Rita May Wilson Harris OBE (1888–1975) was an Australian community worker .[1][2][3][4]
Rita May Wilson Harris | |
|---|---|
| Born | 24 January 1888 Brighton, Victoria, Australia |
| Died | 21 July 1975 (aged 87) Brighton, Melbourne |
| Occupation | Community worker |
| Spouse |
Norman Charles Harris
(m. 1912; died 1963) |
Early life
editShe was born at Brighton Beach, Melbourne, on 24 January 1888, the elder daughter of Victorian-born Alice Frances Mabel, née Wilson and Isidore Henry Moss.
The May Wilson family had to experience a seven-year drought at Dubbo, New South Wales, and as a result, the entire family moved to Melbourne.[1][2] Harris went to Presbyterian Ladies’ College and worked at Carlton Free Kindergarten as a voluntary helper.[1][2][3] Rita May married Norman Charles Harris on 10 April 1912 at the Presbyterian Church, Armadale.[1][2][3] During World War II, Harrises kept open house on weekends, and numerous serviceman were entertained there with large tennis parties.[1][2]
Committee and organizations
editHarris was a committee member and the secretary of Collingwood Crèche-Kindergarten, a life governor and a president of Keele Street Kindergarten.[1][2][3][5] In 1955, Keele Street Kindergarten became Rita May Harris Free Kindergarten.[1][2] Harris was the executive member, chairman of Finance committee and Vice President of the Free Kindergarten Union.[1][2] To recycle and save waste materials, Harris started the Silver Door auxiliary in her leadership at 1939.[1][5]
As a result of Harris work at Victoria towards Kindergarten Union, she became the Honorary Vice President of F.K.U. (Free Kindergarten Union) in 1950.[1][2][6] Harris was also the President, Vice President, and received O.B.E at Melbourne Women's Hospital; and the outpatient's department of Royal Women's Hospital became Rita Harris Wing in 1958.[1][2][3][7][8]
After Harris's retirement in 1950, she was involved with the Melbourne Legacy Club and raised money for the Legacy club and Red Cross.[1][2][3] Predeceased by the death of Norman Charles Harris on 1963, Rita May Harries died at Middle Brighton on 21 July 1975.[1][2][3][4]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Alley, Diane B., "Harris, Rita May Wilson (1888–1975)", Australian Dictionary of Biography, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, retrieved 2019-03-26
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "Harris, Rita May Wilson (1888-1975) - People and organisations". Trove. Retrieved 2019-03-26.
- ^ a b c d e f g Melbourne, The University of. "Harris, Rita May - Woman - The Encyclopedia of Women and Leadership in Twentieth-Century Australia". www.womenaustralia.info. Retrieved 2019-03-26.
- ^ a b "Biography - Rita May Wilson Harris - People Australia". peopleaustralia.anu.edu.au. Retrieved 2019-03-26.
- ^ a b Gardiner, Lyndsay (1982). The Free Kindergarten Union of Victoria, 1908-80. Australian Council for Educational Research. ISBN 9780855632441.
- ^ DOCUMENT RESUME (PDF).
- ^ The Royal Women's Hospital: proposed staff for the main block, Klumm-Stephens wing and Rita Harris wing. Melbourne?: The Hospital. 1966.
- ^ Hospital, The Royal Women's. "Timeline 1950 to 1975". The Royal Women's Hospital. Retrieved 2019-03-26.