Page 40 - Luce 2021

Obituaries

Diane Alley OBE (Duke 1945) For as long as I can remember, Diane of the Family (IYF) designating her an
22 December 1927 – 2 August 2021 was always involved in some sort of IYF Patron for her outstanding support
voluntary community work, but her of the UN program. She was also a vice
‘career’ largely began with the National president of the United Nations Australia
Diane was born Council of Women (NCW). Beginning Association (UNAA) from 1984 to 1990
in Ballarat, the as the JCH Society delegate in 1963, and Convenor of the UNAA Status of
daughter of Dr she went on to become president of the Women Committee.
Frederick Duke NCW Victoria from 1977 to 1980, and
and his wife Eva. then president of the NCW Australia In other community service Diane
Her father died from 1982 to 1985. She had been deeply was an Honorary Magistrate in the
of a heart attack involved in the struggle for equal pay Children’s Court (1972-1984), during
when she was in the 1960s, and an early supporter which time she also gained a Diploma
four years old. of progressive women’s groups such of Criminology (1976). She served on the
His early death, as the Melbourne Working Women’s Fairlea Women’s Prison Council (1979-
during the Depression, left her mother Centre and the Women’s Electoral 1983) and was an Official Prison Visitor
struggling to cope alone. For some years Lobby (which became affiliated with the for ten years. She was president of the
Diane stayed with her aunt’s family, first NCWV in 1973 at her suggestion). As Children’s Protection Society (1983-1988)
in Ballarat where she attended Clarendon NCW Australia president, she helped and, on her retirement from the Board
PLC, and later in Melbourne where she mould the organisation into a more in 1999, was made an Honorary Life
continued her education at MLC. Her active, progressive, and influential force, Vice President, only the second since
mother later remarried and they moved one committed to all aspects of human the Society’s formation in 1896. She also
to Bendigo where Diane completed her rights, and the abolition of all forms served as an executive member of several
schooling at Girton. of discrimination against women. The other organisations, including the Free
welfare of children and families was Kindergarten Union, the Lady Gowrie
Diane enrolled at Melbourne University also a particular focus, and she herself Child Development Centre and the Adult
and entered JCH in 1945, gaining a BA was Convenor of the Child and Family Deaf Society.
(Hons) in English Language and Literature. Standing Committee at both state and
It was while she was at JCH that she met national levels for many years. In 1981 Diane was awarded an OBE for
her future husband, Stephen George Alley her community service and in 1998 she
(later Mr Justice Alley) who was in Trinity Both state and federal governments received the NCWA Centenary Award.
College. They met in a student drama appointed her to advisory bodies. She In 2001 she was placed on the Honour
group, married and had four children – was Chair of the Victorian Consultative Roll of Victorian Women, and in 2007
Richard, David, Jane and Katherine. Committee on Social Development she was the first female recipient of the
(1985-1986) and served on the Victorian UNAA Founders Award in recognition
After the early years of child rearing Diane Premier’s Equal Opportunity Advisory of her lifetime commitment to women’s
sought to broaden her activities and find Council (1978-1982), the National rights and social justice both in Australia
a meaningful outlet for her talents and Advisory Council on Social Welfare and internationally.
interests. Intelligent and well-read, with (1983-1985) and the National Women’s
an active mind and a passion for social Consultative Council (1984-1986). Diane had a long and fulfilling life.
engagement, she had an immense interest She had a large family, including five
in social issues and current affairs, as Diane travelled overseas frequently grandchildren, and a loving husband
well as theatre, music, literature and the between 1970 and 1994, representing who encouraged and supported her in
arts in general. Told by her mother-in- Australia at conferences of the all she did. She travelled widely, both
law that she should not work because International Council of Women (ICW), for her work and for the love of it. She
it would look like her husband could and in 1984 organised a Pacific and belonged to several clubs and societies,
not support her, she turned instead to Asian Regional Conference of the ICW, and regularly attended lectures, the
voluntary community work for causes held in Darwin, focusing on the needs of theatre, concerts and the opera. The
she increasingly believed in – universal women in the Asia Pacific region. work she did was fulfilling, meaningful
human rights, equality for women, to her, interesting and socially beneficial,
and social justice. Compassionate, From 1986 to 1994 she was Convenor and she considered herself very fortunate
genuinely interested in others, and with of the Child and Family Standing to have been able to do it. Hers was a
a talent for networking, she proved to be Committee of the ICW, and in 1993 good life.
a determined and effective advocate for received a Testimonial from the UN
these causes. Co-ordinator of the International Year David Alley

The College acknowledges, in sympathy, those deceased alumnae of whom it has become aware since the previous edition.
Together with the accompanying obituaries, the College has also learned of the following deaths in our community:

Susan Breen (1959) Dr Joan Shirley Ackland (1939) Joyce Margaret Reid (1956)
15 May 1941 – 19 December 2019 29 August 1918 – 11 December 2020 28 September 1935 – 26 April 2021
Jean Lottie Danby (Philip 1941) Elspeth “Peppi” Anne Kent (1957) Dr Rosemary Grant (Hallowes 1953)
1921 – 14 October 2020 10 June 1938 – 7 April 2021 9 September 1935 – 8 January 2021

40 LUCE Number 20 2021