Page 7 - Lansdowne Gardens Newsletter Spring_2017 Final

7 LANSDOWNE NEWS, SPRING 2017

Happy Birthday

We wish the following residents

a very Happy Birthday:

September

6 Sept Margaret S
8 Sept David (William) H
15 Sept Anthony D
24 Sept Lorna C
25 Sept Robert P
29 Sept Nola B Meet Mary Nicholl

October
Mary Nicholl and her husband Warren have been residents of
1 Oct Ella F Lansdowne Gardens since December 2016 when they relocated from
17 Oct Klaus S Canberra to be closer to two of their four children.
18 Oct Mavis S
Born and bred in Epping, Mary was the oldest of seven and educated
18 Oct Bruce S at Our Lady of Mercy College in Parramatta where she showed early
27 Oct Jenny S flair for fashion and design. Her lovely looks and warm personality led
her to becoming the Queen of Epping one year.

November Mary’s keen sense of style attracted attention and she often featured
1 Nov Margaret C in the Sydney social pages of the time. In fact, it was on one of those
occasions that Mary met her husband of 62 years Warren. He needed
3 Nov Cornelis K
a partner and she had access to a car! After a whirlwind romance,
4 Nov Marie‐Louise D Warren and Mary were married in January 1955.
5 Nov Hope C
In August 1962 looking for a life away from the bustle of Sydney Mary
6 Nov Margery H and Warren moved from Sydney to Canberra where Warren opened
10 Nov Henry J the very first legal chambers in Canberra and began practice as a
11 Nov Jean C barrister at law in the ACT.
19 Nov Anders J
While raising their four young children Mary found time for many
23 Nov Jessie F other interests. Delighting in the opportunity of meeting a wide variety
24 Nov Ruth H of people from many countries Mary became involved in the Pan
Pacific and Southeast Asia Women’s Association, an international

women's organisation devoted to supporting families, peace and
understanding in the Pacific and Southeast Asia.
During this time she was also instrumental in the formation of the Marymead Children’s home. A temporary home which
gave children safety and shelter at various times of crisis distress following accidents or sudden illness, poverty, a
mother and / or father hospitalised, a family break up, disruption of the home, child abuse or neglect.

Having seen the children into Tertiary Education Mary turned to seeking additional qualifications herself which led to her
qualification as a secondary teacher of dressmaking and design, first at Merici College and then St Francis Xavier.
Mary was much loved by staff and students at both schools during her 30 year career and is remembered not only for
the knowledge and skills she imparted but also for the encouragement she offered to so many students struggling on the
margins. She saw value and potential in everyone.

Mother of four, aunt to 28 nephews and nieces, grandmother of eight and great grandmother of four, all of whom
admire the way she continues to be most concerned not for herself but for others.