Mary V. Austin Explained

Dame Mary Valentine Austin (née Hall-Thompson; 29 July 1900 – 10 September 1986)^[1] was an Australian community worker and political activist.^[2] The daughter of Admiral Percival Hall-Thompson and his wife, Helen (née Deacon), she was educated in New Zealand at Marsden College, Wellington.

Affiliations

• Red Cross Society (Superintendent Regional Commandant, Victorian Division)
• Australian Liberal Party, Vice President, and later National Vice-President (1947–76)
• Victoria League, honorary life membership^[3]

Damehood

She was appointed DBE on 16 June 1979 for community and welfare services.

Family

She married Ronald Albert Austin (1893–1965) on 9 June 1925. The couple had one child, Derrick Albert Austin, who was born in 1926. Little other information exists regarding her personal life in Mortlake, Victoria.

Sources

• Draper, W J (ed.), Who's who in Australia, 1983, 14th edn, The Herald and Weekly Times, Melbourne, 1983
• Draper, W J (ed.), Who's who in Australia, 1980, 23rd edn, The Herald and Weekly Times, Melbourne, 1980, vol 928, page 68

External links

• London Gazette notice of Mary Austin's damehood for "distinguished service to the community"
• NLA profile
• Ancestry.com website info re Ronald Austin
• Ancestry.com website info re Mary Austin

Notes and References

1. Web site: Austin, Mary Valentine Hall - Woman - The Australian Women's Register. Melbourne. National Foundation for Australian Women and The University of. www.womenaustralia.info. en-gb. 2017-10-20.
2. Some sources indicate Valentine, not Valerie, as her middle name
3. http://www.womenaustralia.info/biogs/IMP0008b.htm Australian Government Office for Women Faith, Hope, Charity site