Russell, Delia Constance (1870 - 1938)

Delia Russell, née Law, was active across a range of charitable organisations throughout her life. Educated at the Oberwyl School in Melbourne, she married Percy Joseph Russell, solicitor and municipal councillor in October 1893. Delia Russell's major interests were the Red Cross Society; she remained a member of the Victorian Council until her death in 1938. She founded and ran the St Kilda Red Cross kitchen during World War I, and worked on special diets for influenza patients. She was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire for her work in 1920. Her subsequent commitments included Victorian president of the Housewives' Association (1929-1930 - although she was expelled from this group in 1930 due to her anti-prohibition stance), vice-president of the Victorian Institute of Almoners, councillor of the Talbot Epileptic Colony, Clayton, an executive member of the National Council of Women, president of the Australian Temperance Association (which fought against prohibition), a justice of the peace and special magistrate of the Children's Court, Melbourne. She was president of the Women's Hospital committee from 1932-1934.

Membership

• National Council of Women of Victoria (1902 - )

  Executive member

Presided

• Housewives Association of Victoria (1915 - )

  [1929 - 1930]

Related Corporate Bodies

• Australian Red Cross Victoria (1914 - )

  Founded and ran the St Kilda Red Cross Kitchen, Member of the Victorian Divisional Committee, Victorian General Committee and Victorian Council

  [c. 1915 - 1938]

• Community Programs, Australian Red Cross Victoria

Book Sections

• 'Russell, Delia Constance, nee Law (c.1874-1938 ). Community worker, Melb.', in H J Gibbney and Ann G Smith (eds), A biographical register, 1788-1939: Notes from the name index of the Australian Dictionary of Biography, vol. 2, Australian Dictionary of Biography, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, 1987, p. 233. [ Details... ]

See also

• Balmford, Peter, 'Russell, Percy Joseph (1861-1946), solicitor and municipal councillor', in Geoffrey Serle (ed.), Australian Dictionary of Biography, vol. 11, Melbourne University Press, Carlton, Victoria, 1988, p. 484. [ Details... ]
• Oldfield, Robert, The Early years of the Housewives Association of Victoria, 1915-1930, Monash University, 1989. [ Details... ]
• Smart, Judith, 'A Mission to the Home: The Housewives Association, the Woman's Christian Temperance Union and Protestant Christianity, 1920-1940', Australian Feminist Studies, vol. 13 no. 28, October 1998, 1998, pp. 215-234. [ Details... ]