Ida Nancy Ashburn
Ida Ashburn | |
|---|---|
| Born | Ida Nancy Ashburn August 3, 1909[1] |
| Died | October 20, 1980 (aged 71)[1] |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Other names | "Ashie"[1] |
| Alma mater | University of Queensland |
| Occupation(s) | Head-mistress Nurse |
| Parents | |
| Relatives | Cecil Elisabeth Mary Ashburn (sister), Nea Laurie Rhodes (sister), Alma D. Wilcox (sister),[2][3] Colin Ashburn (brother)[1] |
Ida Nancy Ashburn (3 August 1909–20 October 1980) was a head-mistress and nurse to the Voluntary Aid Detachment during the Second World War. After graduating from the University of Queensland, she became founding principal of Clayfield College from between 1934 to 1964; during the Second World War she trained as a nurse and from 1959 served on the Soldiers' Children Education Board for 20 years.
Early life
Ashburn was born on 3 August 1909 at Esk, Queensland to John Mark Ashburn and his wife Ida Victoria, née Thorn, as the fourth of five children.[1] Her father was a grazier on the property "Rocklea" near Barcaldine, before moving to Brisbane.[1] In her early years she was educated in a private school in Clayfield before she was moved to Brisbane State High School for girls, which was attached to Somerville House, from between 1923 to 1927, where the Australian Dictionary of Biography notes that "she was noted by the co-principals Constance Harker and Marjorie Jarrett 'for future use'."[1] Ashburn was the recipient of a State scholarship in 1923, which was extended for two years in 1926.[4][5]
Career
After being granted her extended scholarship to the Teachers' Training College in Brisbane 1926,[6] Ashburn qualified for University matriculation — she came third class in English, French, Greek, mathematics A and ancient history and second class in biology.[7] Ashburn graduated at the University of Queensland in 1929 with a double-major in English, and Language and Psychology.[8] She taught at her first school, Albert State School in Maryborough, as an assistant-teacher[1][9] before transferring to Monto State School in May 1930.[10] When Clayfield College moved to Bayview Terrace in Clayfield she resigned from Monto State School and commenced a position as mistress-in-charge of the primary school. The Australian Dictionary of Biography describes her as "an energetic and dynamic teacher" who also "undertook all secretarial and administrative tasks in her early days at Clayfield College".[1] She was made head-mistress of the school in 1934, during which she formed one of the first instances of a parent's committee in a Brisbane school in 1938.[11][1] Whilst in this position she studied the Classics part-time at the University of Queensland and received her B.A. in 1936.[1]
After her only brother Colin died in World War II she trained as a nurse with the State Voluntary Aid Detachment and later served on the State branch of the Repatriation Department's Soldiers' Children Education Board. She remained on the board from 1959 before retiring in 1979.[1]
Retirement and death
Ashburn retired from Clayfield College in 1964. The Australia Dictionary of Biography notes that the school could never have been considered large, but that this allowed her to know each student personally — to the point where students nick-named her "Ashie".[1] Ashburn died on 20 October 1980 in Clayfield and was cremated.[1] The college library was named after her, and later the college developed the Nancy Ashburn Learning Centre in her honour.
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r Swan, Geoffery (1993), "Ida Nancy Ashburn (1909–1980)", Australian Dictionary of Biography, vol. 13, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University
- ^ "Funeral Notices". Family Notices. The Courier Mail. 17 July 1954. p. 18.
- ^ "Worked in 3 wars". Brisbane Telegraph. Brisbane. 16 July 1954. p. 4.
- ^ "Scholarships: Extension Examinations - List of Passes; Females". Daily Standard. Brisbane. 13 January 1926. p. 1.
- ^ "Extension Scholarships: The successful candidations - 405 satisfy examiners". The Brisbane Courier. Brisbane. 14 January 1926. p. 16.
- ^ "State Scholarships: winners of Extensions - Junior Examinations". The Telegraph. Brisbane. 14 January 1926. p. 2.
- ^ "State Scholarships: winners of Extensions - Junior Examinations". The Telegraph. Brisbane. 14 January 1926. p. 2.
- ^ "University of Queensland: Annual Degree Examinations - list of successful candidates; external students". The Telegraph. Brisbane. 3 December 1929. p. 6.
- ^ "Teachers in the Making: Candidates for College - Senior and Junior Appointments". The Brisbane Courier. Brisbane. 25 January 1928. p. 19.
- ^ "State School Teachers: Transfers and resignations". The Telegraph. Brisbane. 23 May 1930. p. 15.
- ^ "Clayfield College Annual Meeting". The Telegraph. Brisbane. 7 February 1939. p. 15.
