In an increasingly secular world, where God's love is unknown to so many of its youth, the need for a strong role model who is ablaze with the love of Christ and truly grounded and confident in their faith is greater than ever. Such a role model can be found in Julia Flynn, one of the visionary women who formed the League's first Central Committee in 1916.
Julia Teresa Flynn was born on the 24th of January 1873 into an Irish-Catholic family. Julia demonstrated a strong commitment to education from a young age, matriculating in 1893 at Presbyterian Ladies College with a scholarship. Despite being one of only a small group of Catholics in a school that was predominantly Protestant, Julia Flynn remained strong in her faith as a young woman.
Julia Flynn realised from a young age that her passion lay in education, and so she commenced her work in the education system in January 1897, as a monitor at a school. Within just four short months, Julia was upgraded to the position of student teacher. From 1900 to 1901, Julia was a student at the newly opened Teachers' Training College. She continued her academic pursuits at the University of Melbourne on a part-time basis. By the end of 1912, she had earned the title 'Julia Flynn B.A.'
After graduating from the Training College, Julia became the Head Teacher at a school in Christmas Hill. From there, she received numerous promotions across a number of different schools, until she eventually became a Senior Inspector of Secondary Schools at end of 1924. During this busy period, Julia was also heavily involved in the administration and work of the Catholic Women's Social Guild
A few years later, Julia came across an advertisement for the position of Assistant Chief Inspector of Secondary Schools. However, the advertisement implied the exclusion of female applicants as only the male salary rate was mentioned. Julia protested to the Minister, Jack Lemmon, and he agreed that women should be eligible to apply. Julia eventually succeeded in obtaining the position but was paid four-fifths of the male salary rate. Julia faced this same problem again when the position of Chief Inspector of Secondary Schools became available. This time, the advertisement carried the unambiguous rider "Male Required." The Director of Secondary Education, Martin Peter Hansen, freely admitted that the advertisement had been drafted deliberately to exclude Julia Flynn.
Faced with a major outbreak of public indignation and protest from organisations such as the Catholic Women's Social Guild, the Lyceum Club, the Women's Teachers Federation and the National Council of Women, Hansen permitted Julia to apply for the position of Chief Inspector of Secondary Schools. The appointment was given to a man but Julia successfully appealed the decision becoming the Chief Inspector. However, Hansen imposed a probationary period of three months and then extended it for a further three months. He then refused to confirm Julia's appointment. Julia had little choice but to adapt to the situation.
Just three years after Hansen's death in 1932, Julia was again appointed as the Chief Inspector of Secondary Schools, Victoria.
It was then that Julia Flynn truly began to revolutionise secondary education in Victoria, paying particular attention to improving the curriculum within girls' schools. It was her aim to equip young women throughout Victoria with the skills and knowledge that would significantly broaden their opportunities and prospects for their future lives. Julia became an example of how a strong and determined woman, who trusted implicitly in God's plan for her life, was able to break down some of the barriers that restricted women in her time, and in doing so, build a better future for generations of women to come.
At the end of a long successful career in the Education Department, Julia was required to retired in 1943 at the age of 65 years. It was noted by Lloyd Williams, editor of the Education Gazette, that: "There will be many teachers who will scarcely know how to think of the Education Department without her; and, for those who belong to this generation of the Department's professional and clerical officers, one of the immutables in the life of the office will have gone."
Julia immediately took up work as the Secondary Schools Advisor at the Catholic Education Office and started the arduous process of obtaining accreditation for Catholic secondary schools so that they could conduct their own exams.
On 12 October 1947, Julia suffered a heart attack at her front gate and died two days later. Shortly after her death, a friend from the Teachers' College and the University of Melbourne days wrote: "Her sane yet passionately loyal Catholicity, united with a living charity for all, played no small part in drawing me to the Church – and she was the first to whom I broke the news of my religious vocation."