WHEN Deloraine residents Joyce Blazely and Phillida Smith were made deacons of the Anglican Church they were breaking a long-held tradition that prevented the ordination of women.
Reverend Blazely and Reverend Smith were ordained on December 4, 1991 at St David's Cathedral in Hobart.
Vocal organisations that fought for women ordination existed at that time across Australia.
In Sydney, women still cannot be ordained as priests.
But on the 20th anniversary of the historic occasion Reverend Blazely and Reverend Smith say that being a female priest in Tasmania is no longer an issue.
"We are now accepted without people querying it ... I no longer wonder if there is a member of the clergy who approves of women priests or not," Reverend Smith said.
Reverend Smith, originally from Ireland, has worked as a priest at St Marks Anglican Church at Deloraine for 20 years.
She said she remembers people refusing to take communion from her hand, and others walking out during services.
"But most people who were opposed on principle didn't let it flow over into their personal relationships," Reverend Smith said.
Reverend Blazely was also met with community disagreement in her role.
In 1995 Reverend Blazely moved to the Derby-Ringarooma parish where she remained for two years.
She then spent time travelling from Deloraine to Westbury to serve the parishes of Dorset and Quamby.
"I've met some opposition in half a dozen different ways but it just rolled off my back because I knew that was the way it was and that was the way it would be," Reverend Blazely said.
Friendship between the two women played an important role in their journey.
"It would of been a very lonely 20 years if we hadn't of had each other," Reverend Blazely said.
Reverend Smith said she could not have done it without her friend's support.
"We haven't always agreed, but we always worked together and we always loved each other," she said.
Both women stress however that many were overjoyed with the reversal of the male dominated church ordinants.
In 1993, when the two women became priests, they were met with a "beaming" response.
"I will never forget when we were declared to be priests," Reverend Blazely said.
"The roar of affirmation that went through that cathedral ... I thought we were going to lose the roof.
"Bishop John Harrower held us by the hands and held them high and walked us out - that felt good."
On December 4 the 20th anniversary of the occasion was celebrated at St Marks Anglican Church at Deloraine.
Bishop Phillip Newhall, and retired bishop John Harrower, who admitted the women as priests, were present at the service.
"There was a wonderful atmosphere of love and acceptance ... It was a very special day for both of us," Mrs Blazely said.
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