Isobel Schenk
Encyclopedia
Isobel Schenk, BEM
(1898–1980) was a Christian missionary who worked for many years alongside her husband, Rev. Rodolphe Samuel Schenk
(1888–1969), at the Mount Margaret Mission
in Western Australia
. Rev. Schenk established the mission in 1921, under the auspices of the Aboriginal Inland Mission (later the United Aborigines Mission (UAM)).
Isobel May Johnston was a typist when she met Rodolphe Schenk in Melbourne
, where they married. She later "taught crafts to the women" on the mission. The mission was made a central 'rationing station' and was visited by anthropologists and researchers including A. P. Elkin
, Phyllis Kaberry
, J. B. Birdsell and Norman Tindale
.
Along with the Chief Protector of Aborigines in Western Australia, these researchers engaged in the assimilation debates of the day. Rev. Schenk's
"unsympathetic and fundamentalist interference with traditional practices" - such as infanticide
, the ritual drinking of blood ... and in-law avoidance laws -attracted criticism from A. P. Elkin, and resistance from Aboriginal elders. Many Aboriginal children were taken to the mission, which had a children's home and a hospital, and mining- and pastoral
-related work was carried out there.
on 31 December 1977 for her work in Aboriginal welfare.
British Empire Medal
The Medal of the Order of the British Empire for Meritorious Service, usually known as the British Empire Medal , is a British medal awarded for meritorious civil or military service worthy of recognition by the Crown...
(1898–1980) was a Christian missionary who worked for many years alongside her husband, Rev. Rodolphe Samuel Schenk
Rodolphe Samuel Schenk
Rodolphe Samuel Schenk was an Australian missionary.He attended a New South Wales interdenominational theological college and in 1917 joined the United Aborigines' Mission...
(1888–1969), at the Mount Margaret Mission
Mount Margaret, Western Australia
Mount Margaret also once known as Craiggiemore is an abandoned town in Western Australia located east of Perth situated North of Lake Carey and south West of Laverton in the Goldfields-Esperance region of Western Australia....
in Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
. Rev. Schenk established the mission in 1921, under the auspices of the Aboriginal Inland Mission (later the United Aborigines Mission (UAM)).
Isobel May Johnston was a typist when she met Rodolphe Schenk in Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, where they married. She later "taught crafts to the women" on the mission. The mission was made a central 'rationing station' and was visited by anthropologists and researchers including A. P. Elkin
A. P. Elkin
Adolphus Peter "A. P." Elkin CMG was an Anglican clergyman, an influential Australian anthropologist during the mid twentieth century and a proponent of the assimilation of Indigenous Australians.-Early life:...
, Phyllis Kaberry
Phyllis Kaberry
Phyllis Mary Kaberry was a social anthropologist who dedicated her work to the study of women in various societies. Particularly with her work in both Australia and Africa, she paved the way for a feminist approach in anthropological studies...
, J. B. Birdsell and Norman Tindale
Norman Tindale
Norman Barnett Tindale was an Australian anthropologist, archaeologist and entomologist. Born in Perth, his family moved to Tokyo from 1907 to 1915, where his father worked as an accountant at the Salvation Army mission in Japan. Soon after returning to Australia, Tindale got a job at the South...
.
Along with the Chief Protector of Aborigines in Western Australia, these researchers engaged in the assimilation debates of the day. Rev. Schenk's
"unsympathetic and fundamentalist interference with traditional practices" - such as infanticide
Infanticide
Infanticide or infant homicide is the killing of a human infant. Neonaticide, a killing within 24 hours of a baby's birth, is most commonly done by the mother.In many past societies, certain forms of infanticide were considered permissible...
, the ritual drinking of blood ... and in-law avoidance laws -attracted criticism from A. P. Elkin, and resistance from Aboriginal elders. Many Aboriginal children were taken to the mission, which had a children's home and a hospital, and mining- and pastoral
-related work was carried out there.
BEM
Isobel May Schenk was awarded the BEMBritish Empire Medal
The Medal of the Order of the British Empire for Meritorious Service, usually known as the British Empire Medal , is a British medal awarded for meritorious civil or military service worthy of recognition by the Crown...
on 31 December 1977 for her work in Aboriginal welfare.
Family
The Rev. and Mrs. Schenk had three daughters and a son, who survived their parents: Margaret Morgan, Esther Milnes, Elizabeth Miller and Roderick Schenk.External links
- Biodata
- Battye Library, State Library of WA, one of archives of 'A drop in a bucket' by Margaret Morgan
- S Preston Walker, 'Enriching Australia through educating indigenous people', S Preston Walker, Camp Hill, QLD, Australia, 2008, ISBN 9780646495569, (United Aborigines Mission missionary 1940-1955).