Mabel Brookes
Encyclopedia
Dame Mabel Brookes, DBE (15 June 189030 April 1975) was an Australian community worker, activist, socialite, writer, memoirist and humanitarian.
Born as Mabel Balcombe Emmerton in Raveloe, South Yarra, Victoria
in 1890, her best-known service was as president of the Queen Victoria Hospital
from 1923-1970, where she presided over the addition of three new wings within ten years.
She became engaged to Norman Brookes
, a tennis player, who was the first Australian to win Wimbledon, at the age of eighteen, and married him in St Paul's Anglican Cathedral, Melbourne, on 19 April 1911. In 1914, with a baby daughter, she accompanied Brookes on his tennis trips to Europe and the USA. During World War I, in 1915, she joined her husband in Cairo
where he was working as commissioner for the Australian Branch of the British Red Cross
. She assisted in the establishment of a rest home for nurses. On her husband's posting to Mesopotamia
, she returned to Melbourne
in 1917. At this point she wrote three novels and continued to write on a variety of topics during her life.
She was also an original member and a divisional officer of the Girl Guides' Association executive committee, foundation president of the Institute of Almoner
s and of the Animal Welfare League. She was also a member of the Australian Red Cross Society's federal executive and president of the Ladies' Swimming Association.
. Mabel Brookes was commandant
of the Australian Women's Air Training Corps and worked at the Maribyrnong
Munitions Factory.
in 1943 as a Woman for Canberra candidate and in 1952 for the state seat of Toorak for the Electoral Reform League.
She was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire
(CBE) in 1933 and became a Dame of the order (DBE) in 1955 for services to hospitals and charity. The French Government appointed her as Chevalier
de la Légion d'honneur
in 1960 in acknowledgement of her gift to the French nation of the pavilion which Napoleon Bonaparte
had occupied on her great-grandfather's estate on Saint Helena
, an island in the south Atlantic Ocean.
Born as Mabel Balcombe Emmerton in Raveloe, South Yarra, Victoria
South Yarra, Victoria
South Yarra is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 4 km south-east from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area are the Cities of Stonnington and Melbourne...
in 1890, her best-known service was as president of the Queen Victoria Hospital
Queen Victoria Hospital
The Queen Victoria Hospital, located in East Grinstead, West Sussex, England is the specialist reconstructive surgery centre for the south east of England, and also provides services at clinics across the region. It has become world famous for its pioneering burns and plastic surgery. The hospital...
from 1923-1970, where she presided over the addition of three new wings within ten years.
She became engaged to Norman Brookes
Norman Brookes
Brookes was also an Australian rules footballer in his youth, playing two matches for Victorian Football League club St Kilda Football Club in 1898, kicking two goals.-Honours:Norman Brookes was knighted "in recognition of service to public service" in 1939...
, a tennis player, who was the first Australian to win Wimbledon, at the age of eighteen, and married him in St Paul's Anglican Cathedral, Melbourne, on 19 April 1911. In 1914, with a baby daughter, she accompanied Brookes on his tennis trips to Europe and the USA. During World War I, in 1915, she joined her husband in Cairo
Cairo
Cairo , is the capital of Egypt and the largest city in the Arab world and Africa, and the 16th largest metropolitan area in the world. Nicknamed "The City of a Thousand Minarets" for its preponderance of Islamic architecture, Cairo has long been a centre of the region's political and cultural life...
where he was working as commissioner for the Australian Branch of the British Red Cross
British Red Cross
The British Red Cross Society is the United Kingdom branch of the worldwide impartial humanitarian organisation the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. The society was formed in 1870, and is a registered charity with over 31,000 volunteers and 2,600 staff. At the heart of their work...
. She assisted in the establishment of a rest home for nurses. On her husband's posting to Mesopotamia
Mesopotamia
Mesopotamia is a toponym for the area of the Tigris–Euphrates river system, largely corresponding to modern-day Iraq, northeastern Syria, southeastern Turkey and southwestern Iran.Widely considered to be the cradle of civilization, Bronze Age Mesopotamia included Sumer and the...
, she returned to 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...
in 1917. At this point she wrote three novels and continued to write on a variety of topics during her life.
Contributions and affiliations
In 1918 she served on the committee of the Royal Children's Hospital, then became president of the Children's Frankston Orthopaedic Hospital, the Anglican Babies' Home and the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children.She was also an original member and a divisional officer of the Girl Guides' Association executive committee, foundation president of the Institute of Almoner
Almoner
An almoner is a chaplain or church officer who originally was in charge of distributing cash to the deserving poor.Historically, almoners were Christian religious functionaries whose duty was to distribute alms to the poor. Monasteries were required to spend one tenth of their income in charity to...
s and of the Animal Welfare League. She was also a member of the Australian Red Cross Society's federal executive and president of the Ladies' Swimming Association.
World War II
During World War II the Brookes' home became a Red Cross convalescent home. The Brookes family lived in Elm Tree House and entertained Australian and American officers, including Lyndon B. JohnsonLyndon B. Johnson
Lyndon Baines Johnson , often referred to as LBJ, was the 36th President of the United States after his service as the 37th Vice President of the United States...
. Mabel Brookes was commandant
Commandant
Commandant is a senior title often given to the officer in charge of a large training establishment or academy. This usage is common in anglophone nations...
of the Australian Women's Air Training Corps and worked at the Maribyrnong
Maribyrnong, Victoria
Maribyrnong is a suburb 8 km north-west of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Its Local Government Area is the City of Maribyrnong, part of River Ward. At the 2006 Census, Maribyrnong had a population of 8242....
Munitions Factory.
Political career
Brookes attempted a political career by standing twice for parliament, but was unsuccessful. She stood for the federal Division of FlindersDivision of Flinders
The Division of Flinders is an Australian Electoral Division in Victoria. The division was one of the original 75 divisions contested at the first federal election...
in 1943 as a Woman for Canberra candidate and in 1952 for the state seat of Toorak for the Electoral Reform League.
She was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(CBE) in 1933 and became a Dame of the order (DBE) in 1955 for services to hospitals and charity. The French Government appointed her as Chevalier
Knight
A knight was a member of a class of lower nobility in the High Middle Ages.By the Late Middle Ages, the rank had become associated with the ideals of chivalry, a code of conduct for the perfect courtly Christian warrior....
de la Légion d'honneur
Légion d'honneur
The Legion of Honour, or in full the National Order of the Legion of Honour is a French order established by Napoleon Bonaparte, First Consul of the Consulat which succeeded to the First Republic, on 19 May 1802...
in 1960 in acknowledgement of her gift to the French nation of the pavilion which Napoleon Bonaparte
Napoleon I of France
Napoleon Bonaparte was a French military and political leader during the latter stages of the French Revolution.As Napoleon I, he was Emperor of the French from 1804 to 1815...
had occupied on her great-grandfather's estate on Saint Helena
Saint Helena
Saint Helena , named after St Helena of Constantinople, is an island of volcanic origin in the South Atlantic Ocean. It is part of the British overseas territory of Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha which also includes Ascension Island and the islands of Tristan da Cunha...
, an island in the south Atlantic Ocean.