Special thanks go to our Sponsors

The State Library of New South Wales

and

Bupa Aged Care Services

for generously providing financial support for the 25th Jean Arnot Memorial Luncheon

The National Council of Women NSW

and

BPW Australia

Thank You for attending today’s Luncheon

to honour these wonderful women

The National Council of Women NSW

and

Australian Federation of Business and

Professional Women

25th Annual Jean Arnot

Memorial Luncheon

Honouring ladies in their 90th year and older

For service to their community

Friday 12 May 2017

The Strangers’ Dining Room

Parliament House, Sydney

Miss Jean Fleming Arnot, MBE FLAA (1903-1995)

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to speak for those innocent men, women and children. It is my privilege and obligation to humanity to be an eye-witness for as long as I can. I see it as a mission to tell the children - our future - the truth about racism and hatred of people who are 'different'."

Today, she lives in Sydney surrounded by her devoted family and continues to volunteer her time every week at the Sydney Jewish Museum, where since 1992, Lotte can be found telling her story to the visitors who gather around her each week to hear her unique story of survival. She is one of 90 inspiring volunteer guides devoted to sharing their experiences and knowledge in order to fulfil the invaluable role of the Museum.

Jean Arnot (right), 1964

National Archives of Australia, A1501, A5216/1

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This booklet contains the stories of those ladies

in their 90th year and older who received

Certificates of Appreciation from our

Guest Speaker: Judy Nunn AM Actor and Author

at a ceremony in The Jubilee Room Parliament House

held in conjunction with the

25th Annual Jean Arnot Memorial Luncheon

12 May 2017

The Strangers’ Dining Room, Parliament House

Sydney, NSW

These histories outline the efforts these ladies have

made over many years to improve the conditions for

women and children in their communities

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Contents

Miss Jean Fleming Arnot MBE FLAA .......................................... 5

History of the Jean Arnot Luncheon .......................................... 6

Mary Anderson ........................................................................ 7

Eugenia Barchinski ................................................................... 8

Frances Blake ........................................................................... 9

Helen Bourke ........................................................................... 10

Dulcie Jean Caddis .................................................................... 11

Jocelyn Rose Conder ................................................................. 12

Dr Margaret Farquharson ......................................................... 13

Pat Garnsey .............................................................................. 15

Lesley Gorbach ......................................................................... 16

Joan Harris ............................................................................... 18

Pip J.F. Hill ................................................................................ 19

Jean Hinder .............................................................................. 20

Eugenia Ilyk .............................................................................. 22

Alice Doreen Isedale ................................................................. 24

Carmel Keys ............................................................................. 25

Luba Luckyj .............................................................................. 26

Natalka Nyshchuk ..................................................................... 28

Fanny Pengly ............................................................................ 31

Nell Pyle OAM .......................................................................... 32

Glad Shute ............................................................................... 33

Betty Stevens ........................................................................... 34

Helen Whelan........................................................................... 36

Lotte Weiss .............................................................................. 37

Photos of Miss Jean Arnot ........................................................ 2 & 38

Sponsor Acknowledgement ...................................................... 39 &

Back Cover

has been editor of The Record, the Guild’s monthly newsletter.

Helen found in the Guild an outlet for her skills as a canvas worker and taught workshops, actively supported state exhibitions as an exhibitor and worker and has been a member of the Mt Colah and Laterals groups. Helen undertook the City and Guilds courses which are run from the UK and travelled to London to exhibit her work. Helen was also a member of The Creative Embroiderers, Parklands Stitchers and ATASDA where she assisted with their library. At the end of 2016, aged 90 years, Helen retired as a voluntary assessor of the Creative Correspondence Course after more than 30 years. Helen was a Guild Tutor in Canvaswork after completing the UK City and Guild course and a member of the Sydney Creative Embroiderers.

Helen’s embroidery talents were recently recognised by the Embroiderers’ Guild NSW with a Retrospective exhibition. She is a talented designer and canvas worker – as well as a feisty Scotswoman!

Lotte Weiss

Born in Bratislava, Czechoslovakia, Lotte Weiss was deported to Auschwitz in March 1942 and spent a gruelling 38 months in the horrors of the concentration camps, ending with her liberation at Theresienstadt in May 1945.

Lotte describes her survival and its implications as follows:

"Even after 56 years of my liberation from Hell - Auschwitz and four other camps - I still consider it a miracle that I got out alive. I lost my whole family - my loving mother, father, and three beautiful sisters and two wonderful brothers. I think about them every day. I want to tell the world what they and six million other Jews suffered. Their crime - being born Jewish. It is the role of us, the volunteer Survivors,

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Betty moved to Woodlands Retirement Village, Cherrybrook after her children married and left home. She was elected to Board of Directors and served in that capacity for 14 years, retiring after reaching the age of 90. She is the Co-ordinator of the History Group in the Village which has been going for over 20 years.

She has also served on the National Council of Women NSW as State Treasurer 1993-96 and PPSEAWA as National Treasurer 2004-07.

Helen Whelan

Helen Whelan was born Helen Kirkcaldy on 1 October 1926, the elder of two daughters. She grew up in Arbroath on the east coast of Scotland. She was a good student and an active Girl Guide. At 17 she joined the Royal Navy where she served in a Radar Unit. Towards the end of World War II the ‘girls’ were sent on a troop ship to Australia where she met an Australian soldier named Leo Whelan.

The ‘girls’ later had to return to the UK for demobbing so Helen went home and returned to Australia as a War Fiancée. She and Leo were married and had two sons, Robert and Colin. After some time in Sydney Leo’s work took them to Melbourne, Adelaide and then Perth. As there was a shortage of teachers and so many migrants, Helen undertook a shortened teacher training course and taught in primary schools in Adelaide and Perth.

The family returned to Sydney where Helen made another career change by working at Parramatta Council Library and doing the library course while working. She now co-ordinates the library at her retirement village. She retired from the library position in the early 1991s and became very active in the Embroiderers’ Guild NSW.

Helen joined the Embroiderers’ Guild NSW in 1964. She has been an active member of several groups and at the state level. She has held the position of Group Convenor for several different groups. Helen

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Miss Jean Fleming Arnot, MBE, FLAA (1903-1995)

Jean was educated at Fort Street Girls High School and hoped to attend

University and study science. This could not be realised due to her need to

assist financially in her home. She started as an apprentice librarian at the

State Library in 1921. Through application, study and hard work she

progressed to become acting Mitchell Librarian and head cataloguer at her

retirement in 1968.

As the family bread-winner Jean became aware of the disparity between

male and female rates of pay. This led her to undertake the campaign for

equal pay for equal work from the early 1930s.

For 42 years, Jean Arnot earned less than male employees – even

subordinates. Sadly, it was only in the last five years of her employment

that she benefited from her efforts to achieve equal pay for equal work in

the Public Service.

Jean took an active role in many women’s organisations, her trade union

and professional association. She was President of the Sydney Business

and Professional Women’s Association and National President of the

Australia Federation of Business and Professional Women.

She was also very active in the National Council of Women, NSW. She was

President and Vice President for over nine years, during which time she

wrote the history of NCW NSW. Jean was elected Honorary Life Vice

President of the NCW.

Jean was Honorary Life Vice President of the Pan Pacific and South East

Asian Women’s Association and a member of the Board of Directors of The

Women’s Club.

Jean was awarded the MBE in 1965.

History of the Jean Arnot Luncheon

In 1993, the National Council of Women of NSW (NCW NSW) and

the Federation of Business and Professional Women of Australia

(BPW Australia), and supported by the State Library, joined

together to plan the celebration for Jean’s 90th birthday. Because

of the great success on that occasion and at Jean’s suggestion the

Committee decided to continue with a Jean Arnot Annual

Luncheon which remembered Jean’s contribution to the struggle

for equal pay.

The Lunches were initiated by Val Buswell OAM (BPW Australia)

and Joan Elliston AM (NCW NSW). Following Miss Arnot’s death,

the luncheons continue to honour all women in their ninetieth

year and over who have worked for women and their

communities. Val and Joan were co-conveners until Val’s passing

in 2005 and Joan continued this tradition with great distinction,

assisted by Marlene Arditto and others until 2012.

The organisation of the 25th Luncheon is by fantastic volunteers

from NCW NSW, BPW Australia, with support from the State

Library, Division of the Mitchell Librarian & Scholarship.

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1980-84 Division Commissioner of North Ku-ring-gai Region Training Adviser 1984-88 Region Commissioner Ku-ring-gai, member of State

Council and State Finance Committee, last two years as Chairman. Awarded The Wattle Award for Service to the Movement.

1992-96 Division Commissioner West Ku-ring-gai. 1996 Retired as a uniformed member and joined Barra Brui

Trefoil Guild (A group for past members of the Association). Secretary and then President.

1998 Member of Friends of Guiding and became Treasurer until end of 2015.

Betty was a member of the Mother’s Union Australia for over 30 years and held the following positions: Diocesan Treasurer for 6 years; Diocesan Publicity Officer for three years; Pennant Hills Branch President 10 years, Branch Secretary three years, retiring after reaching the age of 90.

Her other community group commitments were as a Founding Member of Warrawee Ladies Probus Club, serving in many capacities:

• President, Treasurer and Public Officer for many years. • Cheltenham Ladies Bowling Club – Treasurer, member for many

years. • Member Hornsby Shire Historical Society. Elected Treasurer and

then Auditor. • Taught at Sunday School before marriage at St Paul’s Burwood,

then St John’s Beecroft after marriage and at St John the Baptist Church, Reid ACT. On return to Sydney, Confirmation Leader and Parish Treasurer at St James Turramurra until moving to Thornleigh after death of husband and need to support two teenage children.

• Appointed Parish Auditor at St Mark’s Pennant Hills.

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With her late husband, Des, Glad has hosted many fundraisers in their home and garden, raising money for the needy country children which has enabled them to participate in many school functions. School uniforms, shoes, sports equipment, books, excursion fees have been paid for from these fundraising activities.

Glad has also been a regular guest on Richard Glover’s ABC Drive Time radio program. She has helped in raising funds for Drought Relief, Flood Relief, Fires in Tasmania and NSW, collating Mother and Baby Packs (birthing kits) and assisting in organising Material Aid packs sent to the women of the South Pacific, containing materials and sewing aids to enable these women to learn to sew. Under her Presidency she also assisted in the putting together and distribution of packs for the State Emergency Service (SES). Glad is an eminent member of society and well worthy of this Award. Her achievements are many and she has executed them all with style and grace. Her community spirit is legendary.

Betty Stevens Betty was born on 1 September 1926 and has spent many decades of her life in service to the community, which is listed below:

1961 Australian Red Cross, Co-Founder of the Reid Branch and became Treasurer and later President

Her commitment to the Girl Guides Association was evidenced in the following roles:

1960 Became a Brownie leader and started a new Pack in Canberra.

1968 Moved to Sydney and became involved again as a Brownie Leader at 3rd Wahroonga.

1969 Became a Trainer in the Guide Movement 1975-80 District Commissioner at Turramurra

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Mary Anderson

Mary is the proud mother of nine children and the matriarch of 54 within her immediate family.

During her children’s school years, she was actively involved in all their school and sporting activities. Mary was President of the Parents and Friends Association and organised many fundraising events to buy extra equipment for the schools. She also worked in the canteen and during her children’s High School years she was called upon to decorate the hall, stage and dinner tables for graduation ceremonies. Mary was awarded a life time membership badge for her services. In her retirement, she attended the school to assist the children with their reading skills.

Being a very proud member of her local community, she worked as a volunteer for most charities and churches in the town. She compered most events that happened and was often asked to open a fete or judge the Belle of the Ball. Mary often used her parents’ large home and garden to host garden parties and fashion parades, to assist various charities in their fundraising efforts. She also delivered Meals on Wheels and took part in door knock appeals for the Heart Foundation and Salvation Army.

Mary felt it was an honour to serve a term as President of the Business and Professional Women’s Club and was happy to have the opportunity to meet Miss Jean Arnot during her busy years fighting for ‘Equal Pay for Women’.

When the Olympic Games came to Sydney in 2000, Mary was chosen to carry the Torch in the torch relay.

Her life has been busy and rewarding and, in her twilight years, she keeps her mind active by writing poetry.

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Eugenia Barchinski

Eugenia Eleonora Barchinski was born in Drohobych (Western Ukraine) on 25 April 1926. Her childhood and teenage years were spent progressing through primary and early high school. Her interests were theatre and literature. In 1944 in fear of the advancing Red Army she and her family fled Ukraine. She became a young adult in War-torn Europe and eventually, after hostilities finished, worked as a nurse. She studied Science at Frankfurt University from 1946 to 1948. There she met the love of her life, Orest, also from Ukraine and they married on 9 November 1949. Unable to return to their homeland they became refugees whom Australia accepted for emigration. On 16 January 1950, after a six-week ship journey from Naples, they arrived in Sydney. At this time, refugees lived in purpose-built camps and theirs was in Bathurst. Refugees were expected also to work in assigned jobs for at least two years. Eugenia was assigned a job as a waitress.

After leaving Bathurst the couple moved to Sydney. Her extended family as well as many other people of Ukrainian background also settled in Sydney. This cohort founded the Sydney Ukrainian community which still exists today. With her husband, Eugenia also became very active in the creation and establishment of this new community. In the 1950s she joined and became active in the Ukrainian Women's Association “Knahenya Olga” (Queen Olga) branch as well as other organisations. She also was a key member in the 1980s and 1990s in the Ukrainian Welfare Association which was set-up to help older people.

Her main involvement, however, and most significant community contribution has been in learning and education. The Ukrainian community established a number of schools to promote Ukrainian language, culture and heritage. Eugenia made this the focus of her community work. In 1969, she became a teacher at St Andrew's Ukrainian School. Subsequently, she was the Principal from 1981 to 2005. She also has been the Chair of the Board of Ukrainian Schools NSW from 1987 onwards. She travelled to the USA in 1988 and Kiev

- 8-

Glad Shute

Mrs Glad Shute has been a member of the Country Women’s Association for more than 35 years. Three years ago, she was awarded a Lifetime Membership of the Association. In her private life and in her CWA of NSW life, Glad has worked tirelessly for her community organising many fundraisers to help educate country children by the awards of Scholarships and Education Grants to assist them to attend schools in city areas to complete their education. She has been a member of the Phillip Group Education Grants Committee and the Scholarships Committee for many years. She became a Land Cookery Judge in the 1960s and as such has been invited by many Shows (such as the Sydney Royal Easter Show, Nowra, Newcastle, Campbelltown, Camden, Orange, Richmond, Maitland and Cessnock Shows) to judge their cakes, biscuits, jams, pickles, relishes and chutneys. She was one of the much sought after Cookery Judges at the Sydney Royal Easter Show. Her outgoing personality has made her many friends. Her willingness to help others has made her an integral and essential part of her community. Within her own neighbourhood, she has visited the ill and infirm and given help and assistance wherever she could. She is known for being a good neighbour and a good friend to those in need.

Glad has been Branch President (for six years), Group President (for four years) and a Land Cookery Judge for well over a decade and has held many positions within her Branch (such as Cookery Officer, Handicraft Officer, and Cultural Officer etc.). She has guided many a young woman to excellence in cooking and baking and is extremely generous with her time in passing on her exemplary skills.

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Fanny continued to take care of her husband’s family, as well as her four children. This meant that she had to secure a full-time job and work overtime to meet their needs. All children had good educations. Her three sons graduated from Sydney University as Economists. She was blessed with seven grandchildren and five great grandchildren. Along the way, she has overcome many challenges — her only daughter’s divorce, and a physically challenged granddaughter, making it impossible for her to complete her University education.

Fanny is known by the Greek community as a good adviser for young married women. Most people call her “happy face” or “smiling face” because it takes a lot to make her sad. Her best decision was to live at BUPA Clempton Park since March 2016.

Nell Pyle OAM

Nell Pyle is a truly dedicated member of our community who strives to make a difference in the lives of those she meets.

With the support of the community of Maitland, Nell founded Australia’s only Clothing and Textile Museum in 2005. She was wardrobe mistress at Maitland Repertory Society for more than 50 years; she received the inaugural Maitland Medal in 2004; an OAM in 2005 for service to the community of Maitland, particularly through the recording and preservation of social history using a range of media including period fashion displays, theatre and writing; NSW Senior Citizens Award for Education and Lifelong Learning in 2011; and Tocal Medal for service as a Friend of Tocal.

Nell is a tireless worker in our community and an inspiration to all who know her.

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(Ukraine) in 1997 and 1998 to attend educational conferences. She was able to provide information about the Australian diaspora education experience. Through these experiences and consultation with teachers and educators in Australia, she was instrumental in a number of initiatives. One of the most notable has been the 'sister' school concept where a Ukrainian language school in Australia establishes a close relationship with another school in Ukraine. School students and teachers keep in contact and often visit each other.

Eugenia continues to have a keen interest in education. She is a volunteer at St Andrew's Ukrainian school helping mainly in reading classes. Due to her experience, commitment and enthusiasm for education, she is also the Honorary Principal and is seen as an ‘elder’ not only in the Ukrainian community but also in the wider community. In terms of her working life, after her young family grew up, Eugenia became an interpreter in Ukrainian in 1987 and worked in this field for some 25 years, retiring in 2012.

Frances Blake

Born and bred in Coffs Harbour, mother of four, Frances Blake has been a tireless volunteer for over 50 years, donating her time and energy to organisations including:

Local Schools, Coffs Harbour Pony Club, RSPCA, Coffs Harbour Show Society, Coffs Show Society Ladies Auxiliary, Anglican Women’s Auxiliary Group, Senior Horse and Riders Club (which she instigated), Community Radio and the Inner Wheel Club, in which she received the 2015 Margarette Golding Award. Frances was also named Coffs Harbour Citizen of the Year in 2012.

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Helen Bourke

As the eldest daughter of a British Army Officer, Helen grew up firstly in British India and then in Hong Kong. In 1940, with the Japanese invasion of Hong Kong imminent, she was evacuated with her mother and two siblings to Sydney at the age of 14. Helen’s father spent the next 4 ½ years in the notorious Sham Shui Po POW camp in Hong Kong. At the war’s end, the family travelled by troopship to England to meet up with her liberated father. On the troopship, Helen took the eye of a young Australian Naval Officer, Dick Bourke. By the time they reached England they were engaged and then, with father’s permission, were married at the end of 1945. Helen was just one month shy of 19.

Then commenced many years of service to the RAN as a naval officer’s wife. With a new posting, every two or three years, Helen moved around Australia and the world. Dick had postings to the United States and Pakistan, as well as several postings to Britain. The overseas postings were quite glamorous which contrasted with the many lonely months spent ashore in Australia when Dick was away on ship duty, including a two-year stint with the British Mediterranean Fleet just after they were married. Through all these movements, Helen raised two sons and now has five grandchildren with a great grandchild on the way.

When Dick retired from the Navy in 1971 and joined the corporate world in Sydney, Helen opened a retail shop in Sydney’s Hilton Hotel. Over the years, she had worked in antique shops, gaining valuable retail knowledge. Bourke’s Australian Scene was the first shop in Sydney to deal in Aboriginal and Papua New Guinea art and artefacts. Helen travelled all over Northern and Western Australia, and into the mountains of PNG to source authentic artefacts for her shop and, in doing so, became an authority of Aboriginal and PNG art.

In retirement, Helen and Dick still travelled the world from their base in Sydney until Dick became physically incapacitated from injuries he

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As a member of the UWA State and National Executives in the 1980s and 1990s, she helped to expose the Chernobyl catastrophe and the breaches of human rights especially experienced by women in Ukraine. Natalka hopes that the story of her generation of women refugees will be included in the history of women in Australia.

Fanny Pengly

Fanny was born in a small town of Greece called Kastellorizo on 15 April 1927, which happened to be Easter Sunday. She was born in a happy family of three and they migrated into Australia on the 31st October 1939. It took them three months to arrive in Sydney. During that specific period, a lot of things happened. “But life have to move on”, she said, ”because I am only 12 years old.” In Australia, she was able to attend primary and high school but couldn’t further her education because of cultural beliefs ‘’that woman’s education ends in the kitchen’’. As a result, she spent six years at home preparing for motherhood. She married Nick Pengly in 1947 through an arranged marriage and was blessed with three boys and a girl. As a hardworking mother, she made sure her children never lacked for anything. She never bought clothes at a shop. Rather, she did knitting, not only for her own children but for extended family as well. As life became harder, she and her partner decided to open a mixed business at Marrickville, which really helped them to look after their extended family. Unfortunately, in 1963 the shop was sold because her husband was sick. Seven years later she lost her husband.

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Association (UNRRA). Mykola worked for the Camp’s then Director, the future PM Harold Holt. Natalka enrolled in early childhood studies. From 1946 to 1949, she taught in the kindergarten under the directorship of Mrs Lidia Hayevska-Denys, later to become a prominent member of the Ukrainian Women’s Association in Australia.

Her only child, Alexandra, was born in 1947 during this placement. In August 1949, the family was accepted for resettlement in Australia as DPs. They left Europe from Naples transit camp, arrived in October in Darling Harbour and immediately went by train to Bathurst transit camp for processing and induction. Natalka and her child were transferred to Cowra Migrant Holding Camp, where the Ukrainian Women’s Association in Australia had been established in September 1949.

Her husband was contracted to work for the then Main Roads Department in the Kurrajong/Bilpin area. Lodging was found in Kurrajong for Natalka and her child, while Mykola lived in tents on site. They saved, bought a home and worked and boarded other displaced persons. Natalka’s early childhood accreditation was not recognised. She had to work as a domestic and farmhand until they moved to Guildford in 1958, when she found employment at His Masters Voice (HMV) until its closure in 1977.

In May 1970, the Ukrainian Women’s Association Lidcombe Branch was established. Natalka was a founding member and member of the Executive. Over the decades Natalka held the office of Treasurer, and worked collaboratively on numerous cultural projects with her colleagues. As a member of a family who had suffered and survived the Holodomor of 1932–3, she was determined to ensure this atrocity would be acknowledged by Australian parliaments and the United Nations.

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had carried throughout his life that occurred during WWII and later as a Fleet Air Arm pilot. Dick passed away in 2016 just three months after he and Helen celebrated 70 years of marriage.

Dulcie Jean Caddis

Dulcie was born on 29 September 1926 at Ellalong, a small mining village near Cessnock, to Nita and Joseph Cameron. She was the second of six children, having three sisters and two brothers. Father served at Gallipoli. He was a miner, so life was tough as a child, as employment was not always secure. She attended school at Ellalong Public and Cessnock High School, gaining her leaving certificate.

When she was 17 she started nursing at Maitland Hospital. She really wanted to join up but was too young, so a year later in 1944 at 18 she joined the WAAF. Her brother was a pilot in RAAF. After the war, Dulcie returned home and began her four years nursing training at Cessnock Hospital. In her final year of training, in 1949, she married Jack Caddis, who was also a miner. They had one daughter, Pamela. After completing her training Dulcie began work at a local Doctor’s surgery as a Registered Nurse. She remained there for 23 years. Dulcie became the main family support, nursing by day and at night working in an old men’s home.

Sadly, Jack died in 1976 at the age of 49. Dulcie has been a widow ever since. In 1975, she returned to Cessnock Hospital in charge of the Medical Ward for 12 months and then in charge of 30 aged women at Cessnock House which was part of Cessnock Hospital. She retired from this role in 1994.

After retiring Dulcie became more active in her local Anglican Church joining Mothers Union, of which she is still an active member. She took on the catering for funerals conducted in the local Parish Church and cleaned the brass regularly.

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Dulcie also became a member of the local Cessnock RSL. Last year she was granted Life Membership as one of the few WW11 veterans. She is the only female member of this select and honoured group.

Jocelyn Rose Conder

Jocelyn was born on 23 November 1925. Her District Scout leader once said: “If you ever want anything done, ask a busy person”. So, while working full time in commercial kitchens and her only access being the local bus or walking, Scouting and Girls Guides occupied nearly three decades of her evenings. In 1963, she became a Cub Leader in 2nd Rydalmere Group. Every Thursday night for over 25 years was Cub night, until the Scout Hall was resumed for the extension of Silverwater Road 1988.

One Friday night in 1978, while at a combined Scout and Girl Guide function in West Ryde, the Guides asked her to help out for six weeks. So, until 1985, every Friday night was Girl Guides. When the feeder Brownie Pack lost its leader in 1983, Saturday mornings was Brownies until 1988. By then she had her own pack of six grandchildren under the age of eight mid-week. Therefore, when the grandchildren joined Scouting’s Cumberland Gang Show, the next 10 years were involved in the Gang Show kitchen.

At the age of 75 she rejoined Rydalmere Red Cross as secretary and, although the club formally ceased in 2016, she still rallies the troops, all over 90, to meet four times a year. Finally, when she moved to Concord in 2006, she volunteered for Meals on Wheels until 2015 and crocheted together over 300 blankets each of 28 squares for Auburn Girls High School for Wrap with Love.

She is still busy!

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mother sold family treasures to feed her family. At her local Ukrainian school, she dreaded her future schooling, which would now only be available in Russian.

In her mid-teens her schooldays would end as the German armies advanced into Ukraine and Russia entered the war. By June 1942, the Germans occupied her village. Young women were being forcibly removed from their homes to work under the eastern workers program in industry and on farms in Germany. Natalka and three friends were herded into a goods train and travelled hundreds of kilometres until they reached Rhinesheim in southwest Germany. Here the girls were assigned to a farmer, where they worked from sunrise to sunset in all weathers and with meagre rations. As the war raged around her, there was little – and eventually no – contact with her family. She found solace in the company of other forced labourers and befriended a young Mykola Nyshchuk, who would become her future husband.

VE Day in May 1945 was a day of great uncertainty for Natalka, as the Soviets actively tried to find and forcibly repatriate their people in accordance with the Yalta Agreement. News of the atrocities experienced by her fellow ‘repatriated’ friends quickly spread across the Eastern European refugee settlements. Women were often assaulted, raped and/or transferred to re-education camps in Siberia.

Natalka, her three friends and Mykola were sent to transit camps, initially to Oberhausen. The young women were later placed in a convent guarded by Soviets. Aware of their potential fate, the nuns equipped them with sheets to scale the walls, provided food and prayers. On a moonless night the four escaped. They met up with Mykola and ran for their lives.

They arrived eventually at Mannheim. Here, on 1 September 1945, they and seven other couples were married; four couples remained lifelong friends. In 1946 they moved to Ellwangen Displaced Persons Camp, controlled by the United Nations Refugee Rehabilitation

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employment at Anthony Squires. Her mother provided care for her sons while she, her husband and father worked to establish themselves. Tragically, in 1961 her husband Ostap died. Luba’s goal was to provide for her young sons. As a family, they participated in every facet of Australian Ukrainian community life.

In May 1970, Luba Luckyj became a founding member of the Ukrainian Women’s Association, Lidcombe Branch. She was a member of the Branch’s Executive as Secretary, and was particularly active in the Arts and Culture portfolio. Luba played a pivotal role in the branch’s creation of Ukrainian historical costumes. As a master seamstress she produced the majority of the collection, which was exhibited in civic centres, universities and schools over a number of years. Miniature versions of the costumes were made for dolls, which are housed at the Lidcombe Branch’s rooms.

As a master ‘Pysanka’ (Easter egg) decorator, she demonstrated her talent at shopping centres and community functions. The Bellows Collection, housed at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, was gifted Ukrainian Pysanky, embroidery and dolls in traditional costume from Luba’s personal collection.

Luba became a member of the Ukrainian Women’s Association National Executive (1983–89) and the Audit Committee (1989–92). A major focus of the UWA was exposing the atrocities of the Ukrainian Holodomor of 1932–3, abuses of human rights experienced by women activists and the catastrophe of Chernobyl, some 100kms from Luba’s birthplace.

Natalka Nyshchuk

Natalka Nyshchuk (née Hakalo) was born in July 1925, in Slobidka of the Poltava region of then Soviet occupied Ukraine. Her family survived the hardships of this regime, the cruellest being the Holodomor (forced famine) of 1932–3, where 20% of the locals starved to death. Her

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Dr Margaret Farquharson (aka Dr Margaret Corlette or Margie)

Dr Margaret Farquharson was born in Aberdeenshire in Scotland on 13 May 1925. She was the second oldest of three girls and the second youngest of five children (including her two older brothers). She grew up on a farm called Darley at Fyvie, near Auchterless, still farmed by her family to this day. When she was growing up, her father used to tell his children stories about Australia and what a wonderful place it was.

He instilled in Margaret a love of travel and education that has lasted all her life. Her travels began when she was a student, winning a short trip to the Sorbonne in Paris. She used to say with a smile it was because “she was the only one who hadn’t been anywhere”. Self-deprecating and good humoured, she joked that she became a doctor only because she “didn’t want to be a teacher”. In Paris she caught scarlet fever. She noted how lucky she was to have received an early dose of antibiotics.

Seen through Margie’s eyes, Scotland in the early 20th century seems a very progressive place for women. Her parents believed in the rights of women to go to university and have a career, and she and her siblings received a rigorous Scottish education. Margie delighted in having the right Shakespearean quote for any occasion and can recite long poems to this day. She studied medicine during WWII, graduating from the University of Aberdeen (MB ChB) in 1948.

After Margie graduated, she drove south to England to start her working life. From there she travelled to Canada to work. Margie returned to the UK in 1951. She fondly recalls delivering babies during the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953. It was there in a Manchester boarding house that she met her Australian husband-to-be, Dr Philip Corlette, a fellow traveller, from a Sydney medical family. In 1954, Margie boarded a ship for Melbourne, then drove to Sydney

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with Philip. She lived in McMahons Point and worked at Liverpool Hospital. They were married in 1955 at St Stephens Church in Sydney.

Margie continued to practice under her maiden name and in 1969 she started working at the Family Planning Association. She worked there for many years. She worked in FPA practices across Sydney, from Maroubra to Hurstville to Bondi Junction. Margie loved her job and was adored by her patients for her warm, reassuring manner. She provided support and counselling to families and individuals dealing with the many challenges of reproduction, sexual health, conception and illness. She and her colleagues strongly supported the rights of women to have reproductive choice, including the right for safe abortions, during the 1970s and beyond. This was (and sadly continues to be) controversial.

Both as a doctor and in her private life, she has that ability to radiate a lovely sense of calm and strength to those who need it. She has needed that strength too. When her husband Philip was diagnosed with primary liver cancer in the early 70s, she supported his fight while continuing to work and look after their four children and manage their farm. He died in December 1975. They had been equals and partners in every way. Margie adored him.

She battled the Tax Office for a long time to reduce the death duties she was charged on her husband’s death. They could not fathom that she had made an equal contribution to the household. Margie countered that she had paid the deposit on the family home.

When Margie was in her mid-sixties, she and other senior doctors were told that their age made them less able to counsel younger

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of farms by the then Stalinist Soviet regime. Sadly, she contracted pneumonia and her recovery was slow. On her return to school, Luba excelled and was determined to attend university in the future but her dreams and life were shattered when the Soviets entered WWII in June 1941.

In early 1942, the Germans occupied her town. In line with Germany’s forced labour programs, at the age of 16, she was required to present herself for assessment to work in Germany on farms or in industry as an Ostarbeiter (eastern worker). Ukrainian students were generally multilingual, and Luba’s second language was German. This proved to be useful to the processing officer and Luba was fated to remain in Ukraine with her parents. Early in 1944 the family, having seen the brutality and atrocities of the Soviet regime, made a decision to flee their home. They journeyed hundreds of kilometres across Ukraine, Romania, Hungary and eventually into Austria. Luba worked in an engine factory; her parents on farms.

In 1945, Austria was inundated with Eastern European refugees. Many now feared ‘repatriation’ to Soviet occupied homelands as a consequence of the Yalta Agreement of February 1945. Having established links with other Ukrainians, young Luba and her parents sought the protection of the newly established Displaced Persons Camps administered by UNRRA. In Judenberg DP camp Luba met her future husband, Ostap Luckyj. They married in the camp in 1947, and she also completed a tailoring course there. She worked for the DP Camp administration. In 1950 the family was accepted for resettlement in Australia. On arrival, they were housed at Greta. Here they stayed until they found accommodation with a fellow Ukrainian, Mr Sadowsky, who housed them in Emu Plains and found Ostap employment at the abattoirs. In 1951 Luba’s second son, Borys, was born.

The family, including Luba’s beloved parents, settled in Penrith. Luba’s skills as a seamstress enabled her to find lifelong

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Councils in NSW and Victoria as well as on Liturgy Committees. She has been a member of the Steering Committee for Diocesan Planning and the Ecumenical Commission of Broken Bay and has attended meetings of the NSW Ecumenical Council. Carmel was President of Australian Church Women NSW 2006-2008. She has been noted for her commitment to ecumenism and concern for the welfare of fellow members.

Carmel is a life member of Catholic Women’s League. She has been Diocesan President of Broken Bay Diocese, State President for two terms and President and Secretary of Manly Branch of CWL. Carmel has been Social Responsibilities Officer for both Australian Church Women NSW and Catholic Women’s League Broken Bay.

Carmel has written Parish histories, one in Victoria and one in Manly, and the History of Catholic Women’s League, Manly. President of the Ex-Students Union for St Scholastica’s Glebe Point was another of her commitments. Visiting the sick is an avenue of service Carmel has pursued faithfully.

Carmel is also involved in works in the Philippines for the Asian Pacific Scholarship Fund for women in the area through the ACW and sponsors a student personally.

Carmel is a caring, generous, unselfish person. She has supported and mentored others who have come after her in these roles and willingly gives of her time and energies to helping others. She is an active member of her church community at Mary Immaculate Catholic Church in Manly. She is a delightful person and it has been a privilege for those who have been able to know and work with her.

Luba Luckyj

Luba Luckyj (née Koptaruk ) was born in December 1926 in Bohdanivka, Vinnytsia region of Ukraine. When she was three, the family moved to the Kyiv region. Her schooling began in 1932, a time of forced collectivisation

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generations on sexual health. At the age of 67, Margie set up her own practice at Eastgardens. Margie retired at the age of 80 in 2005 in good health and travelled to the 60th reunion of her medical graduation at the University of Aberdeen in 2008.

She was a big believer in organic farming and permaculture and was heavily influenced by Rachel Carson’s 1960’s book “Silent Spring”. She told her family how important it is to be self-sufficient. She could butcher a cow, cook amazing French meals, sew and make (endless) bottles of jam. She instilled her love of the land in all her children.

Margie has always been a special person; deeply loved by her family and all who know her. She has made a wonderful contribution to public health through her long working life. In her private life, she continues to be a role model for us all, always positive and persistent, with such warmth, grace and good humour. And red lipstick!

Pat Garnsey

Pat was born in West Wyalong NSW on 17 November 1925, the seventh child of nine children. Her father was a Stock and Station Agent and her mother was the daughter of a local hotelier. She was educated at the local Convent School and attained her Intermediate Certificate. By the time Pat was 12 years of age, both her parents had died, within three years of one another. Older brothers and sisters took over the parenting role of Pat and two younger brothers until Pat went to Sydney to attend business college and her three older brothers went off to World War II.

During the war years Pat went to work for printers in Darlinghurst, where school maths text books were printed. (One had to work in an essential industry during that time.) The “Greyhound Recorder”

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was also printed there as well as other publications. Later, Pat became a telephonist in the trunk room of the G.P.O. and transferred back to West Wyalong where she met and married her husband Tim in 1950. Tim worked in the Rural Bank of NSW and this union led to appointments in 10 different towns in NSW: north to Coffs Harbour; south to Leeton; and west to Cobar; with others in between.

At Coffs Harbour, Pat found an interest in amateur dramatics and this became a great social connection in moves to several towns. Teaching swimming was another involvement so she brushed up on her earlier bronze medallion training and lent her talents to children and adults in a few towns.

At Cobar, along with Tim, Pat was involved in the Centenary of the Discovery of Copper – Tim as organising secretary, and Pat helping to get the local Dramatic Society going again with a successful production of ‘Gigi’ as part of the Centenary Celebrations. Tim died in 2001.

The Central Coast has been home for many years and it is convenient for Pat’s four children, 13 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren to visit. It is also convenient for her to attend the shows that the Blue Mountains Musical Society stage a couple of times a year, as two of her children have had many years as cast and committee members. Pat has worked as a volunteer in the Vinnies shop for 13 years; was a day care volunteer in Gosford for 20 years; delivered Meals on Wheels for nine years; and has been a member of the Catholic Women’s League for over 40 years.

Lesley Gorbach

Lesley (nee McKee) was born in Wagga Wagga NSW, on 8 November 1928. She left Wagga Wagga when she was seven months old and spent her early childhood at Port Macquarie until her father was

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through Super Saturdays and Holiday Kids’ Clubs. When a new ministry was introduced by St Mark’s, Alice immediately responded to the call. She has been a member of the team who regularly visit the Diment Towers’ Aged Care facility for some 20 years and in this capacity has provided morning tea, shared communion and talked to residents.

The Cancer Council Biggest Cup of Tea has been held at St Mark’s for many years and Alice could always be found in the kitchen working very hard at the sink, preparing scones or serving at tables. Her health issues have prevented her from continuing in this work. As an independent lady, Alice drove to all activities until she was ninety. She has maintained her home and garden and lives alone.

Alice was born in Wollongong in 1926 and married to Owen at St Michael’s Anglican Cathedral in 1949. She enjoyed a happy marriage until the passing of her husband in 1998. He was one of the first to undergo open heart surgery and Alice proved an excellent carer. Mother of two sons, grandmother of five and great grandmother to one, Alice has been a role model for many mothers to follow.

Never one to shy away from rolling up her sleeves, Alice volunteered in the West Wollongong Primary School canteen and also at the Keira Boy’s High School canteen. She assisted both schools in whatever category she was required. Alice is a supporter of the Red Cross and has been involved in flood and bushfire appeals in addition to local charities.

Carmel Keys

Carmel was born on 8 August 1927 in Sydney and, in this her 90th year, is honoured to be at the Jean Arnot Luncheon. Carmel is being sponsored by Australian Church Women and Catholic Women’s League Diocese of Broken Bay. Carmel holds a Pharmacy degree, a Certificate in Archaeology (Victoria) and has done courses in Moral Theology, Philosophy and Ethics. Carmel has served on Parish

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missed a single market.

Being the President of the Ukrainian Women’s Association, Eugenia has, among other things: helped the Branch organise numerous events; participated in carol singing; edited a Ukrainian recipe book; assisted with the editing of the Branch’s annual pictorial chronicle; been a delegate at many conferences; read eulogies at funerals; contributed articles to the Ukrainian newspaper Church and Life; attended Branch get-togethers; and engaged in other ad hoc activities. In 2010, for her longstanding work for Ukrainian Women’s Association, she was awarded a Certificate of Appreciation from the Federal Executive of the Ukrainian Women’s Association of Australia.

Eugenia is a member of the Board of Ukrainian-Australian Social Association in Queanbeyan (UASAQ) as well as a parishioner of St. Michael’s Church in Queanbeyan. She is a deeply religious person. She has donated both funds and her time to the church and the UASAQ and continues to support their activities as well as activities of the Embassy of Ukraine in Canberra.

Alice Doreen Isedale

Alice Isedale is 91 years of age and has been a member of the West Wollongong MU for over 60 years. During this time, she has knitted and crocheted for the “Welcome to Baby Baskets” and has been a hospital visitor for the majority of her membership years. She has carried out Court Visiting Ministry activities as long as her health permitted. Cheery by nature, Alice is a constant source of joy and encouragement to all who know her. She is a gentle, unassuming woman who gives her all for the sake of the gospel and fully embraces the two great commandments of loving God and her neighbours.

As a parishioner of St Mark’s, Alice cleaned the church on a regular basis and attended bible study until last year. She supports Children’s Ministries and welcomed the introduction of outreach to them

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appointed to Singleton when she was 11. She attended Singleton High School and on leaving school did a business course. A year later, she started work in the Bank of NSW in Bondi Junction, living with relatives in Rose Bay. Lesley left the Bank two years later and eventually ended up in The Public Trust Office and was still there when she married her school teacher husband, Noel.

They had four children (one adopted) and she was an “at home” mother while the children were at school. Lesley worked once a month in the school canteen at three schools during those years. When the children had grown up she had a job selling books to schools and universities for a while and then worked on relief ancillary staff in schools but resigned to help care for a couple of grandchildren who were living with them for a while after immigrating from England. During this time, Lesley and Noel were on the Marriage Encounter Team run by the Catholic Church. While living in Sydney Lesley did Meals on Wheels and, when she and her husband moved to the Central Coast, they both did Meals on Wheels until her husband’s health broke down and they had to give it up.

Lesley now lives in a retirement village where she is the Welfare Officer on the Social Committee, in charge of arranging a monthly luncheon at different venues and playing movies in their Village Hall once a month for whomever likes to come along. She is also the contact in the village for the Retirement Village Residents’ Association Inc. She is also an active member of the local Probus group and bowling club. Lesley joined the Catholic Women’s League nearly 30 years ago and over the years has had a turn at being President, Secretary and Treasurer. She is still a member of CWL and is a delegate at the

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Diocesan Branch where for some years she has reported on Social Responsibilities.

Joan Harris

Joan has been a staunch supporter of The Women’s Pioneer Society since joining over 20 years ago. During her early membership of the Society she had been actively involved in planning all luncheons including the special occasion Luncheon recognizing the founding Governor Arthur Phillip, Australia Day and the Women’s Pioneer Society’s recognition and commemoration of Women Pioneers. Her regular attendance is exemplary.

She was born in Murwillumbah, New South Wales, the daughter of an ES&A Bank Manager. After she completed her schooling, Joan came to Sydney and was attracted to a nursing career which she followed until her marriage to Clive Harris who was a Macquarie Street Dentist. Together they raised two daughters, Elizabeth Whiteway who lives in Tathra and Virginia Silver who lives in Alstonville, and a son, Tony, who lives in Dorrigo.

Throughout her membership, Joan has been a quiet supporter who never sought the limelight but was always ready to make her contribution time and time again in a variety of ways, usually when she saw something that was needed long before it was required. The encouragement and interest she has taken with new members is inspiring. For many years, Joan would quietly provide the necessary thank you gifts for Guest Speakers and prizes for the various activities.

Joan loves the Pioneer Society and the interest that goes with it in the early history of our pioneers. She is proud of the wonderful country that has developed from the first European settlement under Governor Arthur Phillip. Joan’s Great Great Grandfather was

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the farmer until the area was liberated by the Americans. It was in Kapellan, that she met her future husband, Mykola Ilyk, a fellow Ukrainian.

Eugenia and her husband lived in various displaced persons’ camps before finally arriving in the Ukrainian section of one of the camps outside of Hamburg. While living in this camp, because of her then fluent German, she was employed by the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration (UNRRA). She participated in the Ukrainian community life in the camp.

On 8 June 1949, she arrived in Australia. After arriving in Canberra, she lived for 4½ years at Capital Hill Hostel, which was located on the site of the new Parliament House, before moving in 1954, with her husband and 2 children, to Queanbeyan. In Queanbeyan, she became an active member of the Ukrainian community. In the mid-1950s-early 1960s, she was a member of the Ukrainian Drama Group and acted in leading roles in various plays staged by the group. In the mid-1960s to early 1970s, she taught at Ukrainian Saturday School where, in addition to teaching children to write and read in Ukrainian, she also taught Ukrainian history and geography. In addition, she directed a number of nativity plays.

In 1971, after working in a number of retail positions, she enrolled at the Metropolitan Business College, obtained a diploma and joined the then Government Department of Social Security, retiring in 1988, following the death of her husband.

On 12 April 1992, Eugenia was elected President of the Queanbeyan Branch of the Ukrainian Women’s Association of Australia, a position which she still holds. Under her leadership, the Branch focused on helping the needy in Ukraine. This humanitarian aid consisted largely of clothing, footwear, blankets, bed linen and food items and medical supplies In order to raise funds to dispatch parcels to Ukraine, on Eugenia’s initiative, the Branch held monthly stalls at the Queanbeyan Cottage Markets for 16 years. She never

she has been an extremely successful exhibitor and prize winner at The Royal Easter Shows as well as regional shows.

Jean was a nominated guest speaker for VIEW Clubs in the 1980s and was often called upon to give talks about embroidery and the Embroiderers' Guild.

Eugenia Ilyk

Eugenia Ilyk was born on 4 November 1925 in the village of Orikhivka in Khmelnytsky Oblast (region), Ukraine, the second daughter of Mykyta and Zina Dunets. She successfully completed her secondary schooling and was determined to further her education. However, her plans weren’t realised as in 1943, along with 16 other youths from her village, she was taken by freight train by the Nazis to an ammunitions factory in Duisburg-Homberg, Germany as a slave labourer. During her time in the ammunitions factory, she was subjected to many hardships, including constant hunger as a result of being on starvation rations, being overworked, being exposed to toxic fumes which permanently affected her eyes, and being subjected to bombing raids as German industry was one of the important targets of Allied bombings.

Approximately a year after arriving at the ammunitions factory, she decided to escape as she could no longer endure the poor living conditions and mistreatment. She felt that if she stayed she would die of starvation while, on the other hand, she knew that if she were caught, she would be shot — either way, the threat of death was real. During her escape, however, she had the good fortune of being offered work by a German farmer in Kapellan who treated her as a member of the family (finally, she had plenty to eat and was provided with a change of clothes). She spent her working days sitting at the spinning wheel, spinning wool, which in turn enabled the farmer’s family to knit jumpers, cardigans, etc. She worked for

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Captain Richard Brooks who arrived in 1802 as Captain of the convict transport ship ‘Atlas’. She has always had an intense interest in history and the beginnings of this wonderful country, being very proud of the fact that her Membership and that of her two daughters is a ‘Pioneer Membership’. The Women’s Pioneer Society is proud to put Joan’s name forward to receive Jean Arnot recognition.

“Pip” J. F. Hill

Pip was born in Worcester, England, on 23 January 1927. Most people born in Worcester say they were born in the shadow of the cathedral. It is a beautiful cathedral but Pip's mother used to say that she was born in the shadow of the Worcestershire Sauce Factory — she always smiled when she said it and so Pip was never sure if it was true! When Pip was thre years old, the family moved to Birmingham but World War II made an awful mess of her education owing to too many bombs and every night spent in the air raid shelter and so they moved to Coventry, just in time for that lovely city to be burned to the ground. There was no getting away from that war. When it finally came to an end, Pip tried to put things right and studied at every opportunity which enabled her to obtain a good position in the Central Financial Unit at the BBC in London.

During this time she met her husband-to-be Les, who was eagerly waiting to migrate to Australia. He did that in 1957 and she joined him in 1958. Les had made all the arrangements for but Pip's ship, the M.V. Fairsea, broke down in the Suez Canal and she almost missed her own wedding. They married the day after she landed. In Sydney, she was lucky again and obtained a position in a Chartered Accountants practice, the senior partner of which was the Austrian Consul General with whom she became great

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friends. What a happy time she had then, working in the office all day and spending evenings at cocktail parties or National Day celebrations or an embassy get-together. This continued for 33 years. During this time, she was also the secretary of the Austrian­ Australian Cultural Society which eventually led to being awarded the Golden Star for Services to the Republic of Austria, permission for acceptance having being granted by Her Majesty, the Queen.

In 1991, Pip retired and looked forward to catching up on jobs at home which had been waiting for years to be done. That took about six weeks. Then boredom set in! That’s when she heard of Dalwood Children's Home wanting volunteers to help raise money for the children. There she was welcomed by such lovely people all trying to do the same thing. Pip became a member of the Dalwood Auxiliary and for the past 18 years has attended Dalwood every Wednesday morning to sort children’s books for four jumble sales each year. The week before each jumble sale Pip works solidly to prepare for the jumble sale and spends the day selling items. She had caught the bug for helping the community and, in 2006, became a founding member and Treasurer of the Warringah Lantern Club. There are 23 Lantern Clubs and they are the fundraisers for The Royal Institute for Deaf and Blind Children. Again she met lovely people and made many friends all of whom hold out their hands to help needy people.

Pip's advice? Feel the friendship and satisfaction of helping and enjoy the activity it creates. Activity is essential with advancing years. Try it - you could live to be 90 - she has!

Jean Hinder

Jean (nee Wood) was born in Ganmain NSW on 30 October 1925. The family left Ganmain when she was three years old and moved first to the Sydney suburb of Haberfield and later to Five Dock. Jean

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left school at the age of 14 and began working for a dressmaker in the centre of Sydney. The high quality garments were made to order. Jean rose to a high position here, being entrusted with the task of making the samples for the showroom. Jean left this position to marry Richard Hinder on 30 April 1949.

In 1944, Jean had opened a Girl Guide Company in Five Dock. It was quite unusual for such a young woman to begin such an enterprise; Jean remained in this position for over two years. Early in their marriage, Jean and her husband moved to the Wollongong area and began a business.

Jean joined the Fairy Meadow Branch of the Red Cross in 1952. She held the position of treasurer for over nine and a half years and is now Patron of the amalgamated Fairy Meadow-Wollongong Branch of the Red Cross.

Jean is the mother of four and was active in supporting schools and organisations attended by her children, notably school canteens at Mount Ousley Primary School and Keira Boys High School as well as Girl Guide and Boy Scout groups.

Jean joined the Wollongong Group of the Embroiderers' Guild NSW in 1971 and has been an active member of the Embroiderers' Guild since that time. She was Convenor/Treasurer of the group in 1974. In 1980 Jean was one of the first Guild members to complete the Proficiency Course - the Guild's highest recognition of embroidery and design skills. She became a Tutor in the technique of Pulled Fabric embroidery and continued to tutor for the Guild and privately in several embroidery techniques until after her 80th birthday.

For many years, Jean was part of the team that assembled kit for the Embroiderers' Guild Creative Correspondence Course. This involved travelling from Wollongong to Concord West each month and creating kits to be sent to the 80-90 students enrolled in the course. Jean's beautiful embroidery has been acknowledged frequently as