Dorothy Isabel Knox OBE AM (27 August 1902 – 7 November 1983) was an Australian headmistress. She led what became Pymble Ladies College and she inspired the creation of Dunmore Lang College at Macquarie University.
Dorothy Knox | |
|---|---|
 in about 1940 | |
| Born | Dorothy Isabel Knox 27 August 1902 |
| Died | 7 November 1983 (aged 81) |
| Nationality | Australia |
| Education | Janet Clarke Hall at Melbourne University |
| Employer | Presbyterian Ladies' College at Pymble |
| Predecessor | Nancy Jobson to 1933 |
| Successor | Jeanette Buckham |
Life
editKnox was born in 1902 in Benalla. Her parents were Robina Dewar (born Brodie) and Edward Knox. Her father managed a factory and she was the last of their three children. She was a natural student and she was educated at several schools before she matriculated from Melbourne High School. She went on to stay at Janet Clarke Hall and attend under-grad and post-graduate studies at Melbourne University. In 1925 she was awarded a master's degree.[1]
She became the head of the Presbyterian Ladies’ College, Orange in 1932.[1]
In July 1936 Knox became the Principal of Presbyterian Ladies' College at Pymble. The previous head was Grace Mackintosh[2] who had been the unsuccessful replacement for Nancy Jobson who had expanded the college.[3]
Knox was given the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1958.[1] Knox was at the college until she retired in 1967 having overseen the expansion of the school during her leadership. During Knox's final year the Wyndham scheme was introduced[1] that restructured secondary education and encouraged comprehensive education in New South Wales. Knox approved of the changes.[4]
Know guided community appeals for suitable accommodation for ladies attending university. Her first choice was a new women's college at the University of Sydney but grounds could not be found. The attention of her committee turned to the new Macquarie University.[5] The new college was established in 1972 and named after John Dunmore Lang,[5] the first Presbyterian clergyman in Sydney.[6]
Death and legacy
editKnox was made an AM in 1980. She publisher her auto-biography Time Flies in 1982.[7] She died in Terrey Hills in New South Wales in 1983. Margaret Coleman later wrote her biography.[8]
References
edit- ^ a b c d Teale, Ruth, "Dorothy Isabel Knox (1902–1983)", Australian Dictionary of Biography, Canberra: National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, retrieved 2023-11-23
- ^ Sherington, G. E., "Grace Mackintosh (1890–1954)", Australian Dictionary of Biography, Canberra: National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, retrieved 2024-01-07
- ^ Sherington, G. E. "Jobson, Nancy (1880–1964)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. Canberra: National Centre of Biography, Australian National University. ISBN 978-0-522-84459-7. ISSN 1833-7538. OCLC 70677943. Retrieved 2019-01-01.
- ^ "The Wyndham Scheme". DEHANZ. 2021-05-28. Retrieved 2023-11-23.
- ^ a b Teale, Ruth, "Dorothy Isabel Knox (1902–1983)", Australian Dictionary of Biography, Canberra: National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, retrieved 2023-11-23
- ^ Baker, D. W. A., "John Dunmore Lang (1799–1878)", Australian Dictionary of Biography, Canberra: National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, retrieved 2023-11-23
- ^ Knox, Dorothy (1982). Time Flies: The Memoirs of Dorothy Knox. Rigby. ISBN 978-0-7270-1678-2.
- ^ Coleman, Margaret (2009). Dorothy Knox Remembered ...: A Woman of Faith and Determination. Pymble Ladies' College. ISBN 978-0-646-51601-1.