However, when her husband was elected Leader of the Australian Labor Party in 1907 they were moved to Melbourne, at that time serving as the temporary seat of government of Australia.

When she and her husband travelled to London for the coronation of George V she joined a large procession marking the progress of a bill intended to give British women the right to vote.

She attended a Labour Party dinner on the same night she and Rosina Batchelor were intended to be presented at court.

Because of an error the two ladies were not told to leave the dinner in time to change into their court dresses and drive to Buckingham Palace.

She was later dubbed by reporters the 'Yes, No Lady' after she failed to explain why she was presented some weeks later at Holyrood House.