Tributes for trailblazing SA feminist Betty Fisher

Betty Fisher has been remembered of a champion of reforms modern South Australians take for granted.

Feminist historian Betty Fisher, front, with Shirley Peisley, Tanya Perry, Rosa Colanero, Maureen Cook and Sister Patricia Poy attending launch of honour roll celebrating achievements of SA women in 2001.

Trailblazing feminist Betty Fisher, who was the first women to head up Conservation Council of SA, has died aged 97.

Ms Fisher was a high-profile advocate for women’s rights, the environment and Indigenous causes and was awarded the Order of Australia medal in 2013.

Friend Carol Treloar remembered Ms Fisher as a “truly colourful character” who “loved a joke and a laugh’’.

“She championed so many of the major reforms for women in SA from post WWII right up until very recently; industrial and equal opportunities reforms, the laws of rape and sexual offences, domestic violence prevention and support, women’s information services,’’ Ms Treloar said.

International Womens Day Committee member Betty Fisher, left, with Jennie Lee looking at old newspaper clippings dealing with women's issues in 2000.

“Young women, older women, First Nations women, women from non-English speaking backgrounds. Behind them, beside them and often in front of them … there was Betty Fisher.”

Ms Fisher was a driving force in establishing the local committee of International Women’s Day and the Women’s Electoral Lobby and was awarded a lifetime achievement award by the Conservation Council in 2018.

She was also a life member of the Labor Party and involved in the union movement, including with the Printing and Kindred Industries Union.

Ms Treloar said Ms Fisher had ” an uncanny ability to target and find the people she wanted to influence – politicians, ministers, advisers, bureaucrats, community activists – whether at work, at home, late at night or early morning, weekday or weekend’’.

“Betty would find you and chew your ear,’’ she said.