Anderson, Edith Muriel

Australian Women
Biographical entry

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Lady, DBE

Published Resources

Community worker

Born: New Zealand

Edith Anderson was the wife of New South Wales Governor, Sir David Murray Anderson, who held office for only a short time before he died in October 1936. Edith assumed many official duties on her husband's behalf because of his continuing illness. She was appointed to The Order of the British Empire - Dames Commander on 11 May 1937 for public service in New South Wales.

Career Highlights

Edith Anderson, daughter of W H Teschemaker, married David Murray Anderson in 1908. They had no children. Her husband had a distinguished career in the British Navy before being appointed Governor of Newfoundland in 1932. Edith Anderson founded the Personal Service League in Newfoundland, which worked to relieve distress in the country. At the end of his posting in 1935, David Anderson received his appointment as Governor of New South Wales on 6 November. The newspaper report in The Sydney Morning Herald of 6 November 1935, which announced the name of the New Governor, quoted Edith's London friends who 'paid tribute to the social genius and delightful personality of Lady Anderson, who gives her energy and enthusiasm lavishly in social welfare work'.

David Murray Anderson was sworn in as Governor in August 1936 and died on 30 October. According to a report which appeared in The Sydney Morning Herald, 30 October 1936, announcing the death of the Governor, Edith Anderson 'won the admiration of the people of New South Wales for the manner in which she has relieved the Governor from many of his official engagements'.

Sources used to compile this entry: Sydney Morning Herald, 6 Nov 1935 and 30 Oct 1936; Australian Dictionary of Biography, vol. 7.

Published Resources

Anderson, Edith Muriel

See also