Evelyn Maude "Eva" West MBE (14 September 1888 – 20 June 1969) was an Australian accountant and local government administrator.[1][2][3]

West is most notable for being one of the first female accountants to be admitted to the Incorporated Institute of Corporate Accountants.[4][5] West passed the final exam to qualify for admission in December 1916.[6]

Passing the examination for municipal clerks in 1914 to become qualified, West embarked on a career in local government.[7] She was appointed assistant shire secretary for the Shire of Jeetho-Poowong in Korumburra[2] before moving to Melbourne to work with the Country Roads Board where she worked by day and studied at night for her accounting exams.[1]

Returning to Traralgon in 1921, West opened her own accounting practice before commencing work at Traralgon Shire Council in 1922, rising to become shire secretary in 1934.[8] West was also later appointed as secretary of Traralgon Waterworks Trust and Traralgon Sewerage Authority.[9]

West's community work was extensive, holding honorary positions with more than twenty local community groups. She was considered a driving force behind the Traralgon Salvage Committee which raised funds during World War II.[1] West had a special interest in the advancement of young girls, beginning a local branch of the Girl Guides, and serving on the council of St Anne's Girls Grammar School in Sale.[1][2]

West was appointed as an MBE in the 1958 New Year Honours.[1]

She died in Tralagon in 1969 and was buried in the Traralgon Cemetery.[1][10]

Latrobe City Council currently offers a $3000 scholarship for Year 12 girls who wish to study business and accounting at university.[11]

In 2018, West was posthumously added to the Victorian Honour Roll of Women.[12][13]

West's father was long-serving Traralgon Shire secretary and Victoria state MP Walter West, who served as the Member for Gippsland South from 1922 until 1929.[14]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Hammett, Jenny (2002) West, Evelyn Maude (1888-1969), Australian Dictionary of Biography, Volume 16. Retrieved 14 November 2018.
  2. 1 2 3 Lazzaro, Kellie (13 May 2018) Gippsland's accidental feminist Eva West 'just got on and did what needed to be done', ABC News. Retrieved 14 November 2018.
  3. ↑ (17 March 1936) Little woman accountant has many other jobs, The Herald. Retrieved 14 November 2018.
  4. ↑ McCallum, Jan (5 March 2018) The long road for Australia's female accountants, In The Black. Retrieved 14 November 2018.
  5. ↑ Hammett, Jenny (9 March 2017) Eva West was bold for change, Latrobe Valley Express. Retrieved 14 November 2018.
  6. ↑ (29 December 1916) Accountancy Examination, Traralgon Record. Retrieved 14 November 2018.
  7. ↑ (13 February 1917) Women as Accountants, The Herald. Retrieved 14 November 2018.
  8. ↑ (21 August 1934) Traralgon's Woman Shire Secretary, The Herald. Retrieved 14 November 2018.
  9. ↑ (16 March 1939) Authority at Traralgon, Morwell Advertiser. Retrieved 14 November 2018.
  10. ↑ Eishold, Bryce (17 August 2017) Learn about our pioneering women, Latrobe Valley Express. Retrieved 14 November 2018.
  11. ↑ Eva West Memorial Scholarship Fund Guidelines (Latrobe City Trust), Latrobe City Council. Accessed 14 November 2018.
  12. ↑ Simmons, Anne (15 March 2018) Traralgon pioneer honoured, Latrobe Valley Express. Retrieved 14 November 2018.
  13. ↑ Evelyn Maude West, Victorian Honour Roll of Women, Victorian Government. Accessed 14 November 2018.
  14. ↑ (20 August 1934) In Town and Out: West of Traralgon, The Herald. Retrieved 14 November 2018.
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