In 1999 the Ladies Association celebrated their 90th Anniversary and although 1909 saw the formation of the first Female Loyal Orange Lodge, for many years before that women had associated themselves to, and had supported the "Orange Cause", the liberties it maintained and its fundamental principles. Indeed, throughout the centuries women have played their part in the fight for an open Bible and the liberty to worship God as it teaches us to do, many of them paying the ultimate sacrifice in the process.

Throughout the 93 years of its existence, the Ladies Association have established themselves within Scottish Society and are a great source of support to the Loyal Orange Institution of Scotland. Their work for charitable causes is well known and crosses what others often term "the sectarian divide". The elderly, the young, those who suffer physical and mental handicap, those who are troubled in body and mind, those who have fallen on hard times, hospitals, churches, schools, libraries etc., all have benefited from the Christian charity shown by the Ladies Association.

Many national charities continue to benefit from this charitable work. In particular Erskine Hospital has been "adopted" by the Association since 1997 and has received donations ranging from £400 to a massive £9,500 in one year and continues to benefit each year with the 'Effort for Erskine' appeal, which helped re-build Erskine Hospital. The Orange  Ladies Associations fund raising efforts were greatly appreciated by the Hospital with the Fundraising Manager conveying the 'heartfelt thanks' of the residents and staff to the Ladies Association. Of course our own Scottish Orange Home Fund's main source of income is the donations from the Ladies and the fund raising done by many of our sisters and member Lodges.

Women have always been regarded as an important part of the institution in Scotland but today they are being encouraged to take on a different role to that of the traditional "tea makers" or "fund raisers".
 

Already women are working alongside the men on at least three of the Grand Lodge Committees. Our membership is being encouraged to become more politically aware and active and many of our women members are becoming involved in their local communities. Today, Orangewomen can be found actively working to promote our Christian Principles and Protestant way of life, within our Churches, Community Councils, School Boards, Community Issue Based Projects, Youth Organisations and indeed all aspects of public life.

Women have traditionally had less opportunity than men to gain acquaintance with organisational systems and procedures. Men are still more likely than women to have jobs where they regularly organise or attend meetings, make presentations, argue a case or belong to a Trade Union. Very often women actually do possess these or related skills - anyone who brings up a family, for instance, particularly if they combine it with paid work, doesn't need much organisation training! What they lack, apart from a modicum of basic information about structures, is the confidence and the encouragement to use those skills. In whatever aspect of public life or whatever position within our Organisation they choose, the belief that what they say, and that they have a right to say it, is important.

Society is changing dramatically fast and it is inevitable that we will see some changes within our Institution, for some, (women as well as men), change may be unwelcome and happen too fast whilst for others it may not happen fast enough. You can wonder how often during the 90 odd years of its existence that the Ladies Association of Scotland have raised the issue of the status of women within the Institution or indeed whether it has ever not been an issue. Will we ever see the women at District, County or even Grand Lodge level? Is this issue really of any great importance?

If, or when such change comes, Orangewomen will grasp the opportunity and rise to the challenge but foremost we realise the most important issues are maintaining and promoting the Protestant culture within our communities, our Churches and with our young people.