Rachel Cleland
Encyclopedia
Dame Rachel Cleland, DBE
(19 January 1906 – 18 April 2002), born Rachel Evans, was an Australian expatriate community and social welfare worker in Papua New Guinea
.
Born in Perth, Australia
in 1906, the eldest of six children, Rachel Cleland lived an active life which was centred around politics and community organisations. She was a niece of the West Australian feminist, Bessie Wishworth
Rachel Cleland's background and her later training and work as a kindergarten teacher stood her in good stead for the expatriate life she eventually embarked on in Papua New Guinea. Her husband, Sir Donald Cleland
, was Administrator of Papua New Guinea from 1951 until 1966. Donald Cleland was one of the founding members of the Australian Liberal Party.
Rachel Cleland contributed to organisations such as the Red Cross, Girl Guides Association of Papua New Guinea
, Country Women's Association, and Young Women's Christian Association
(YWCA) as well as the integral role she played in establishing pre-schools throughout Papua New Guinea
. Sir Donald died in 1975, two weeks before Papua New Guinea's independence ceremonies. Rachel stayed for a further three years before eventually returning to Australia.
In her later years Dame Rachel was very vocal on her opposition to the logging of old-growth forests.
By then she had lived in Papua New Guinea for 27 years. She continued to make trips from Australia to Papua New Guinea
for almost the rest of her life, making a total of eight visits between 1979 and 2000.
(MBE) in 1959 and a Commander of the Order (CBE) in 1966 for her work with women and children.
In 1980 Rachel Cleland became the only western woman to be appointed a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) by the government of Papua New Guinea
for services to the country she had lived in for so much of her adult life. She was honoured for the volunteer work she did for many Papua New Guinea
organisations and for helping involve women in public affairs.
At 90, Dame Rachel Cleland was still keeping audiences entertained with her words of wisdom born of a life of political activism and community work.
, aged 96, on 18 April 2002, after a heart attack
. She had only a week earlier moved there from Perth to be near her son, Evan, and his family.
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...
(19 January 1906 – 18 April 2002), born Rachel Evans, was an Australian expatriate community and social welfare worker in Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea , officially the Independent State of Papua New Guinea, is a country in Oceania, occupying the eastern half of the island of New Guinea and numerous offshore islands...
.
Born in Perth, Australia
Perth, Western Australia
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
in 1906, the eldest of six children, Rachel Cleland lived an active life which was centred around politics and community organisations. She was a niece of the West Australian feminist, Bessie Wishworth
Rachel Cleland's background and her later training and work as a kindergarten teacher stood her in good stead for the expatriate life she eventually embarked on in Papua New Guinea. Her husband, Sir Donald Cleland
Donald Cleland
Brigadier Sir Donald Mackinnon Cleland, C.B.E. was an Australian soldier and administrator.-Early years:Born on 28 June 1901 at Coolgardie, Western Australia, eldest son of Adelaide-born Elphinstone Davenport Cleland, mine-manager, and his second wife Anne Emily, née Mackinnon, from Scotland...
, was Administrator of Papua New Guinea from 1951 until 1966. Donald Cleland was one of the founding members of the Australian Liberal Party.
Rachel Cleland contributed to organisations such as the Red Cross, Girl Guides Association of Papua New Guinea
Girl Guides Association of Papua New Guinea
The Girl Guides Association of Papua New Guinea is the Guiding organisation in Papua New Guinea. Founded in 1927, the girls-only organization became a full member of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts in 1978. It has 1,224 members .The Girl Guide emblem incorporates elements of...
, Country Women's Association, and Young Women's Christian Association
Young Women's Christian Association
Young Women's Christian Association or YWCA or YWCA Building or Old YWCA Building or variations may refer to:*World YWCA, the organization formerly known as Young Women's Christian Associationor it may refer to:...
(YWCA) as well as the integral role she played in establishing pre-schools throughout Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea , officially the Independent State of Papua New Guinea, is a country in Oceania, occupying the eastern half of the island of New Guinea and numerous offshore islands...
. Sir Donald died in 1975, two weeks before Papua New Guinea's independence ceremonies. Rachel stayed for a further three years before eventually returning to Australia.
In her later years Dame Rachel was very vocal on her opposition to the logging of old-growth forests.
By then she had lived in Papua New Guinea for 27 years. She continued to make trips from Australia to Papua New Guinea
for almost the rest of her life, making a total of eight visits between 1979 and 2000.
Honours
Rachel Cleland was appointed as a Member of the Order of the British EmpireOrder 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...
(MBE) in 1959 and a Commander of the Order (CBE) in 1966 for her work with women and children.
In 1980 Rachel Cleland became the only western woman to be appointed a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) by the government of Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea , officially the Independent State of Papua New Guinea, is a country in Oceania, occupying the eastern half of the island of New Guinea and numerous offshore islands...
for services to the country she had lived in for so much of her adult life. She was honoured for the volunteer work she did for many Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea , officially the Independent State of Papua New Guinea, is a country in Oceania, occupying the eastern half of the island of New Guinea and numerous offshore islands...
organisations and for helping involve women in public affairs.
At 90, Dame Rachel Cleland was still keeping audiences entertained with her words of wisdom born of a life of political activism and community work.
Death
Dame Rachel died peacefully in Goondiwindi, QueenslandQueensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
, aged 96, on 18 April 2002, after a heart attack
Myocardial infarction
Myocardial infarction or acute myocardial infarction , commonly known as a heart attack, results from the interruption of blood supply to a part of the heart, causing heart cells to die...
. She had only a week earlier moved there from Perth to be near her son, Evan, and his family.