Marigold: Milestones and Memories: Lady Southey AC

(Hardback)

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Marigold, Lady Southey, the subject of this sumptuous publication, is the youngest child of retail magnate and philanthropist, Sidney Myer and Dame Merlyn (Baillieu) Myer. Marigold clearly inherited her fathers drive and entrepreneurial spirit, and like her parents has devoted much of her life to philanthropic causes. Most of the work Marigold has done in support of others is not widely known, not even to her own family. Marigold: Milestones and Memories: Lady Southey AC explores key milestones in Marigolds life and will be a revelation to any reader. Marigold is a woman who has worked tirelessly for environmental, health, welfare, arts and animal causes. She drove a Red Cross ambulance transporting polio patients for more than 40 years, played a major role in saving the Snowy River, spent years supporting the Stroke and Heart Foundations, took the Australian Ballet to Russia, China and Japan and while in her seventh decade took on a new role as Victorias Lieutenant Governor. Additionally, she played a pivotal role in the development of Victorias hospitality sector, working with her late husband, Ross Shelmerdine to open one of the first espresso bars in Melbourne, bringing the concept of BYO to restaurants, establishing Australias first motor inn and creating the Mitchelton winery as an eco-tourist destination, years ahead of its time. She also ran a cattle stud where she and Ross pioneered advanced breeding programs and planted tens of thousands of trees. Marigold remains a patron of a range of organisations for which she works tirelessly including among many others, Guide Dogs Victoria, the Monash Childrens Hospital and e.motion 21. Her story will help fill the gap in the records of incredible Australian women making a difference in so many spheres of Australian life.

Author Bio

Dr Stella M. Barber has a long association with the Myer and Shelmerdine families. She has previously written Sidney Myer, a Life a Legacy (2005), Your Store Myer and a companion book, Celebrating 100 Years of Myer Fashion (2008). She was consultant historian on the 2012 SBS production, Seduction in the City, (the story of the birth of department stores), consultant historian on Cranlana, the first 100 years (2019) and has worked with the Myer family as an archivist and curator. Her other books include A Sharp Vision (2016), More than Meets the Eye, (2015); Coles, 100 years of Quality, Service and Value (2014); Elwood, A Club for Life (2012); Something Quite Noble, a History of the Goulburn Valley Grammar School (2009) and Crescendo, Melbourne Symphony Orchestra Celebrating 100 years (2007). In early 2020 she was awarded her doctorate for her research into the role of women camera operators on the Woomera rocket range during the Cold War. She was previously awarded a Masters degree in archives and history.