Page 29 - Luce 2016

Obituaries

Rosemary Davidson (Thomas 1950) Jennifer Norris Smithers (Muntz 1954)
22 July 1931– 21 November 2015 16 November 1935 – 16 August 2015

After passing first year Science at the Mildura Branch Jenny Smithers (1954) was born in
University – a post-war necessity with the influx of those Dimboola, and lived in Beaufort during
doing scientific courses – in 1950 Rosemary Thomas entered the war ears before boarding at Merton
Janet Clarke Hall in order to complete her course. This she Hall. In 1954 Jenny entered the University
did, taking the Exhibition in Biochemistry in 1951. of Melbourne to study for combined
degrees in Arts and Law, taking up a
Staying on within the University grounds, Rosemary took place in the College on a Sarah Stock
a position in the Public Health Laboratory, situated in the Scholarship. She was elected Senior
School of Bacteriology (now the Ian Potter Museum). It Student of the College in 1957. It is said that in that year she
was here that she met Alastair Davidson, whom she later starred in ‘Juttodie’ when she dressed up as Miss Joske (long
married. Alastair was also a resident tutor at Trinity College. term and much feared Principal of the College) – but her sense
Rosemary’s working life then took her to the medical of fun and interest in extracurricular engagements were always
laboratory at the Children’s Hospital. She left this work while
her two children (Jennifer and Andrew who are now both balanced by regard for her studies, in which she graduated with
medicos) were young. distinction.
When Rosemary returned to work, it was to be a senior While in JCH Jenny formed lasting friendships with Elspeth
demonstrator and tutor in Microbiology at Monash Haydon (Hallowes), Ros Steeper (Smallwood), Hilary Feltham,
University, the Pharmacy College, and then back to Virginia McKee (Shattock), Barbara Bott (Hill), Barbara
Melbourne University, where she took on additional Letheren (Bennett), Mary Reynolds (Newsome), Rosy Grant
responsibilities at the Melbourne Diagnostic Unit. (Hallowes), Elizabeth Richards (Feltham) and Diana Christie
(Alexander).
Rosemary’s family had a long link with Janet Clarke Hall. Her
great-aunt Susie Williams had been Acting Principal in 1919, She also met Trinity student Adrian Smithers, whom she married
and later her aunt, Helen MacDonald was a student there. in 1958 and with whom she travelled and worked abroad before
Throughout her life, Rosemary continued this strong link returning to Melbourne, where five children (Jonathan, Richard,
with the College. She joined as a Life Member of the Trinity Patrick (JCH 1982), Penny, and Edward) were born in the
Women’s Society at the time of her graduation. The name 1960s. Her JCH connnections deepened for Jenny as Jonathan
was later changed to Janet Clarke Hall Society, and during later married Jenny, the daughter of Rosemary Davidson (for
much of that time Rosemary served on the Committee. For whose obituary see to left), and friendships continued with
many of those years she acted as Honorary Secretary. Barbara Bult (Ward-Ambler), Helen Grutzner, Todd and Anna
McDonald (Hallowes).
Rosemary’s later life was involved with family, now expanded
to include five grandchildren. She also had a broad range of In 1978 Jennifer retired after 20 years as a family lawyer at
interests, including the welcoming holiday home at Yanakie Patricia Clancy and Associates, enrolling in a graduate diploma
with its garden and birdlife, ballet and theatre, plus the in History at the University of Melbourne. Always proud of the
Lyceum Club and its many activities.
College and its alumni, she served for many years on the JCH
Society Committee as President, Vice-President and Committee
Stuart William Grant member, and was a guest speaker at a JCH dinner with her
31 March 1991 – 27 December 2014 husband Adrian on the topic of the Trans-Siberian Railway.
Among her many interests and activities in retirement, she loved
On 27 December 2014 Stuart Grant (2010) was tragically spending time with friends from school and Janet Clarke Hall.
killed in a road accident in Canada.

He spent his first year of study in Melbourne living at JCH, and The College acknowledges, in sympathy, those deceased
in 2012 he completed his degree in Bachelor of Production in alumni of whom it has become aware since the previous
the faculty of the Victorian College of the Arts. edition. Together with the accompanying obituaries, the
College has also learned of the following deaths in our
He was accepted to the Work/Study Program at The Banff community.
Centre in Alberta, Canada in 2014 and left Australia to take
up this prestigious position in May of that year. Of the many We extend our sympathy to the families of these JCH alumnae:

applicants world-wide, only one is selected for the 18 month Sheila Bignell (1941)
tenure in the Technical Management and Production area. It 1922 – 2014
was an ambition of Stuart’s to undertake study at The Banff Pauline McConnachie (1945)
Centre, and acceptance there was a very proud moment for 1928 – 2016
him and for his parents.
Virginia Ann Shattock (McKee 1954)
Stuart was living his dream in Canada and achieved much in 1937 – 2014
his very short lifetime. Jennie Vaughan (Billing, 1953)
1934 – 2014

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