Bedford, Mary Josephine (1861-1955)

Field of activity
Charity worker and Philanthropist
NLA Persistent Identifier
http://nla.gov.au/nla.party-768082

Biographies

Josephine Bedford worked tirelessly to improve the lives of impoverished woman and children in Brisbane. She was instrumental in founding the Crèche and Kindergarten Association in 1907 and the Playground Association in 1913. The Bedford Playground in Spring Hill commemorates Josephine's outstanding contribution to Queensland children. Josephine volunteered with the Scottish Women’s Hospital when World War I broke out and served in Serbia for 12 months as head of the ambulance service. She was awarded the fifth class of the Order of St Sava by the King of Serbia.

Josephine Bedford arrived in Brisbane in 1891 with her longtime friend and companion Dr Lilian Cooper, with whom she shared accommodation during their student days in England. She helped Lilian establish herself as Queensland’s first female doctor while pursuing her own interest in improving the welfare of the state’s women and children. As the city’s population rapidly grew, Josephine noticed that the inner-suburbs, with their unpaved and unsewered streets, were unsafe for children to play. This realisation, along with the help of the local Reverend, led to the creation of the Crèche and Kindergarten Association (C & K) in 1907. By 1911, four centres were operating in Brisbane and a college for kindergarten teachers had been established. On an extended trip overseas, Josephine studied the concept of 'supervised play' and returned to Brisbane in 1918 to help open two supervised playgrounds (in Paddington and Spring Hill).

Miss Bedford was a committee member of the Queensland Society for the Prevention of Cruelty, first provisional secretary of the National Council of Women in 1906 as well as a member of the Queensland Women’s Electoral League. Another of her interests was the Women’s Auxiliary of the Hospital for Sick Children.

Dr Lilian Cooper died in 1947, leaving all her assets to Josephine. To commemorate the work of Queensland’s first female medical practitioner and her lifelong companion, Josephine Bedford donated their historic home, “Old St Mary’s”, at Kangaroo Point to the Sisters of Charity, on the proviso that it be used to build a hospice for the sick and dying.

View the full record at Australian Women's Register

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  1. Josephine Mary Hungerford (nee Chambers)
    Created by Harvey-switzer, 1 item.

  2. Ruth Bedford poetry
    Created by Perry.Middlemiss, 46 items.

    A catalogue of poems by Ruth Bedford

  3. Randolph Bedford poetry
    Created by Perry.Middlemiss, 4 items.

    A catalog of poems by Randolph Bedford

  1. Bedford, Mary Josephine (1861-1955)
    ... Josephine Bedford worked tirelessly to improve the lives of impoverished woman and children in ...
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  1. Website: Western Australian Genealogical Society Inc. (WAGS)
    wags.org.au
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  2. Website: First families 2001
    www.firstfamilies2001.net.au
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    • first families search page - 20/12/2004
    • ... BEDFORD, Mary FF   WALKER, Terence William BEDFORD, William FF   WALTER, catherine josephine FF First...
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  3. Website: Bright sparcs
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  1. Cooper, Lilian Violet (1861-1947) and Bedford, Mary Josephine (1861-1955)
    Moore, C. R; R. Aldrich; G. Wotherspoon
    [ Article : 2001 ]
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    Shakespeare, William, 1564-1616
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  1. William Harmon papers, 1939-2000
    Harmon, William, 1938-
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  2. Historical Faculty Files
    University of Utah. Vice President for Academic Affairs Office
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    Bradford, William
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  1. Archaeology of the dreamtime : the story of prehistoric Australia and its people / Josephine Flood
    Flood, Josephine
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  2. Archaeology of the dreamtime / Josephine Flood
    Flood, Josephine
    [ Book, Audio book : 1983-1995 ]
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  3. The original Australians : story of the Aboriginal people / Josephine Flood
    Flood, Josephine
    [ Book, Audio book : 2006-2008 ]
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  4. Rock art of the Dreamtime : images of ancient Australia / Josephine Flood
    Flood, Josephine
    [ Book : 1996-1997 ]
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  1. Archaeology of the dreamtime / Josephine Flood
    Flood, Josephine
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  2. The original Australians : story of the Aboriginal people / Josephine Flood
    Flood, Josephine
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  3. Oliver Twist / Charles Dickens
    Dickens, Charles, 1812-1870
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  4. Much ado about nothing / William Shakespeare
    Shakespeare, William, 1564-1616
    Shakespeare Quarterly
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  1. PLAYGROUND ASSOCIATION
    The Courier-Mail (Brisbane, Qld. : 1933 - 1954) Monday 30 October 1939 p 4 Article
    ... PLAYGROUND ASSOCIATION MARY SIR,-At the annual meeting of the Playground Association a vote of thanks to the Press, proposed by the Minister for Public Instruction TrvQrriifHnn and Works (Mr. ... raise funds.- Yours, &c, MARY JOSEPHINE BEDFORD. Hon. Secretary, Playground Associa tion of ... 93 words
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  2. Happy Christmas For Children Assured To the Editor of The Courier-Mail
    The Courier-Mail (Brisbane, Qld. : 1933 - 1954) Tuesday 20 December 1938 p 6 Article
    ... Happy Christmas For Children Assured To the Editor of The Courier-Mail MARY SIR,-The Committee of the Playground ground Association desires to express press its appreciation of the wonderful success ... is one which will benefit by your toy distributions. -Yours. &c. MARY JOSEPHINE BEDFORD. Brisbane. ... 153 words
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  3. HONOUR FOR TWO GUEENSLAND WOMEN.
    The Brisbane Courier (Qld. : 1864 - 1933) Wednesday 1 January 1919 p 7 Article
    ... HONOUR FOR TWO QUEENSLAND WOMEN. The King has granted unrestricted permission mission to Miss Lilian Violet Cooper. MD.. and Miss Mary Josephine Bedford to wear the Insignia of the Fourth and Fifth Class respectively of the Order of St Sava, conferred upon them by the King of Serbia in recognition ... 81 words
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