THERE were cheers and some jeers as women for the first time in 85 years moved into one of the last male domains in Mildura — the longest bar in the world at Mildura Working Man’s Club.
Associate members were given permission to drink at the bar and about 30 women were waiting for the moment.
But more than 50 men left the premises soon after the women came into the main bar area.
Club officials said that one man demanded to see a copy of the Working Man’s Club constitution.
Mildura woman Mrs Ann Cumming, of Twelfth Street, was the first woman to be served at the bar, which is listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the longest in the world.
Mrs Cumming ordered a pot of beer from barman Mr Kevin Etheridge.
Mayor of Mildura Cr Bruce Weir and Mayoress Marg Weir arrived at the bar soon after 7pm.
Mrs Weir said she thought it was a good idea to have mixed company at the main bar and the Mayor agreed.
Most of the drinkers there had no objection to women being served and an average of 35 woman remained at the ongoing bar during the night.
Office staff did receive some backlash from members.
Some members claimed that because women had been given equal drinking rights, associates should pay in the future full membership subscription.
Confusion also developed over the regulations concerning the ladies’ lounge.
Some members claimed that men should be permitted to enter the lounge if they wished now that women had entered their domain at the club.
The present rule states a man must be accompanied by a lady to gain entry.
Another man said that his wife had issued an ultimatum about remaining at the club after 7pm.
“I’ve now got a 7pm curfew because of all this,” he said.
