Gertrude Amy Roseby OBE (20 April 1872 – 27 December 1971) was an Australian Congregationalist lay leader as well as school teacher, principal and co-owner of a school with her sister (Sarah) Mabel Roseby.[1]

Gertrude Amy Roseby
Born(1872-04-20)20 April 1872
Dunedin, New Zealand
Died27 December 1971(1971-12-27) (aged 99)
Willoughby, New South Wales
Occupation(s)Headmistress, peace activist

Early life

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Born in Dunedin, New Zealand on 20 April 1872, Roseby was the eldest of ten children born to Rev Thomas Roseby and his wife Sarah (nee Hooworth).[2] Roseby's father was a Congregationalist minister.[3] Her younger sister was Sarah Mabel Roseby and she would in time work for her as a maths teacher.[2]

Roseby was privately tutored before entering the University of Sydney.[4] She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in 1895 with second class honours in logic and mental philosophy.[citation needed]

Teaching career

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Roseby taught at Rockhampton Girls' Grammar School, Queensland for eight years before travelling to Britain for further study.[2] She completed a Diploma of Pedagogy at the University of London (1905). In the following two years, Roseby taught at the Wyggeston School for Girls in Leicester before returning to Australia.

In 1908, she became headmistress of Ascham, Darling Point.[2] Roseby lived on site and served under principal HJ Carter. In April 1911, she bought Redlands School, Neutral Bay with her sister Mabel.[5][6][7][8] Redlands was a school with 35 day girls and 8 boarders when she acquired it, and grew to 400 students under Roseby's direction.[9] She also extended the grounds and buildings to accommodate the extra students. Roseby encouraged capable students to pursue university studies. The school was sold to the Church of England in 1945.[citation needed]

Roseby was chair of the Sydney Kindergarten Training College between 1946 and 1950.[citation needed] She was founder of Wybalena Hostel for Girls, Burwood and served as treasurer 1951–63. Roseby was also a member of the NSW Women's Inter-Church Council and the National Council of Women of New South Wales.[2]

Activism

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Roseby was a member of the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom and the Rotary Peace Fellowship. She was a life member of the Congregational Women's Association and served as president in 1942 to 1946.[2]

Awards

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Roseby was appointed an OBE in June 1958.[10][11]

References

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  1. ^ "IN the will and two codicils of GERTRUDE AMY ROSEBY, O.B.E., late of 20 Chaleyer Street, Willoughby, near Sydney". Government Gazette of the State of New South Wales (Sydney, NSW : 1901 – 2001). 25 August 1972. p. 3467. Retrieved 12 February 2021.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Teale, Ruth, "Roseby, Gertrude Amy (1872–1971)", Australian Dictionary of Biography, Canberra: National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, retrieved 12 February 2021
  3. ^ Phillips, Walter, "Roseby, Thomas (1844–1918)", Australian Dictionary of Biography, Canberra: National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, retrieved 15 February 2021
  4. ^ Melbourne, National Foundation for Australian Women and The University of. "Roseby, Gertrude Amy – Woman – The Australian Women's Register". www.womenaustralia.info. Retrieved 12 February 2021.
  5. ^ "NOTICE UNDER REAL PROPERTY ACT". Government Gazette of the State of New South Wales (Sydney, NSW : 1901 – 2001). 9 August 1940. p. 3338. Retrieved 12 February 2021.
  6. ^ S.C.E.G.G.S. Redlands in retrospect : the story of the school from 1884 to 1965. Myrtle Gillham, Ronald Dunlop, Joanne Birkl, S.C.E.C.G.S. Redlands. Council. [Cremorne, N.S.W.]: Council of S.C.E.C.G.S. Redlands. 1990. ISBN 0-9592147-1-2. OCLC 27634181.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  7. ^ "REDLANDS, NEUTRAL BAY". Sydney Stock and Station Journal (NSW : 1896 - 1924). 19 January 1923. p. 2. Retrieved 12 February 2021.
  8. ^ "REDLANDS REUNION DANCE". Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 – 1954). 31 July 1926. p. 12. Retrieved 12 February 2021.
  9. ^ "1911 – 1945 – Redlands". Redlands. Retrieved 22 February 2021.
  10. ^ "Government Gazette Notices". Commonwealth of Australia Gazette (National : 1901 – 1973). 26 June 1958. p. 2043. Retrieved 12 February 2021.
  11. ^ "Miss Gertrude Amy ROSEBY". Australian Honours Search. Retrieved 10 February 2021.