'The Shakespeare Tercentenary Memorial Fund was established in Sydney in 1912, with the intention of raising money to erect a local memorial to Shakespeare on the three hundredth anniversary of his death. The fundraising events became in themselves an opportunity for colonial Australia to prove that this was a place that appreciated culture, and could create works of pageantry and art. Throughout the process, the women involved seized their own opportunity to prove themselves the equals of their men in their valuing of Shakespeare and willingness to work towards a shared goal.'