Bowden family - family tree, ca. 1984, together with papers concerning the death of Isobel Kendall Bowden in 1986

MLMSS 6793

fonds

1984-1986

402665

1 folder - 0.01 Meters
Textual Records - (photocopy)
Textual Records - (typescript, photocopy)

Isobel Kendall Bowden, conservationist, teacher and author, was born at Woodford, NSW, in 1908, second daughter of Federal Parliamentarian and Minister for Defence, Eric Kendall Bowden, and his wife Reinette, nee Murphy. Miss Bowden spent most of her life in the Blue Mountans where she developed an abiding interest in local and natural history and bush walking and a concern for the environment. An expert on local native orchids, which were often the subject of her water colour paintings, Isobel discovered a number of new varieties, two of which are named for her. Isobel taught infants classes as the Blue Mountains Grammar School and at Frensham. She published a volume of poems and stories for children ca. 1936, and a book on historical women of the Blue Mountains in 1963. Active in the local community, Isobel was a foundation member of the Pioneer Way Association and the Blue Mountains Flora and Fauna Association and maintained an active membership of the Blue Mountains Civil Defence (State Emergency Service), the Blue Mountains Conservation Society and the Methodist Church. She was recognised for this service in 1985 when she was awarded the Order of Australia Medal. For some years, Miss Bowden also operated the tea and craft shop at Woodford Academy. She died in August 1986 after a long illnes.

1984; family tree of the Bowden and Shepherd families
1986; papers concerning the death of Isobel Bowden, including the text of the funeral oration by the Rev. Neil Emerson

Transferred from ML DOC 3634 in Sepember 1999