Humanism in WA: A Short History

Compiled from material written by Dr Laadan Fletcher and HSWA committee records. 

Humanists WA Welcome Refugees Rally

The Humanist Society of WA was formed at a meeting held at Perth Technical College in May 1965. By June, there were 37 founding members, who paid a subscription of one pound. The following month, a letter published in The West Australian, deploring the teaching of evolution in schools, gave members the opportunity to reply, placing the first Humanist statement in the local press. From the start, the Society campaigned for social reform relating to the environment, interests of women and minorities, abortion law reform, and voluntary euthanasia. Membership was strong in the period of protest against the Vietnam War and Humanists were strongly represented in the "Moratorium" movement and its marches. A broadly pacifist viewpoint was maintained through the long years of the Cold War and the ‘war on terror’. In 2003, a contingent of Humanists joined a 30,000 strong march through the Perth city centre to protest against Australian participation in the Iraq War. Concern for the plight of prisoners of conscience was often discussed and letters sent to responsible governments and/or to the Federal Foreign Minister of the day. Members letters were published in the Subiaco Post Newspaper protesting rate exemptions enjoyed by religious bodies and other matters.

In 1973, the Whitlam government decided to appoint civil marriage celebrants, partly because of lobbying by the Humanist movement in Australia. WA appointed two members who conducted many ceremonies over the years.  In 1999, Diana Warnock, former Western Australian MLA, received the Australian Humanist of the Year award. Diana was a vigorous campaigner for abortion rights.

For 45 years the Society published regular newsletters, but by 2010 these had given way to a Meetup site and Facebook page. There followed an active period for the Society as younger people brought new energy. For several years a book club was held monthly, members marched in the Marriage Equality rally, Walk Together rally for refugees, made submissions to the 2016 census question on religion, contributed to the National magazine, held fund-raisers, Darwin Day picnics and regular social events. A highlight was a presentation titled “Reclaiming a Secular Australia” given by American Sean Faircloth, representing the Richard Dawkins Foundation, at the University of Western Australia in 2013 and attended by several hundred people.

Following a temporary boost in membership and several more successful events, it proved impossible to find a president and committee to continue to meet the statutory requirements of an incorporated body. In 2020 the Society was disbanded, and its funds were transferred to Humanists Australia. The formation of Humanists Australia has provided an opportunity to rejuvenate interest in Western Australia. The WA Meetup group still exists and only awaits members to suggest events and activities that they would be interested in.