200 Australian Women

Lillian Daphne de Lissa (1885-1967), educator, was born on 25 October 1885 at Darlinghurst, Sydney, daughter of Julia (born Joseph) and Montague de Lissa, merchant; they were Jewish. Lillian was educated at Riviere College, Woollahra, and became an accomplished pianist. On seeing the transformation of slum children by the Woolloomooloo free kindergarten, she dedicated herself to the education of young children. In 1902 she entered Australia's only kindergarten college, in Sydney, under Chicago-trained Frances Newton.

Adela Pankhurst Walsh (1885-1960), political activist, was born on 19 June 1885 in Manchester, England, third daughter of Emmeline (born Goulden) and Richard Pankhurst, barrister. Adela arrived in Australia from England in 1914 already a veteran of public campaigning in the militant demand for women's suffrage. In Melbourne she joined Vida Goldstein (q.v.) and Cecilia John in the Women's Political Association; she was assisting Vida's campaign for election to the House of Representatives when war started.

Annette Marie Sarah Kellermann (1886-1975), swimming champion, pioneer of physical culture, film star and vaudeville artiste, was born on 6 July 1886 at Marrickville, Sydney, second of four children of Alice (born Charbonnet), pianist and music teacher, and Frederick Kellermann, violinist.

Christian Bill Smith (1886-1975), jockey, arrived in North Queensland with two racehorses and established himself as a local identity on country race courses. He was remembered by old acquaintances as a small figure who was very roughly spoken and given to constant swearing. He added to his reputation for eccentricity by refusing to change with the other jockeys. He won the St Leger Quest in 1902, the Jockey Club Derby in 1903, and the Victorian Oaks in 1909-10. For the last four years of his life Bill Smith lived near Cairns as a recluse.

Katie Louisa Ardill Brice (1886-1955), gynaecologist, was born on 3 August 1886 at Chippendale, Sydney, only daughter of two children of Louisa (born Wales) and George Edward Ardill, evangelists. She grew up in a household with limited means, deeply committed to evangelism and practical charity. Her mother conducted prayer-meetings on an interdenominational basis, was co-editor of Rescue, a suffragist and matron superintendent of the Home of Hope Hospital (later South Sydney Women's Hospital), where she instituted training courses for nurses.

Nellie Constance Martyn (1887-1926), businesswoman, was born on 12 June 1887 at Charlton, Victoria, daughter of Lucy (born Partridge) and James Martyn, both from Ballarat. James had been a schoolteacher and a draper before he purchased in 1900 a steelworks at Brunswick, Melbourne, which he renamed the Steel Co. of Australia. He twice became president of the Victorian Chamber of Manufactures, and in 1923 represented Australian employers at the International Labor Conference, Geneva.

Deborah Vernon Hackett (1887-1965), mining entrepreneur and charity worker, was born on 18 June 1887 at Guildford, Western Australia. Her father was surveyor Frederick Drake-Brockman and her mother Grace (born Bussell) heroine of the 1876 shipwreck near Margaret River, where Deborah herself spent much of her youth. She was educated as one of the few girl pupils at Guildford Grammar School for boys. She was an intrepid bareback rider, an explorer of caves and later, a skier. On 5 August 1905 she married 57-year-old lawyer Dr John Winthrop Hackett at Busselton. The marriage was happy.

Enid Lorimer (1888-1982), actress, was born in London into a reasonably comfortable family, the elder of two girls. Interviewed in her old age, she said that Lorimer was a stage name, and that her real name was May Enid Bosworth Nunn. She went to a boarding school in Folkestone and then a finishing school in Switzerland. She believed that she rebelled against the rigid hypocrisy of the Victorian class system while still a young child, objecting to a prohibition on her as a gentleman's daughter from having a merchant's daughter for a friend.

Doris Amelia Blackburn (1889-1970), civil rights activist, peace campaigner and politician was born on 18 September 1889 in Auburn, Victoria, daughter of Louisa Dewson (born Smith) and Lebbeus Hordern. Her mother was liberal, tolerant and attracted to theosophy, but her experience of the effects of the Boer War and alcoholism on her husband and family led her to the Woman's Christian Temperance Union and the Sisterhood of Peace, thus providing a model of social activism to her daughters.

Dorothy Jane Adele Helmrich (1889-1984), singer and founder of the Arts Council of Australia, was born at Woollahra, New South Wales, on 25 July 1889, the youngest of six children of Esther Isobel (born Pepper) and John Hellmrich, architect. (The spelling was later changed to Helmrich). She enjoyed a carefree childhood and was educated at Mosman Academy and High School, followed by a year's commercial training. She dropped the second 'l' in the family name.

Lucy Woodcock (1889-1968), teacher, was born on 23 February 1889, daughter of Janet and Thomas Woodcock. She began her working life as a pupil teacher in 1906. She studied as a evening student at the University of Sydney, graduating BA (1922) and BEc (1924). In 1926 she went to England for two years as an exchange teacher. On her return she taught at the Erskineville Home Economics School and was principal there from 1932 until her retirement in 1953.

Zora Bernice May Cross (1890-1964), writer, was born on 18 May 1890 at Eagle Farm, Brisbane, daughter of Mary Louisa Eliza Ann (born Skyring) and Ernest William Cross, an accountant. She inherited literary aspirations from both parents: a strong sense of poetic mission from her mother, and a strain of Celtic fantasy from her father. She was educated at Gympie and Ipswich Girls' Grammar School, and from 1905 in Sydney at Burwood Superior Public School and Sydney Girls' High School. In 1909-10 she attended the Teachers' College, Sydney.

Ethel Irene McLennan (1891-1983), botanist and educator, was born on 15 March 1891 at Williamstown, Victoria, second child of Eleanor (born Tucker) and George McLennan. The family moved via East Melbourne to Hawthorn, where her father was employed and later was a partner in Henry Box & Co. Ethel was educated at Tintern Ladies' College, where two teachers, Dr Georgina Sweet (q.v.) and Bertha Rees, kindled her love of botany. She won an exhibition to the University of Melbourne, graduating BSc with honours in 1914, followed by appointment as demonstrator-lecturer.

Ellen Imelda Cashman (1891-1983), union organiser, was born on 19 November 1891 at Gladesville, Sydney, youngest daughter of Ellen and Edward (Ned) Cashman, licensee of the Bayview hotel. She attended St Joseph's School, Hunter's Hill, leaving at an early age to start work, first in the clothing trade, then in the printing industry. After ten years she earned 1 pound 1 shilling a week as a forewoman. When women formed the Women and Girls' Printing Trades Union Mel joined and lost her job.