Radegund of Poitiers
Thuringian princess and Frankish queen, founder of a scholarly abbey
Category Archives: Philanthropy
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Isabella Flora Siteman
Although lacking formal education, Isabella Siteman was aware of the benefits it could confer. She decided to devote a large part of her savings to the better education of students who required financial help. Her will left the residue of her estate in trust for this purpose. The Isabella Siteman Scholarship was founded in 1923 and was intended to provide assistance to young men and women who wished to obtain a university education in New Zealand.
Elizabeth of Hungary
Saint Elizabeth of Hungary (1207-1231)
Mary Augusta Humphry Ward
Immensely popular English novelist.
Godiva
Saxon lady of Coventry and naked activist for the poor.
Beryl Beaurepaire
Born in 1923, Dame Beryl Beaurepaire was a leading figure in the late twentieth century feminist movement in Australia.
Miles Franklin
Stella Miles Franklin was a leading writer who published under the pseudonyms Miles Franklin and Brent of Bin Bin.
Gertrude Abbott
Using an inheritance from Woods, she established St Margaret’s, a non-denominational maternity home in 1893, and for the next 30 years was involved in its management, initially as president and later as matron.
Fatima al-Fihri
Also known as Umm al-Banayn, Fatima bint Muhammad Al-Fihriyya is credited with founding the al-Qarawiyyin mosque in 859 AD in Fez, Morocco. The mosque later developed a teaching institution, which became the University of al-Qarawiyyin in 1963.
Ada Mary a’Beckett
Alongside her employment, a’Beckett played an active role in the life of her community, fitting her ‘philanthropic activities … [into] the leisure moments of a busy professional life (Argus, 12 February 1927), fulfilling the adage that it was ‘the busiest women who can always find time to do a little more’ (Argus, 18 February 1927). To Melbourne journalist, ‘Vesta’ she was an example of the contribution which educated women could make to philanthropic work (Argus, 23 January 1935). She was a founder of the Victorian Women Graduates Association, took leadership roles in both the Janet Clarke Hall Committee and the Lyceum Club, and was also a member of the National Council of Women and the Victoria League. However, her most important contribution was through the Free Kindergarten Union, of which she was the foundation vice-president, president from 1919-39 and life president from then until her death. She was one of the founders, and later a lecturer at the Kindergarten Teaching College and founder of the Australian Association for Pre-School Child Development which was responsible for the establishment of the Lady Gowrie model centres across Australia. Kindergartens, she believed, had the potential to ‘eradicate the weaknesses of human nature and strengthen the good points’ and might in time ‘do away altogether with gaols and asylums’ (Argus, 19 August 1944).