Jenny Rolfe established a Facebook group called Women for Wagga Council – not to be confused with the group of candidates known as Wagga Women’s Alliance – advocating for the 28 female candidates vying for public office in three weeks. 

While the social media campaign has attracted 623 supporters, Ms Rolfe has been beset by detractors who regularly savage her efforts in private messages.

“You're making an ass of yourself lady, typical feminist full of crap,” one woman wrote to Ms Rolfe.

“You need to shut this down, feminists are the most annoying people and do more harm than good.

“Women shouldn't be on council because they are bitches.

“Shut your mouth like a good girl, you're a disgrace to Wagga women and should be ashamed of yourself.”

The current Wagga council consists of 10 men and just one woman, Cr Yvonne Braid, which pales in comparison to Greater Hume Shire’s five women – including the mayor – and four men, as well as Junee and Coolamon shires with three women and six men respectively.

Ms Rolfe said Wagga’s misogynistic underbelly had been exposed by carefully constructed and fact-driven feminism.

“When women speak up they are often subject to vicious attacks and described as being strident, aggressive or outspoken; terms rarely used to describe men,” Ms Rolfe said.

“Resistance from people that what we're doing is unnecessary – if women were good enough they'd be elected – fail to recognise women are not at the top of tickets and it’s rare for anyone below top spot to be elected.

“We knew when we started the page we'd push a few buttons, but I still find it fascinating in 2016 a woman who expresses a view in a respectful manner with integrity, facts and figures is classed as divisive not decisive.”

Lead candidate on the Wagga Women’s Alliance group ticket Andrea Schineanu said Ms Rolfe’s campaign inspired the largest contingency of female candidates in recent history. 

“She's been ruffling feathers and questioning the status quo,” Ms Schineaunu said. 

“She's upsetting people who don't like change. Some people lash out when their world view is challenged.”