Beatrix Waring McCay

Who was Beatrix Waring McCay?

Beatrix Waring McCay was one of Victoria's earliest Barristers and Magistrates, she was the second women to sign the Victorian Bar and the first female 'Reader' of the Bar.

Beatrix was born at Castlemaine, Victoria, Australia, being the second daughter of Lieutenant-General Sir James Whiteside McCay and Julia Mary O'Meara.

Married at St Patrick's Cathedral, Melbourne 12 August 1930 at the age of 29 to George Oswald Reid. Residing at Mont Albert, Victoria.

Beatrix was the third women in Victoria’s history to obtain a Masters of Law at Melbourne University.

She was actively involved in society at an early age helping the disadvantaged, such as donating her time at Yooralla kindergarten for children.

She was the only women for a number of years on the committee of the Law Students' Society of Victoria.

On the 22nd April when residing at Brighton Road, St Kilda, she gave notice to sit at the Full Court to be Admitted to practise as a Barrister and Solicitor for the Board of Examiners for the 1st June.

She then became the second women to signed the Victorian Bar Roll on the 10 June 1925 and the first 'Reader'. Second only after Joan Rosanove.