Dame Edith Walker - Philanthropy And Charitie - Concord West - Sydney

 

Dame Edith Walker -

Eadith Campbell Walker was born on the 18th September 1861 @ The Rocks & she died on the 8th October 1937. 

Eadith was the only child of Thomas Walker, A Merchant and Her Mother Was Nee Jane Hart. 

They moved to "Yaralla", An Italiante Mansion On the Parramatta River At Concord West. 

During her lifetime she was Appointed Commander Of The Order Of The British Empire, & Dame Commander Of The Order Of The British Empire for her work in Philanthropy and Charities. 

She died on October 8th 1937, unmarried & childless. She was cremated @ Rookwood, & her ashes were buried in the family grave at St John's Ashfield. 

She left an estate of 265,000 Pounds. One third of the Residue of the Estate went to The Returned Soldiers & Sailors Imperial League Of Australia, & the real estate went to the Red Cross. 

Before WW1 Eadith  had a flair for Organizing lavish balls, and parties on a grand scale, fetes and charitable functions at her home.... her Guests included Royalty and other important people. 

She was widely travelled and interested in music and art...
She Built an Indian Room to house some of her treasures she had picked up in New Dehli for the 1903 Coronation Dunbar, She Enjoyed reading & collected an extensive library which she bequeathed to the Women's  College at the University of Sydney.
She collected valuable glass, porcelin, paintings and antique furniture. She was a founder of the Queens Club (1912) and a life Member Of The Royal Art Society Of New South Wales. 



She was a part of many charitable organisations including 
- The Women's Industrial Guild
- Queen Jubilee Fund
- Royal Alexandra Hospital For Children 
- The Royal Hospital For Women - Paddington

Eadith also supported religious, educational institutions, 
She maintained her staff in their old age and built cottages for needy men . 


Eadith never got married. Her Aunt Joanna Had instilled in her the fear of fortune Hunters. She was a shy, but strong and capable woman who disliked Publicity, & spent most of her later years  at "The Astor" - Macquarie Street. She died in 1937, with her dog Cobber beside her. 
Returned Servicemen & Scouts lined the Approach to the Chapel at Rookwood where she was cremated. Her estate sworn for Probate at 265,345 Pounds was disposed of in accordance with the terms of her fathers will after the Walker Trust Act was passed in 1939.