the Brisbane Daily Mail to leading the Australian Women's Weekly is a testament to her unwavering dedication and passion for storytelling.
“In every conflict zone she entered, Dorothy faced challenges head-on, proving determination has no gender. She paved the way for the women journalists who followed in her fearless footsteps.”
Full list of round two Blue Plaques
| Subject | Recognition | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Kathleen Butler | A woman without formal engineering qualifications who had a central role in the development of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. | Sydney CBD |
| Emma Jane Callaghan | Aboriginal midwife, activist, nurse, and Indigenous Culture Recorder. | Phillip Bay, Sydney |
| Susan Katherina Schardt | Born blind, Schardt established the Commonwealth Home for Destitute Invalids, now known as Royal Rehab. | Ryde |
| Dorothy Simpson McGregor Drain | One of the first Australian female war correspondents, who reported on the Korean and Vietnam Wars. She was also a poet, columnist, and Editor of the Australian Women’s Weekly. | Glebe |
| Establishment of the first recorded life savers club | Founded in February 1907, the Bondi Surf Life Saving Club was the first recorded Surf Lifesaving Club in Australia. | Bondi |
| Sir William Dobell | A portrait and landscape artist and three-time winner of the Archibald Prize. | Wangi Wangi |
| Syms Covington | A cabin boy on the HMS Beagle who became assistant to Charles Darwin. Syms later worked as a businessman and postmaster in Pambula. | Pambula |
| Charmian Clift | A prolific writer and essayist. | Kiama |
| Pearl Mary Gibbs | A prominent female activist in the Aboriginal rights movement, Gibbs was heavily involved in the development of the Day of Mourning and the establishment of the Aboriginal Tent Embassy. | Sydney CBD |
| Ioannis (Jack) and Antonios (Tony) Notaras | Greek immigrant businessmen known for establishing Grafton’s still-thriving Saraton Theatre. | Grafton |
| Beryl Mary McLaughlin | One of the first three women graduates of the University of Sydney’s Faculty of Architecture. | Wentworth Falls |
| Ken Thomas | Trucker and entrepreneur known for establishing the TNT transport empire and for his contributions to road safety. | Murrumburrah |
| Grace Emily Munro | Co-founder and first president of the Country Women’s Association. | Bingara |
| First release of myxomatosis | The CSIRO released myxomatosis in Balldale in 1950, to combat a severe rabbit problem. It was the world’s first successful biological program for control of a mammalian pest. | Balldale |