Member of the Australian and International Associations of Lyceum Clubs KARRAKATTA CLUB Established November 1894 NEWSLETTER: OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2019

MANAGEMENT REPORT

Dear members,

This has really been a momentous year for the Karrakatta Club. After a period of very careful checking of all our operations, the decision to relinquish our much-loved premises was not an easy one. It was reached after extensive consultation with auditors, commercial real-estate agents, lawyers and most importantly with you, the members.

What became apparent is that belonging to a private club is about people, not things. It is the quality of relationships developed over many years that counts. That our members could make such a difficult decision, and could look to the future rather than the past, is hugely encouraging. There is a collective will to continue as a group which can only benefit us all.

As I write this, we are still not able to make an announcement about our premises. Nevertheless, our programme will continue. Lyceum speakers are already being booked, and that programme is assured. Your committee is also hoping that a future free of financial constraints will allow us to explore all sorts of other activities; theatre or opera excursions, film outings, trips of some sort. We are counting on you to let us know what you would like us to provide.

Meanwhile the last part of the year brings some very special events. Our birthday celebrations in October, our fun-filled Cup and our Christmas lunch seem really significant this year. If this really is our last time here, let’s savour them with enormous gratitude for all the happy memories we share.

We could not have managed this recent period of uncertainty without our wonderful staff. In the absence of a paid manager, special tribute must be paid to Janice. In her new role as Hospitality Manager she has been outstanding, taking on many extra responsibilities and handling them beautifully. Mel, too has stepped up, assisted by Michaela and Chloe. They have done us proud.

The office team of Antonietta and Louise has also been superb. Their quiet efficiency, their preparedness to take on new challenges, and their invariable charm and tact have delighted us all. Thank you!

Finally, we have been truly blessed in the wonderful committee who have served us so well. When a small group of women with very diverse talents come together with a common purpose, the result is amazing. Where different views have been expressed, we have mulled them over until everyone is of one mind. This selfless contribution is beyond price!

So, ladies, the Karrakatta Club is alive and well. Our dream is that we can reach out to other women’s groups, to truly bring together the women of the community for ‘mutual improvement and enjoyment’, as our founders hoped. We want you all to be part of this journey, supporting and encouraging those around you, and continuing to benefit from the welcoming environment that our club provides. We want your ideas and suggestions. We will also be looking for some new Committee members for next year. Please let us know if you’d like to be part of the team. Best wishes, INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

Norrine 1 Committee Message 2-5 125th Birthday Celebration Dr Norrine Anderson President 6 Club Information and News The Karrakatta Club 7 Club Information/Outside Events MANAGEMENT COMITTEE MEMBERS 2019 8 Club Events —October/November President: Dr Norrine Anderson 9 Lyceum—October Vice President: Ms Virginia Ward 10 Lyceum—November / Planner Treasurer: Mrs Julie Richardson 11 Save the Date—Dec 19/Jan20 Secretary: Dr Lesley Williams 12 Circle News Mrs Lynn Mias Dr Agatha van der Schaaf 13 Club Information Prof Karen Anderson 14 Photo Gallery Ms Helen Charlesworth 15 Calendar

4 Sherwood Court, WA 6000 Telephone: 9325 8111 Email: [email protected] www.karrakattaclub.com.au 125th Birthday Celebrations Birthday Lunch—4th October 2019

Join us for a special screening of Through the Years: A Dramatised History of the Karrakatta Club 1894-1994. The play was originally performed by Members in the Lyceum Room in 1994 for our one hundredth anniversary. Three of the performers are still members today. They are Laurel Howard, Kathleen Smith and Dixie Gunning and they will be joining us for the screening and Birthday Lunch. The event starts with a welcome drink at 11.30am, followed by the screening in the Lyceum Room at 12.00 noon. A two-course lunch will be served at 1.00pm in the Dining Room.

Meet Lady Onslow, first President of the Karrakatta Club, on 4th October at a special screening of the play “Through the Years”. Lady Onslow can be seen in the photograph below, also displayed in the Club.

Madeline Emma Onslow (1851-1926) was the first President of the Karrakatta Club, serving from 1894-1901. She persuaded the Karrakatta Club to debate and discuss woman suffrage and worked for the cause in . In 1899 she was instrumental in the formation of the Women's Franchise League, which lobbied strongly for the vote until it was granted to the women of Western Australia in 1899. In 1901 she returned to England where she worked to achieve the franchise for the women of the United Kingdom.

She was born in England, the daughter of Rev. Robert Loftus Tottenham of Florence and granddaughter of the Bishop of Clogher. She arrived in the colony of Western Australia in 1880 with her husband, Sir Alexander Onslow whom she married on 4th February 1878. She died in England in 1926.

Sources The Australian Women’s Register, http://www.womenaustralia.info/biogs/AWE4427b.htm The Daily News, Perth, 23 March 1900, https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/83058888

GROUP OF EARLY MEMBERS Back Row: (left to right) Miss J.A. Nisbit, Mrs Richard Sholl, Miss Elsie Onslow, Miss Helen Ferguson, Mrs Beasley. Front Row: (left to right) Mrs George Leake, Mrs J.C.G. Griffiths-Foulkes, Lady Onslow, Dr Roberta Jull, Mrs H.D. Holmes, Mrs Thurston 125th Birthday Celebrations Birthday Dinner— 25th October 2019

Join us for a special celebration of another founding member, . A new play about Edith Cowan will be performed for the Birthday Dinner on Friday, 25th October 2019. The evening will start at 5.45 pm with a welcome drink , followed by the performance at 6.30 pm in the Lyceum Room. The play is made up of the key scenes that were rehearsed and well received in the Club in July 2019.

“With Fire in Her Heart” The Life of Edith Cowan

Exciting times with fifteen Western Australian Academy of the Performing Arts students staging a "moved reading" of a brand-new play about the life of one of our founding members.

"With Fire In Her Heart: the Edith Cowan Story," was funded by the Western Australian Depart- ment of Culture and the Arts and is directed by Dr. Gabrielle Metcalf from . The play was written by Western Australian writer, Trevor Todd, as part of his Writer In Residence at the Peter Cowan Writers' Centre. It traces her life from age seven to seventy-one and chronicles the seemingly impossible obstacles that she had to overcome and her tragic early family life.

By: Mr Trevor Todd

KARRAKATTA CLUB - PRESIDENTS 1894 - 1901 Lady Onslow 1958 - 1961 Mrs J.E.O. Battye 1901 - 1903 Mrs Hensman 1961 - 1962 Mrs H.C. Lissiman 1903 - 1905 Mrs J.C. Griffiths-Foulkes 1962 - 1964 Mrs L. Craig MBE 1905 - 1910 Mrs O. Burt 1964 - 1966 Mrs L.L. Miller 1910 - 1912 Mrs J. Cowan 1966 - 1969 Mrs R. Summerhayes 1912 - 1913 Mrs H.D. Holmes 1969 - 1972 Mrs L.L. Miller MBE 1913 - 1914 Mrs J.C. Griffiths-Foulkes 1972 - 1975 Mrs R.A. Rigg JP 1914 - 1915 Mrs Cobham 1975 - 1978 Mrs A.T. Watson 1915 - 1917 Mrs Cavanagh 1978 - 1981 Miss N.B. Russell MBE 1917 - 1919 Mrs A.D. Ross 1981 - 1983 Mrs N. Barham-Paton 1919 - 1920 Mrs D.D. Paton 1983 - 1986 Mrs A. McTaggart OBE 1920 - 1922 Mrs J. Cowan 1986 - 1988 Mrs N. Colyer BEM 1922 - 1925 Mrs A.D. Ross 1988 - 1990 Mrs M. Atkins 1925 - 1927 Mrs G.H. Johnston 1990 - 1992 Mrs G.S. Pestell 1927 - 1929 Mrs J.A. Klein 1992 - 1995 Mrs R.W. Farmer 1929 - 1931 Mrs G.M, Griffith 1995 - 1998 Mrs J. Sandford 1931 - 1933 Mrs S.J. Anderson 1998 - 2001 Mrs A.J. Thompson 1933 - 1934 Mrs F.G. Dempster 2001 - 2002 Mrs S. Cook (Nov - Jan 02) 1934 - 1936 Mrs D.D. Paton 2002 - 2003 Mrs J. Young (From Jan 02) 1936 - 1938 Mrs W.H. Vincent 2004 - 2006 Mrs J. Sparrow 1938 - 1940 Miss M.P. Holmes 2007 - 2009 Mrs R. Holland 1940 - 1943 Mrs A. Burt 2009 - 2011 Mrs B. Michael 1943 - 1948 Miss M.P. Holmes 2011 - 2013 Mrs E. McGlew 1948 - 1949 Mrs M.A. Battye 2013 - 2015 Mrs M. Paris (Nov - Sept 15) 1949 - 1952 Mrs R.G. Cameron 2015 - 2017 Mrs J. Young 1952 - 1955 Mrs L. Craig MBE 2017 - 2018 Mrs L. Flavelle (Nov - Aug 18) 1955 - 1958 Mrs R.B. Goode 2018 - Dr N Anderson 125th Birthday Celebrations

The Karrakatta Club: Looking Back—Looking Forward

When we consider the early beginnings of the Karrakatta Club, it is very difficult to imagine life as it was in Perth in 1894. The state of Western Australia had only emerged from its British colony status three years earlier. Federation was still seven years away. There was no electricity, no telephone, no radio, no cars. Schooling and health care were primitive.

We can look at pictures of the women of the time, in their voluminous dresses, and try to imagine wearing those in the heat and dust of a Perth summer, or trailing through the mud on unpaved roads in winter. And in those days, families were big. Imagine the washing for eight or nine children!

It was also the time of the gold rushes. That huge migration that had started in California reached Victoria in the 1850s, hit New Zealand in the 1860s and WA in the 1890s. Men flocked to the state from all over the world, hoping to make their fortune. Many of our forefathers were among them.

The isolation that women must have felt is really hard to imagine. Those married to senior officials must have left behind families in England, with the only possible contact being letters coming by sailing ship. It is not surprising then, that the few educated women of the time would come together for a Book Club. And as we all know, the St George’s Reading Circle formed the early initiative for the Karrakatta Club.

These women knew they were privileged. Their lives would have been much more comfortable than many in the community, and they had had an education. This was made clear by Dr Emily Ryder, who said, ‘It is difficult for large bodies of humanity to work together, and particularly for women, who require a public education to round off the angles and to be at unity even in adversity. A women’s club will encourage women to think things out, and to come to a conclusion; to defend their opinions and have the courage to hold them.

She said that the right kind of President and Vice President should be ‘wise and kind, broad in their views and full of love for all women kind. The secretary must never be weary in well-doing, and she will have plenty of work on her shoulders.’*

The stated object of the new club was to bring into one working body the women of the community for mutual improvement and social interaction. Our founders intended no barriers, economic or otherwise, to membership.

The four departments, which have led to our Lyceum topics, were Hygiene, Literary, Artistic, and Legal and Educational. These studies naturally led to an interest in public questions of social and political importance at the time. Some of these were the guardianship of Children; payment of teachers, especially the question of equal pay for women teachers; laws concerning divorce; intestate estates; assaults, especially on children; kindergartens, and of course, Federation and the franchise for women. These interests soon became action, and an accepted advocacy role. A study of the records shows how frequently the members who closely studied public questions carried the work out into wider spheres.

It was our first Secretary, Mrs James Cowan, later Dame Edith Cowan, who suggested our motto, ‘Spectemur Agendo’, meaning ‘We shall be known by our deeds.’ These were not empty words. But it obviously became harder to keep to these ideals, as women became more comfortable. Between 1911 and 1916, there was clearly some controversy over what the club should be doing. Mrs Cowan asked, in her Presidential address, ‘Have we not drifted from those old ideals instilled and worked for by Lady Onslow?’*

In 1916, Mrs Cavanagh says, ‘ Of late years it seems that the inclination is now to regard it as a literary and social club pure and simple. Now, with all that there is and will be for women to do, I beg that every member will feel that the responsibility of social service, which this club has undertaken since its inception, is stronger than ever’.*

How should we respond to those words in 2019? How should we now aspire to include all women, for mutual improvement and social interaction? Have we simply become a ‘rich women’s lunch Club' as has been said of us?

What would one working body of women look like today? We are about to step out of our comfort zone, envisaging the new beginning of the next 125 years. I believe this is the time to really open our doors, engage with all the dozens of women’s organisations which now exist, and provide a space, and hopefully a venue, in which they can find a home, thereby enriching our sense of purpose. We owe it to our founders to go back to our roots, and to seriously engage in the life of the wider community.

‘We will be known by our actions’!*

Dr Norrine Anderson

(*Quotes taken from History of Karrakatta Club 1894-1994) 125th Birthday Celebrations

Dr Emily Ryder (Photographer unknown)

Mrs Cavanagh (Photographer unknown) CLUB INFORMATION AND NEWS

AGM Reminder

The AGM will be held on 26 November 2019 at 2.00pm. Please join us for lunch before the AGM at 12.00pm.

ACCOMMODATION ROOM RENTAL SIGNING IN GUESTS All rooms are fully equipped with en-suite bathrooms, new soft fluffy towels, warm and comfortable duvets, as well as TV and air Members are reminded that licencing laws require all conditioning. non-members to be signed into the Club on arrival. We have a

Visitor’s book for this purpose, please encourage guests to record At only $120 double/twin and $90 single, including a self-serve their email address. breakfast, it is a perfect way to relax after a night out in our beautiful city.

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER STATEMENTS Please contact reception on 08 9325 8111 or email: Antonietta from the accounts department is taking annual leave [email protected] for bookings. from 19 November 2019 until 11 December 2019. Please note: November/December 2019 Statements will be sent on her return. FUNCTIONS ROOM HIRE

The Club’s various facilities are available to hire for functions.

CALL OUT TO MEMBERS To enquire about hosting your next event, please contact reception on 08 9325 8111 or email: Dear Members [email protected] Please let us know of events or causes close to your heart. If approved by the Management Committee it will be featured in our next newsletter. FLOWERS

Thank you to Denise Hallion for flower arranging and Jean Williams We’d love to hear from you! for flowers and plants.

WEBSITE ACCESS If you would like to help in any way, please contact reception. Our website address is: www.karrakattaclub.com.au.

Members are given exclusive access to past and present Lynn Mias newsletters as well as current and future events. For access to the Club Flower Co-ordinator Member’s Login, please contact reception on 08 9325 8111 or email: [email protected] CLUB INFORMATION /OUTSIDE EVENTS

ARCHIVES PROJECT

The Karrakatta Club Archives Committee is pleased to welcome Ms Katie Bagnell in November and December to assist with organising and preparing archival records for transfer to the Battye Library.

Katie is a Masters student in the Department of Library, Archives, Records and Information Studies at Curtin University. She will be working part-time.

A listing of previous transfers of Karrakatta Club records (1894-1981) (Ref: MN877) can be viewed at the Battye Library.

Professor Karen Anderson

Elena Marcello is a young opera singer and she is the recipient for the 2019 Dame Mary Gilmore Award. She will be performing at our Dame Mary Gilmore Award Luncheon on Tuesday 29th October 2019. Elena is also performing in the WAAPA production of Die Fledermaus on the following dates: Tuesday 15th October 2019 Thursday 17th October 2019 Friday 18th October 2019 If you are interested in attending as a group contact reception, or reserve your tickets directly with WAAPA Box Office, (08) 9370 6895 CLUB EVENTS—OCTOBER/NOVEMBER LYCEUM SPEAKERS— OCTOBER

LYCEUM SPEAKERS— NOVEMBER

THREE MONTH PLANNER - JANUARY TO MARCH 2020

MONTH DAY DATE CATORGORY SPEAKER/EVENT SUBJECT

Tuesday 21 Office staff return JANUARY Tuesday 28 Opening day lunch Professor Lyn Beazley TBC Sisonke Msimang – Tuesday 4 Literary Curator, Literature & Perth Festival Ideas Non-conventional threats that increasingly will con- 11 General MJ John Hartley FEBRUARY cern us 18 Artistic Rachel Coad Black Swan Portrait Prize Winner 2016

25 Travel Nick Melidonis 20 Years of Visiting Greece

Tuesday 3 Literary Professor Ian Reid Historical fiction novel, “A Thousand Tongues’.

10 General Robyn Nolan International Engagement for Women

MARCH 17 Artistic Megan Salmon Art then fashion

24 Travel TBC

31 TBC SAVE THE DATE — DECEMBER 2019/JANUARY 2020 CIRCLE NEWS

BRIDGE CIRCLE: MAHJONG CIRCLE THE CIRCLE WELCOMES YOU! The Mahjong Circle meets every Wednesday at 1.30pm in the Lady Onslow Room. New members are welcome. Our We commence play at 10.15am with a welcoming reference book is “The Mahjong Player’s Companion” by morning tea of warm scones, jam and cream. We then settle into our bridge hands. Bridge continues until 1pm Patricia Thompson and Betty Maloney. when we adjourn to the Dining Room for lunch before departing home. Members are invited to meet for lunch before the game at 12 midday in the Dining Room Bookings from members before Tuesday, will ensure the priority of members to play. Convenor: Mrs Jan Musk Non-members are reminded they may need to stand down in the event that a full complement of members have booked to play and there is not the possibility of making up another table.

Convenor: Mrs Rewa Boylson

ART FOCUS BOOK CLUB

Art Focus is held on the 3rd Thursday of the month and all Book Club is held every 2nd Wednesday of the Month. The members are welcome. We meet at the Art Gallery at Books for August and September are: 10.30am for an hour’s visit with a guide.

Following the tour, members are welcome to meet at the Wednesday, 9 October 2019 Karrakatta Club for lunch. Title: “Lost Voices”

By: Christopher Koch Our next Art Focus meetings are: Convenor: Rewa Boylson Thursday 17 October 2019 (RSVP by Tuesday 15 October 19)

Thursday 21 November 2019 (RSVP by Tuesday 19 Nov 19)

Wednesday, 13 November 2019 Convenor: Mrs Jean Williams Title: “The Lucky Galah”

By: Tracey Sorensen Convenor: Zandra Riley

CLUB INFORMATION

TAKE AWAY MENU

FOOD Home Made Beef, Chicken or Lamb Pies—large $26 / small $8.50 Traditional Beef Lasagne – large $28 / small $16.00 Ratatouille Vegetarian Lasagne – large $28 / small $16.00 Assorted Soups—entre $8.00 / main $11.00 Parmesan Cheese Biscuits - $12 pack of 12 Homemade Loaf Cake - $15

WINES 3 Pack Henkell Piccolo Thompson Estate Margaret River Sauvignon Blanc Semillon—$28.00 Thompson Estate Margaret River Cabernet Shiraz —$28.00 Crooked Brook Chardonnay —$28.00 Crooked Brook Shiraz —$28.00 Prosecco —$28.00 Henkell Trocken Sparkling —$28.00 Lallier French Champagne 375ml—$38.00

HOW TO ORDER: To place an order please email: [email protected]

Email Addresses To help us deal with emails more efficiently, and for emails to remain the Lyceum Convenors record of the Club your emails can be directed to the person best placed to answer your queries.

Artistic: Ms Virginia Ward Dr Norrine Anderson: [email protected]

Literary: Mrs Anita Clayton and Mrs Rhoda Chance Antonietta Bertolini: [email protected]

Lesley Williams: [email protected] Travel: Mrs Anita Clayton and Ms Emily Patterson Julie Richardson: [email protected] General: Mrs Helen Charlesworth Janice Woodcock: [email protected]

Louise Monte: [email protected]

PHOTO GALLERY CALENDAR OCTOBER 2019 MON TUE LYCEUM DAY WED THUR FRI 1 2 3 4 11.30am Literary 10. 15am Bridge 125th Birthday Lunch 1pm Lunch 1.30pm Mahjong 11.30 am Welcome

7 8 9 10 11 11.30am General 10.30am Book‘Club 1pm Lunch “Lost Voices ” by Christopher Koch Convenor: Rewa Boylson 1.30pm Mahjong 14 15 16 17 18 11.30am Artistic 10. 15am Bridge 10.30 Art Focus 1pm Lunch 1.30pm Mahjong

21 22 23 24 25 11.30am Travel 10. 15am Bridge 125th Birthday 1pm Lunch 1.30pm Mahjong Club Dinner 5.45pm

28 29 30 31 Dame Mary Gilmore 10. 15am Bridge Award 2019—Lunch 1.30pm Mahjong NOVEMBER 2019 MON TUE LYCEUM DAY WED THUR FRI 1

4 5 6 7 8 Melbourne Cup 10. 15am Bridge 10.30 am Start 1.30pm Mahjong 1pm Lunch

11 12 13 14 15 11.30am General 10.30 Book Club

1pm Lunch “The Lucky Galah” by Tracey Sorensen Convenor: Zandra Riley 1.30pm Mahjong 18 19 20 21 22 11.30am Artistic 10. 15am Bridge 10.30 Art Focus 1pm Lunch 1.30pm Mahjong

25 26 27 28 29 12 pm Lunch 10. 15am Bridge AGM 2pm 1.30pm Mahjong NOTES

4 Sherwood Court, Perth WA 6000 Telephone: 9325 8111 Email: [email protected] www.karrakattaclub.com.au