Janet Good, the PSA’s first woman President and the second woman to hold the title of General Secretary, has passed away. Born in England in 1938, Janet moved to Australia in 1972. She got a job in the NSW Public Sector in Library Services and later as a Librarian in TAFE.

In 1987, she was elected President, becoming the first woman to hold the position. In 1993 she became General Secretary, the first member of the PSA to hold both positions of President and General Secretary.  

“Janet showed leadership through many of the tough times, such as the 1988 NSW Greiner Government’s cuts to the public service,” said former PSA President Sue Walsh. “She took the members to the streets, joining tens of thousands of union members protesting the draconian industrial reform by Peter Reith.

“The Librarians case, filed in 2000, was the first in NSW to be heard under the new NSW Pay Equity Principles. Whilst Janet had already retired at this time, she supported the PSA submitting Librarians as a suitable case study in the NSW Commission on Pay Equity Enquiry of 1998.”

Another former President and General Secretary, Maurie O’Sullivan, said “the PSA would not be the strong union it is today without Janet Good.

“PSA membership was most important to Janet. Strong numbers were necessary to show strength and she loved addressing large meetings.”

General Secretary Stewart Little said Janet’s trailblazing role opened up senior positions for women in the PSA CPSU NSW.