Jane Mander - Early Life

Early Life

Born in the small community of Ramarama, situated south of Auckland, she had little schooling, yet was teaching at primary school while being tutored for a high school education. Her father, the Hon. Francis Mander, was member for the Marsden electorate in the Parliament of New Zealand and of the Legislative Council, and a descendant of the Mander family of Midland England. He was a pioneer sawmiller and later purchased The Northern Advocate, a popular newspaper, and she was able to hone her skills as a journalist.

Mander went on to become editor of the Dargaville North Auckland Times in 1907. In 1910 she went to Sydney, where she met and became friends with William Holman, who later become premier of New South Wales. While there she worked as a freelance journalist, submitting articles to the Maoriland Worker under the pseudonym Manda Lloyd.

In 1912 she travelled to New York in order to study at the Columbia University, where she excelled in her studies despite having numerous part-time jobs. Her poor health forced her to abandon studying after just three years. She joined the suffrage movement in New York; campaigning for the state referendum on women's franchise. She worked for the Red Cross when the United States entered World War I.