Tilly Thompson
Matilda 'Tilly' Thompson MBE.
History
Matilda Louise Clennell was born on 28 April 1870 in Ballarat.[1]
As a child Matilda Clennell lived on Wendouree Parade[2] and attended the Wendouree State School and left at age 13.[3]
Tilly's first job was with Davies the draper, then Tilly worked for Tyler's Drapery in Bridge Street as a buyer. She then worked for the Lucas Clothing Factory, beginning her career there in 1905 (as Australia's first female travelling salesperson) at the age of 34 and quickly becoming a part of the senior management team as the head of production.[4]
Tilly was the first Ballarat woman with a drivers licence.[2]
On 6 August 1914 Tilly married a wealthy mining speculator, William Daniel Thompson, becoming stepmother to his six children.[3]
Records indicate that in 1917 Tilly rallied the employees of the Lucas Clothing Factory to create the Ballarat Avenue of Honour.[2]
After her husband's death in 1927 Tilly spent a number of years living in Europe - only to return in 1933 and continue the charitable works for which she had become so well known.
In 1939[2] Tilly built her home Sunways, overlooking Lake Wendouree[3] (later to become a convalescence home for returned servicemen, then a home for the aged).
She was awarded the gold medal of the Returned Sailors and Soldiers' Imperial League of Australia in 1939 and received her MBE in 1941.
Tilly Thompson died in April 1959 at the age of 88. She is buried at the Old Ballarat Cemetery in location F2 Section 15 Row 1 Grave 12.
Legacy
Tilly, along with the 'Lucas Girls', was instrumental in the establishment of the Ballarat Avenue of Honour and the Ballarat Arch of Victory. Tilly Thompson was also a repsonsible for the construction of Sunways, a temporary refuge for returned servicemen.
The Ballarat Botanical Gardens include a garden named in Tilly Thompson's honour.[5]
See also
Notes
References
- ↑ Ravenswood, Sandra. 'Re: Australian Records lookup - free service.' Genforum. http://genforum.genealogy.com/australia/messages/15709.html
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Butters, Peter. ‘THOMPSON – Tilly, Lucas & Co Clothing Manufacturer.’ Ballarat General Cemeteries. Accessed May 18, 2012 via http://ballaratcemeteries.com.au/php/detailst.php?id=16
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Mansfield, Peter. ‘Thompson, Matilda Louise (1871-1959).’ Australian Dictionary of Biography. Accessed May 18, 2012 via http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/thompson-matilda-louise-8791
- ↑ The Courier, Ballarat, December 12, 2006.
- ↑ Peake, Jacqui. ‘Ballarat botanical gardens sesquicentenary podtour.’ ABC, 7 April 2008. Accessed May 18, 2012 via http://www.abc.net.au/local/stories/2007/09/28/2046496.htm
Further Reading
External links
--Kerryn Murphy 11:48, 16 May 2011 (EST)
--Beth Kicinski 14:59, 19 June 2012 (EST)