White, Vera (1891-1978)

Also known as
Deakin, Vera (1891-1978)
White, Vera Deakin (1891-1978)
Field of activity
charity worker; Red Cross administrator; Red Cross worker
Libraries Australia
http://nla.gov.au/anbd.aut-an36019955
NLA Persistent Identifier
http://nla.gov.au/nla.party-602696

Biographies

WHITE, VERA DEAKIN (1891-1978), Red Cross worker, was born on 25 December 1891 at South Yarra, Melbourne, third and youngest daughter of Victorian-born parents Alfred Deakin, barrister and later prime minister, and his wife Elizabeth Martha Anne ('Pattie'), née Browne. Like her sisters Ivy and Stella, Vera was educated for some years by her aunt Catherine (Katie) Deakin, before attending Melbourne Church of England Girls' Grammar School. She attended lectures in English literature at the University of Melbourne but her foremost interest at this time was music. Encouraged by Katie, she learned cello and singing, performing for the first time at a concert associated with the Australian Exhibition of Women's Work in 1907. Six years later she journeyed to Europe, chaperoned by Katie, to pursue her musical studies in Berlin and Budapest. Although Vera's teacher believed that she had a future as a concert artist, her parents opposed this choice of a career.

View the full record at Australian Dictionary of Biography Online

Vera White (née Deakin) the daughter of Australian Prime Minister Alfred Deakin and his philanthropic wife Pattie was appointed an Officer of the British Empire for her work with the Red Cross during the First World War. She received her award on 15 March 1918.

Vera Deakin was born at "Llanarth" South Yarra, the youngest of the three daughters of Alfred and Pattie Deakin. She was educated first by her aunt - Catherine (Katie) Deakin who was an accomplished pianist. Vera then attended the Melbourne Church of England Girl's Grammar School. She also studied the 'cello and singing'. In 1913 she travelled with her aunt as chaperone to Berline and Budapest where she was a student at the Singing School and conservatorium of Music.

During World War I, in 1915 with Winifred Johnson, she sailed to Cairo and set up, organised and administered the 'Wounded and Missing Enquiry Bureau' of the Australian Red Cross Society. In 1916, when Australian troops were sent to the Western Front, Vera and Winifred sailed to London, Vera with assistance of many Australian and English women including Lilian Whybrow (later Scantlebury) transferred the Bureau of London. Vera was awarded the OBE for her work. This was the first ever civilian list. She worked there (voluntarily) until 1919 when she became engaged to Captain T W White of the Australian Flying Corps (the only Australian to have escaped from a Turkish prisoner-of-war camp). In 1919 she returned home to Melbourne as her father was ill, he died in October 1919.

Thomas White and Vera Deakin were married in March 1920, there were four daughters of the marriage - Lilian (Bennett) 1921-2002, Patricia (Sharp) 1923-, Shirley (Wadman) 1925-, Judith (Harley) 1929-. From 1929 Thomas White was a Federal member of Parliament. His wife Vera did a great deal for the constituents of his electorate (Balaclava, now Goldstein), particularly when her husband was overseas in the RAAF in World War II.

Besides caring for her daughters, Vera was from 1931-39 a very active member of the Board of Management of the (Royal) Children's Hospital and President of the Auxiliaries. She help to found with (Lady) Ella Latham the Victorian Society for Crippled Children and Adults at the of the polio epidemic. Later she became president 1961-66, then Vice-president in 1966 and worked on their committees until she was in her late 80's. She was a member of the Limbless Soldiers Melba Welfare Trust from 1930. In 1935 she took her mother Pattie Deakin's place as Trustee of the Sir Samuel McCaughey Bequest for the education of the children of deceased or incapacitated soldiers. She was the founder and President of The Anzac Fellowship of the Women of Victoria from its inauguration in 1935 until the 1950's and then again from the 1960's until her death. She was for many years on the Council of the Melbourne Church of England Girls' Grammar School.

Prior to World War II she helped the Victorian Division of Red Cross organise Emergency Training Groups and helped put in motion the mobilisation plans is 1939 all over Victoria. She with Lilian Scantlebury were Divisional Commandants and Honorary Directors of the Inquiry Bureau, as well as the Prisoner of War Department and Message Service to Occupied Europe from 1939-46. She was Vice-Chairman of the Society from 1949-51when she went to London when her husband was appointed Australian High Commissioner in London. While in London she was on the Council for the Care of Cripples and represented Australian Red Cross at conferences. With her husband she promoted and supported the Australian Musical Association in London, and she and her husband were instrumental in the appointment of the first Social worker at Australia House. Sir Thomas died in 1957 in Melbourne and Vera again became involved with Red Cross as a member of the Committee of the Red Cross Welfare Service and the first Chairman of the Committee for Music in Mental Hospitals. She also became patron of the Astra Music Society at its inception. She died at her home in South Yarra aged 87 in 1978 and was cremated.

This entry was researched and written by Judith Harley, the youngest daughter of Vera Deakin White. Sources used to compile this entry: Australian Dictionary of Biography vol. 16 p. 535, Deakin papers at the National Library, family papers and Who's Who in Australia 1977.

View the full record at Australian Women's Register

Related people and organisations

Resources for Vera White

Selected resources (7)

Australian Dictionary of Biography Online

Australian Women's Register

  1. White, Vera Deakin (1891-1978)Australian Dictionary of Biography Online 16 : White, Vera Deakin (1891-1978)
    Rickard, John
    [2006]
    Published: Australian National University
    Series: http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/biogs/A160637b.htm
  2. Faith, Hope and Charity Australian Women and Imperial Honours: 1901-1989
    Australian Women's Archives Project
    [2003]
    Published: Australian Women's Archives Project
    Series: http://www.womenaustralia.info/exhib/honours/honours.html
  3. Unsung heroes : Australia's military medical personnel1918 Australians in France Australian War Memorial : Unsung heroes : Australia's military medical personnel
    Australian War Memorial
    Series: http://www.awm.gov.au/1918/medical/
  4. Who's who in Australia 1950
    Alexander, Joseph A
    [1950]
    Published: The Herald
  5. National Library of Australia Manuscript Collection: Papers of various Australian women
    Manuscript drafts of biographical papers on the following: Anderson, Mary (11 p.); Brennan, Jennie (7 p.); Couchman, Dame Elizabeth May Ramsay (13 p.); Deakin's daughters, Brookes and Ivy Deakin; Rivett, Stella (Deakin) Lady; White, Vera (Deakin) Lady (14 p.); Goldstein, Vida (21 p.); Holman, May (16 p.); James, Britomarte (23 p.); Lyons, Dame Enid (17 p.); Rich, Ruby (19 p.); Rischbieth, Bessie Mabel (36 p.); Sweet, Georgina (22 p.); Waterworth, Edith (16 p.); Woinarski, Gertrude Zichy- (10 p.); Young, Jeanne (10 p.).
    MS 842
  6. National Library of Australia Manuscript Collection: Alfred Deakin Papers, [manuscript]. 1804-1973 (bulk 1880-1919) (1804 - 1973)
    Papers include correspondence, diaries, notebooks, legal briefs, press cuttings, pamphlets, books, official documents and publications, menus, programmes, literary manuscripts, bills, receipts, photographs and tourist publications. Deakin corresponded with international, national, state and local politicians, Sir Edmund Barton among them. The collection documents the moves towards Federation and the early Commonwealth ministries. Correspondents also include Lord Tennyson, Lord Northcote, R.E. O'Connor, Richard Jebb, L.S. Amery, R.M. Collins, Sir Walter James, Sir William Lyne, Arthur Jose, David Syme, B.R. Wise, Sir Samuel Griffith, Sir Josiah Symon, Sir John Quick and Hubert Murray. Family papers include letters from his parents, sister (Catherine), wife, daughters and son-in-law Herbert Brookes.
    MS 1540

Resources by Vera White (3)

  1. Interview with Vera Deakin White / interviewer, Tom Harley
    White, Vera, 1891-1978
    [ Sound : 1970 ]
    At National Library
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 12.642)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 12.642)

  2. Papers
    Williams, Howard E. (Howard Ernest), 1910-
    [ Unpublished : 1878-1969 ]
    At National Library
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 10.403)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 10.403)

  3. Letters from Stella, Catherine and Pattie Deakin
    White, Vera, 1891-1978
    [ Unpublished : 1909-1914 ]
    At National Library
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 9.736)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 9.736)

Resources about Vera White (7)

  1. Interview with Vera Deakin White / interviewer, Tom Harley
    White, Vera, 1891-1978
    [ Sound : 1970 ]
    At National Library
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 12.387)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 12.387)

  2. Papers
    Williams, Howard E. (Howard Ernest), 1910-
    [ Unpublished : 1878-1969 ]
    At National Library
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 10.21)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 10.21)

  3. Letters from Stella, Catherine and Pattie Deakin
    White, Vera, 1891-1978
    [ Unpublished : 1909-1914 ]
    At National Library
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 9.424)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 9.424)

  4. Vera Deakin in Germany, 10 September, 1913
    [ Photograph : 1913 ]
    View online
    At National Library
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 8.509)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 8.509)

  5. Portrait of Vera Deakin [1]
    [ Photograph : 1865-1930 ]
    View online
    At National Library
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 8.498)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 8.498)

  6. Portrait of Vera Deakin [2]
    [ Photograph : 1865-1930 ]
    View online
    At National Library
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 8.498)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 8.498)

  7. Ivy Brookes[?] and Vera White[?], daughters of Alfred Deakin, standing in front of a monument naming a reserve in his honour, ca. 1940s / J.D. Gordon
    Gordon, J.D. photographer
    [ Photograph : 1940 ]
    Languages: No linguistic content
    View online
    At National Library
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 5.784)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 5.784)

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  3. White racism : the basics / Joe R. Feagin, Hernán Vera
    Feagin, Joe R
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  4. Resources for students with a disability in higher education / compiled by Rita Jennings
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    London, Jack, 1876-1916
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    Southgate, Vera
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  3. We'll meet again : the very best of Vera Lynn
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    Andersen, H. C. (Hans Christian), 1805-1875
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    ... 'WHITE CARGO.' VERA SYMINGTON'S NOVEL ? i FAMOUS STAGE PLAY ! Racing side by side with any of England's land's screen dramas, 'White Cargo,' a Celebrity picture story of life on the Gold Coast of ... with gripping drama, thrill, ex- ] pectancy an-l appeal, 'White Cargo' i has been acclaimed as one ... 208 words
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  2. FOURTH ROUND.
    The Maffra Spectator (Vic. : 1882 - 1920) Thursday 31 July 1919 p 3 Article
    ... FOURTH ROUND. Diana's Hope beat Vera White Benometer beat Sasanof. btSnasnuof. ... 11 words
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  3. TONGUE TWISTER.
    Western Mail (Perth, WA : 1885 - 1954) Thursday 25 July 1940 p 27 Article
    ... TONGUE TWISTER. Beautiful bread baked briskly before breakfast. fast. Say it six times quickly. A white certificate is awarded to Vera Maher. ... 22 words
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