Anna Teresa Brennan (2 September 1879—11 October 1962) was an Australian lawyer. She was the second woman to be admitted to practice law in

Victoria, Australia Victoria is a state in southeastern Australia. It is the second-smallest state with a land area of , the second most populated state (after New South Wales) with a population of over 6.5 million, and the most densely populated state in Au ...

, and had a distinguished career in

Matrimonial law Marriage law refers to the legal requirements that determine the validity of a marriage, and which vary considerably among countries. See also Marriage Act. Summary table Rights and obligations A marriage, by definition, bestows ...

Early life and family

Anna Teresa Brennan was born on 2 September 1879 in

Emu Creek, Victoria Emu Creek is a locality in Victoria, Australia in the City of Greater Bendigo local government area, 141.7 kilometres north of the state capital, Melbourne Melbourne ( ; Boonwurrung/Woiwurrung: ''Narrm'' or ''Naarm'') is the capital and ...

, near

Bendigo Bendigo ( ) is a city in Victoria, Australia, located in the Bendigo Valley near the geographical centre of the state and approximately north-west of Melbourne, the state capital. As of 2019, Bendigo had an urban population of 100,991, makin ...

, to Mary and Michael Brennan, and was their thirteenth child. Michael Brennan (1828–1902) was born in

County Donegal County Donegal ( ; ga, Contae Dhún na nGall) is a county of Ireland in the province of Ulster and in the Northern and Western Region. It is named after the town of Donegal in the south of the county. It has also been known as County Tyrconne ...

Ireland Ireland ( ; ga, Éire ; Ulster Scots dialect, Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic Ocean, in Northwestern Europe, north-western Europe. It is separated from Great Britain to its east by the North Channel (Grea ...

and migrated to Australia in 1852. Mary Brennan (née Maher) (1838–1920) was born

Thurles Thurles (; ''Durlas Éile'') is a town in County Tipperary, Ireland. It is located in the civil parish of the same name in the barony of Eliogarty and in the ecclesiastical parish of Thurles (Roman Catholic parish), Thurles. The cathedral ch ...

County Tipperary County Tipperary ( ga, Contae Thiobraid Árann) is a county in Ireland. It is in the province of Munster and the Southern Region. The county is named after the town of Tipperary, and was established in the early 13th century, shortly after th ...

, Ireland. She migrated to Australia in 1853. They married in

Melbourne Melbourne ( ; Boonwurrung/Woiwurrung: ''Narrm'' or ''Naarm'') is the capital and most populous city of the Australian state of Victoria, and the second-most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Its name generally refers to a met ...

on 14 April 1856. Her siblings included lawyer and politician

Thomas Thomas may refer to: People * List of people with given name Thomas * Thomas (name) * Thomas (surname) * Saint Thomas (disambiguation) * Thomas Aquinas (1225–1274) Italian Dominican friar, philosopher, and Doctor of the Church * Thomas the Ap ...

(1866–1944), lawyer and politician

Francis Francis may refer to: People *Pope Francis, the head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City State and Bishop of Rome *Francis (given name), including a list of people and fictional characters *Francis (surname) Places * Rural M ...

(1873–1950), and

journalist A journalist is an individual that collects/gathers information in form of text, audio, or pictures, processes them into a news-worthy form, and disseminates it to the public. The act or process mainly done by the journalist is called journalism ...

William (1871–1956).

Education

Brennan's secondary schooling was at St Andrew's College, Bendigo which is now a campus of

Bendigo Senior Secondary College Bendigo Senior Secondary College (BSSC), is an Australian government-funded co-educational secondary school for Year 11 and Year 12 students located in the centre of Bendigo, Victoria. It is the largest provider of VCE, VET and VCAL in the stat ...

. Brennan commenced studies at the

University of Melbourne The University of Melbourne is a public research university located in Melbourne, Australia. Founded in 1853, it is Australia's second oldest university and the oldest in Victoria. Its main campus is located in Parkville, an inner suburb nor ...

in 1904, initially studying medicine. She changed to studying law, and graduated in 1909.

Career

Brennan was admitted as a barrister and solicitor of the

Supreme Court of Victoria The Supreme Court of Victoria is the highest court in the Australian state of Victoria. Founded in 1852, it is a superior court of common law and equity, with unlimited and inherent jurisdiction within the state. The Supreme Court comprises ...

on 1 August 1911. Brennan is buried at Coburg Cemetery, Preston, Victoria. Her grave is included in a self-guided heritage walk at the cemetery and information about her life is available on a sign posted at her graveside.Friends of Coburg Cemetery website http://www.friendsofcoburgcemetery.com

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Brennan, Anna Teresa 1879 births 1962 deaths 20th-century Australian lawyers People from Bendigo Australian women lawyers Australian people of Irish descent 19th-century Australian women 20th-century Australian women University of Melbourne alumni