FLETCHER, JANE ADA (1870-1956), teacher, ornithologist and author, was born on
18 September 1870 at Stonefield station, near Penshurst, Victoria, eldest of three
daughters of Price Fletcher, a grazier from England who was later agricultural
editor of the Queenslander, and his Victorian-born wife Sarah, née Cooper. Jane's
early life was spent on Russell Island, Queensland, and at Acacia Grove, a sugar
plantation at Mackay. When the family moved to Cleveland (Queensland), she was
educated in Brisbane. Following their mother's death in 1889, the sisters returned
to depression-ravaged Victoria and lived with relations at Bundoora. In 1892 Jane
escaped 'Granny's acid tongue' by taking work on an aunt's farm at Wilmot in
north-western Tasmania. Four years later she became a teacher of sewing (initially
without pay) at West Kentish primary school; by 1899 she had qualified as a head
teacher and was appointed to set up a school at Upper Wilmot. She supported her
father (who died in 1906) and subsequently taught at Cleveland (Tasmania),
Springfield, Woodbridge and Forcett.
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Australian Dictionary of Biography Online
Jane Fletcher published a number of books on nature and nature study, and broadcast on 7ZL Hobart and 3LO Melbourne. In 1934 she became the first woman to lecture to the Royal Society of Tasmania. She was an outstanding bird observer with a particular interest in crakes and rails.
Jane Fletcher began work on an aunt's farm in Wilmot, north-western Tasmania, from 1892-96. From 1896 she worked as a sewing teacher (initially without pay) at West Kentish Primary School. By 1899 she had qualified as a head teacher and was appointed to set up a school at Upper Wilmot. She later taught at Cleveland (Tasmania), Springfield, Woodbridge and Forcett.
Fletcher undertook fieldwork for Gregory Mathews (q.v.) until 1936. She was the first woman to deliver a lecture to the Royal Society of Tasmania (in 1934), of which she was a member. She was a foundation member in 1901 - and life member from 1945 - of the Royal Australasian Ornithologists' Union.
She wrote a number of children's books, including Stories from Nature (London, 1915) and Little Brown Piccaninnies of Tasmania (Sydney, 1950), her most popular children's book. She also wrote books and articles for adults on Tasmanian history, Aborigines and ornithology, her final book being Tasmania's Own Birds (1956).
On retirement, Fletcher opened part of her house at Eaglehawk Neck as a Youth Hostel.
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Australian Women's Register
Jane Ada Fletcher, the daughter of Price Fletcher, the 'Bush Naturalist' of Queensland, published a number of books on nature and nature study and broadcast on 7ZL Hobart and 3LO Melbourne. In 1934 she became the first woman to lecture to the Royal Society of Tasmania. She was an outstanding bird observer with a particular interest in crakes and rails.
Worked on an aunt's farm, Wilmot, north-western Tasmania 1892-96; teacher of sewing (initially without pay), West Kentish primary school 1896-99; qualified as a head teacher 1899 and appointed to set up a school at Upper Wilmot; later taught at Cleveland (Tasmania), Springfield, Woodbridge and Forcett; opened part of her house at Eaglehawk Neck as a Youth Hostel after retirement. Undertook fieldwork for Gregory Mathews (q.v.) until 1936. First woman to deliver a lecture to the Royal Society of Tasmania, of which she was a member, in 1934. Foundation member 1901 and life member 1945, Royal Australasian Ornithologists' Union. Writer of a number of children's books, including Stories from Nature (London, 1915) and Little Brown Piccaninnies of Tasmania (Sydney, 1950), her most popular children's book. Also wrote books and articles for adults on Tasmanian history, Aborigines and ornithology, her final book being Tasmania's Own Birds (1956).
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Encyclopedia of Australian Science