| [Index] |
| Merlyn Edith ATTWATER (1901 - 1989) |
| Australian Guides |
| Children | Self + Spouses | Parents | Grandparents | Greatgrandparents |
| Merlyn Edith ATTWATER (1901 - 1989) | Charles Edward ATTWATER (1865 - 1940) | William ATTWATER (1826 - 1886) | ||
| Matilda TIPPER ( - 1909) | ||||
| Elizabeth (TIPPER) | ||||
| Edith Asenath ELWORTHY (1876 - 1904) | James Baker ELWORTHY (1833 - 1889) | George ELWORTHY (1813 - 1878) | ||
| Emma BOWCHER (1810 - 1854) | ||||
| Henrietta Sophia Jane LARGE (1846 - 1915) | William James LARGE (1806 - 1881) | |||
| Mary Ann (Marianne) Caroline WRIXON (1819 - 1888) |
| b. 14 Jun 1901 at Grafton, New South Wales, Australia |
| d. 28 May 1989 aged 87 |
| Parents: |
| Charles Edward ATTWATER (1865 - 1940) |
| Edith Asenath ELWORTHY (1876 - 1904) |
| Step Parents: |
| Kate E D CRANE (1863 - 1919) |
| Siblings (1): |
| Leicester Charles Wrixon ATTWATER (1904 - 1972) |
| Events in Merlyn Edith ATTWATER (1901 - 1989)'s life | |||||
| Date | Age | Event | Place | Notes | Src |
| 14 Jun 1901 | Merlyn Edith ATTWATER was born | Grafton, New South Wales, Australia | 22268/1901 | ||
| 18 Mar 1904 | 2 | Death of mother Edith Asenath ELWORTHY (aged 27) | Grafton, New South Wales, Australia | 1359/1904 | |
| 1919 | 18 | Death of step mother Kate E D CRANE (aged 56) | Grafton, New South Wales, Australia | 19441/1919 | |
| 1940 | 39 | Death of father Charles Edward ATTWATER (aged 75) | Grafton, New South Wales, Australia | 5388/1940 | |
| 28 May 1989 | 87 | Merlyn Edith ATTWATER died | |||
| Personal Notes: |
|
MBE for dedication to Guiding
Merlyn Edith Attwater was born on 14 June 1901 and educated at Grafton, then at New England Grammar School in Armidale where she was eventually head prefect. She was involved in many community activities in Grafton, and later kept house for her father until his death in 1942. Merlyn's consuming passion was the Girl Guide movement which she joined at the end of 1923. When a Grafton troop was formed in 1924, she became an inaugural member holding the rank of Lieutenant. Determined to introduce Guide camps but not having the qualifications, Merlyn went off to Sydney and gained the highest qualifications then available. This trip was no mean feat. In those days, the 500 mile journey entailed travel either part way by train then service car - or by boat! By 1930 there were two Brownie Packs (Merlyn was Brown Owl of one) as well as a Rangers Company, and the movement had spread to South Grafton. Merlyn became District Commissioner, organising camps for Guides from Taree, Kempsey, Coffs Harbour, Dorrigo, Casino, Kyogle, Ballina, Murwillumbah, Maclean and Grafton. When Lady Game, wife of Governor Sir Philip Game, visited Grafton to lay the foundation stone of the Guide Hall, Merlyn was her hostess and when Governor-General Lord Gowrie's wife visited Grafton during the 1930s as Australian President of the Girl Guides, she presented Merlyn with both Blue Cord and Green Cord Diplomas - very high honours. After her father's death in 1942 Merlyn moved to Sydney, sharing a flat with a friend at Gordon. Throughout the war years Merlyn was Training Adviser and Unit Guider at Wahroonga. She was Chairman of G.I.s. and also the first President of the Pioneer Guiders. From 1942 to 1950 she served full time at Guide Headquarters as Commissioner for Training and as a member of the State executive. After the war, as Australia's sale representative, Merlyn attended World Conferences of Guides in France and Switzerland. In appreciation of her wartime work in organising parcels from Australian Guides for families of guides in Britain, Merlyn was invited there as a guest of the British Guide movement. She was made a Member of the British Empire (MBE) for her dedication to the Guiding movement. In 1950 Merlyn moved to the lovely Blue Mountains area of Wentworth Falls, although she remained a member of the State Executive until the early 60s. With characteristic vigour she then became involved with the local community. For 34 years she was deeply involved with the Holy Trinity Anglican Church where she taught Sunday School, served as secretary of the Parish Council, was President of the Women's Guild and Parish Secretary of the Bible Society. Merlyn was a foundation member of Wentworth Falls Country Women's Association serving in all offices. In 1975 she was awarded her Long Service Badge. From the time she moved to the Mountains, Merlyn was an active member of the Red Cross Society and was Branch President for several years. The Wentworth Falls Progress Association was another of Merlyn interests in the 50s and 60s. She was on the committee responsible for planting a handsome avenue of maple trees in Blaxland Road. A keen gardener, she originally had a large, beautiful garden which included a patrol campsite. Later she moved into a charming small house with a pretty garden opposite the Wentworth Falls golf course. Eventually age caught up with her and she moved into the Grosvenor Nursing Home at Wentworth Falls. In August 1984 aged 83, the Grosvenor nominated her for the Senior Citizen of the Year Award, referring to her as 'Merlyn the Magician'. An article in the 'Blue Mountains Echo' relative to the award said of her: "Those who have known her well over many years can testify to Miss Attwater's readiness to provide prompt, unobtrusive, practical help and support for anyone with a real need. Indeed, hers has been a life of service which few in her own or any other generation can match. Without a doubt a great number of Australians have good reason to honour the name of Merlyn Edith Attwater." On 28 May 1989, just 17 days short of her 88th birthday, Merlyn died. |
| Source References: |
| 2. Type: Book, Abbr: Devon to Downunder, Title: Devon to Downunder, Auth: Bettie Elworthy, Publ: Bookbound, Date: 1997 |
| - Reference = 194 (Name, Notes) |