Three Women Conservationists – a housewife,
a lawyer and a teacher
Janine Kitson BA, Dip Ed, M Ed, Dip TEFI, MA, M Ed
(Hons)
Janine
has taught in many primary and secondary schools across Sydney since 1982.
During her career with the NSW Department of Education she has also written
English learning materials for schools and distance education as well as
consulted to a Samoan education project. Janine has also been a former
councillor on Ku-ring-gai Council as well as a Director on the Board of the
National Trust of Australia (NSW). In recent years she has been an active
member of the National Parks Association of NSW, the Nature Conservation
Council of NSW, and the Colong Foundation for Wilderness, the David G Stead
Memorial Wildlife Research Foundation of Australia and the NSW Teachers
Federation. Through these groups Janine has developed a particular passion for
the history of the environment movement. In 2014 Janine received Life
Membership from the Ryde-Macquarie Teachers Association. In 2010 Janine
received the North Shore Times Community Medal for Conservation and the
Environment. Janine is a regular book reviewer for “Education”, the NSW
Teachers Federation journal that goes out to 60,000 teachers working in public
schools and TAFE Colleges across NSW.
Three
Women Conservationists – A housewife, a lawyer and a teacher.
Annie
Wyatt 1885-1961
Marie
Byles 1900-1979
Thistle
Harris 1902-1990
Annie
Wyatt, Marie Byles and Thistle Harris were extraordinary women who, in their
own unique ways, demonstrated their determination as women, to protect Sydney’s
environment. This was at a time when women had limited education and professional
opportunities and were generally financially dependent on men. They grew up at
a time when most women were expected to marry, stay at home and look after
children.
Annie
Wyatt was a conservative married housewife who founded the National Trust of
Australia (NSW) and was responsible for saving Balls Head Reserve on Sydney
Harbour, Dalrymple Hay Forest at St Ives and bushland at Palm Beach.
Marie
Byles was an adventurer, bushwalker, feminist, mountain climber and Buddhist
who was the first practicing woman solicitor in NSW who ran her own legal
practice in Eastwood. She successfully campaigned to create Bouddhi National
Park on the Central Coast.
Thistle
Harris, teacher, botanist and environmental educator promoted Australian
wildflowers and left a memorial to the man she loved, David G. Stead, by
creating “Wirrimbirra Sanctuary” at Bargo NSW. As a lecturer at Sydney Teachers
College she influenced generations of teachers on how to engage and excite
young people with the natural world.
The
three women came from different backgrounds. Annie was reasonably comfortably
off and was well connected. Her grandfather was Archibald Forsyth – a
parliamentarian, industrialist and philanthropist who was involved in founding
the RSPCA. Marie Byles family came out of the suffragette, Fabian socialist
tradition of England; and Thistle Harris came from a comfortable background but
one that often had to deal with hard times when money was short.
Annie
was charming and forthright but promoted men to be leaders. Marie supported
women in their legal and employment rights; and Thistle was an equal to her
partner David Stead, one of Australia’s greatest environmental pioneers.
Marie
Byles and Thistle Harris supported Annie Wyatt by gifting properties to the
National Trust in NSW to be kept safe in ‘perpetuity’ [Thistle Harris –
Wirrimbirra Sanctuary at Bargo and Marie Byles’ Cheltenham home “Ahimsa”].
Marie believed in the spiritual power of Nature and how one needed
self-discipline and meditation to live in harmony with Nature. Thistle believed
in the power of hands-on-outdoor-education that inspired young people to love
and respect Nature.
Janine
is presenting a series of lectures and discussion groups through WEA Sydney, 72
Bathurst Street Sydney NSW 2000 and
further information can be obtained at info@weasydney.nsw.edu.au or
by telephone to (02) 9264-2781