Helen Withers
Helen Withers | |
|---|---|
| Born | Mary Helen Campbell 27 November, 1907 |
| Died | 15 February, 1986 |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Known for | leadership of the Country Women’s Association |
| Successor | Bertha Chatto St George Smith |
| Spouse | Edwin Joseph Withers |
(Mary) Helen Withers OAM, born Mary Helen Campbell, (27 November, 1907 – 15 February, 1986) was an Australian community leader who became the President of the Country Women's Association for South Australia and of the national organisation.
Life[edit]
Withers was born in 1907 in Bathurst. Her parents were Annie (born Campbell) and James Walker and they had both been born in the state of Victoria, Her father was a squatter near Nyngan and by 1913 the family were living at what they called Kaluga. Her mother was in the Country Women’s Association of New South Wales and Withers was taken to meetings at Nyngan. When she was still at home she was went to a CWA meeting where she was elected to its executive committee. In 1928 she became the President on the Nyngan branch.[1]
She married into the Withers family who owned substantial lands. Her husband was Edwin Joseph Withers and they lived on the edges of the freshwater lake of Lake Alexandrina about 100km from Adelaide. They ran a carrle ranch belonging to the larger Withers family. She transferred her allegiance to the South Australian Country Women’s Association (SACWA). In 1939 she foinded a new section of the Siuth Australia organisation to appeal to women who could not attend regular meetings because if their remote locations. She was President of the South Australian Country Women’s Association postal section until 1952 except for when she was President of the SACWA.[1]
Withers rose to be President of the South Australian Country Women’s Association from 1944 to 1947 at a time when there were moves to establish a national CWA organisation. Helena Catherine Marfell of Victoria was the first President of the National Country Women's Association.[2]Withers was the next President because South Australia was then taking the lead for another year until Bertha Chatto St George Smith of NSW took over.[3]
Withers was awarded an OAM on 26 January 1981 for "community service".[4] Withers died in 1986 in North Adelaide.[1]
References[edit]
- ^ a b c Jeffery, Judith, "Mary Helen Withers (1907–1986)", Australian Dictionary of Biography, Canberra: National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, retrieved 2024-06-02
- ^ Crook, Karen, "Helena Catherine Marfell (1896–1981)", Australian Dictionary of Biography, Canberra: National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, retrieved 2024-06-02
- ^ Tierney, Robert, "Bertha Chatto Smith (1892–1984)", Australian Dictionary of Biography, Canberra: National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, retrieved 2024-06-02
- ^ "Mrs Mary Helen Campbell Withers". honours.pmc.gov.au. Retrieved 2024-06-02.
External links[edit]
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