Tributes for leading feminist Fay Marles after her death

Leading feminist Fay Marles, Melbourne’s University’s first female chancellor and mother of the deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles, has been remembered as a “fierce advocate” for women after her death aged 98.

Fay Marles has been remembered as a fierce advocate for women.

Leading feminist Fay Marles, Melbourne’s University’s first female chancellor and mother of the deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles, has died aged 98.

Melbourne University announced her passing on Saturday and remembered her as a “pioneer” who “changed the face of Victorian workplaces and their accessibility for women” in the 70s and 80s after becoming the state’s first Equal Opportunity Commissioner in 1977.

“With the wishes of her family, The University of Melbourne has the sad duty to announce the death of Fay Marles AM,” the university’s statement said.

“Fay passed away yesterday evening in Melbourne with her children having spent the day beside her.

“Fay Marles was a leading feminist in Victoria and a fierce advocate for the right of women to take their place in Australia’s workforce.

“Fay will be deeply missed by the University community and the very many people whose lives she touched.”

Ms Marles was a fierce advocate for the right of women to take their place in Australia’s workforce.

Mrs Marles became the University’s first female deputy chancellor in 1986 - the same year she left her historic role as the Equal Opportunity Commissioner - and served as Chancellor from 2001 to 2004.

The University said she did “groundbreaking” work during her time at the University, and Mrs Marles was made a member of the Order of Australia in 1986.

She was inducted onto the Victorian honour roll of women in 2010 for her leadership and “dedication to human rights”.

Her honour roll induction detailed her “extensive” awareness campaign on discrimination as the Equal Opportunity Commissioner that “quickly gained the attention of the community and daily media”.

“It brought ‘niche issues’ like sexual harassment and innuendo, paternity leave, women priests and workplace discrimination against women into the mainstream.”

Melbourne University’s statement said she was married to her husband Don Marles for 66 years, until his death in 2017, and is survived by her four children - Victoria, Jennifer, Elizabeth and Richard.