A photograph of Cr Roseann Barron being presented the Warragul Shire president's chain of office by Cr Bob Robbins on August 8, 1988.
With the presentation, Cr Barron became the first female president in the shire's 106-year history.
Cr Barron oversaw significant local projects during her six years as a councillor from 1983 to 1989 - the West Gippsland Arts Centre was built, the Main St landscape and mall was envisaged and the Princes Hwy bypass was built.
Roseann Barron (nee Thomson) was born in Inverell, New South Wales on November 19, 1940.
The eldest of four children, Roseann was awarded a cadetship to a local accountancy firm upon graduating high school. However, she opted to take up a Sydney teaching college scholarship and left Inverell.
Her first teaching assignment was at Swan Hill Primary School before stints in regional New South Wales and Papua New Guinea.
Roseann left for the United Kingdom by boat in 1963 to teach as well as backpack through Europe.
In 1966, she met mechanical engineer John Francis Barron, a West Yorkshireman, at a ruby union match in London.
They married in 1967 and returned to Australia via boat the next year. They had three children, Johanna in 1967, Nicola in 1969 and Rohan in 1972.
After a few moves, the family relocated to Warragul in 1979 due to John's role of ICAL project engineer at Yallourn power station.
Roseann, who was studying at UWA at the time, continued via correspondence and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts (geography/town planning) in 1985.
Roseann and John both enjoyed volunteering and playing sport in the local community. They were part of the Girl Guides and Scouts, Amnesty International, Community Aid Abroad, wine and cheese appreciation club, APEX, Rotary, various St Joseph's and Marist Sion College school activities, tennis, squash, rugby union and golf.
In 1983, Roseann became the second female councillor for West Riding in Warragul Shire Council.
Daughter Johanna Barron-Perry recalls her mother's election as the first female shire president for the 1988/89 term was not without controversy.
During that time, she said the shire president was selected on a riding rotation and usually the longest serving councillor was selected.
When it was Cr Barron's "turn", they passed it to a man who had already been president. Fortunately, there was an outcry and the next year she was elected in her own right.
Cr Barron was more than qualified, having worked as a town planner for the Shire of Cranbourne.
Ms Barron-Perry says her mother was a product of her era and raged at the injustice of women not been treated equally. That was projected to her two daughters who have built careers in mining and banking.
Cr Barron told the Gazette that her historic election in 1988 meant she was creating a role model for future women on council.
"My mother was an avid feminist and was forward thinking in women's rights and for the betterment of the township's future," Ms Barron-Perry said.
Roseann relocated to Sydney in 1992 after her divorce to be closer to her mother and siblings. She died in October 28, 2021 after a long illness.
Information courtesy of Johanna Barron-Perry.
