• Entry type: Person
  • Entry ID: IMP0062

Zelling, Sesca Ross

  • OBE
(1918 – 2001)
  • Born 18 April, 1918, Wayville South Australia Australia
  • Died 21 November, 2001
  • Occupation Lawyer

Summary

Sesca Zelling was awarded the Order of the British Empire in 1960 in recognition of her service to women and the community of South Australia.

Details

Daughter of: Donald Robert Ross and Sesca Lewin (née Somerville) Anderson.

The eldest of six children, Sesca Zelling attended Methodist Ladies College (now Annesley College) for six years. During her time at the college she was awarded the Old Scholars’ Prize for qualities of leadership and contribution to the life of the school; topped the State in Leaving Botany 1934; appointed Prefect 1935; captain of B tennis team 1935; Co-dux 1935; Head Prefect 1936; captain of A netball team 1936 and member of A tennis team in 1936.

In 1941 she obtained her LLB from University of Adelaide and Trevor Griffin MLC in his obituary (Adelaide Advertiser 29 Dec. 2001) writes “After her admission to legal practice in 1941, she retained her interest in university affairs, particularly those that related to young women – she was president of the Australian Federation of University Women, a member of the Council of St Ann’s College and was the third woman to be appointed to the Council of the University of Adelaide. She was also involved in an official capacity with the Marriage Guidance Council and the YWCA.”

From 1942 until 1947 she was a prosecuting officer for the Deputy Commonwealth Crown Solicitor and was appointed a justice of the peace in 1945. At the time of her death she was the longest-serving woman member of the Royal Association of Justices.

In 1950 she married fellow lawyer Howard Edgar Zelling and they shared the same offices until 1969 when her husband became a judge of the SA Supreme Court.

A member of the National Council of Women of SA (NCW), Sesca Zelling was president from 1957 until 1960. She had previously (1954-1957) been vice-president of the NCW of Australia and was a trustee of the NCW War Memorial Fund 1954-1976. In 1970 she was appointed honorary life president of the SA division in recognition for her work with the National Council of Women.

At the time of her death she was Chair (1995-2001) of The Pioneer Women’s Memorial Garden, having been a trustee since 1962.

(Source: National Council of Women SA)

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Events

  • 1942 - 1947

    Prosecuting officer, Deputy Commonwealth Crown Solicitor

  • 1942 - 2001

    Member Lyceum Club

  • 1971 - 2001

    Member Queen Adelaide Club

  • 1953 - 1956

    Council member Law Society of SA

  • 1949 - 1951

    President, Women Graduates Association, University of Adelaide

  • 1957 - 1960

    Vice-president Marriage Guidance Council (SA)

  • 1960 - 1963

    Board member YWCA

  • 1961 - 1962

    President Liberal Women’s Educational Association

  • 1945 - 1949

    President MLC Old Scholars’ Association

  • 1962 - 2001

    Trustee The Pioneer Women’s Memorial Garden

  • 1995 - 2001

    Chair The Pioneer Women’s Memorial Garden

  • 1947 - 1950

    Secretary Law Society of SA

  • 1957 - 1960

    President, National Council of Women (SA)

  • 1946 - 1957

    Convener of National Council of Women Standing committee for laws and suffrage

  • 1954 - 1957

    Australian vice-president National Council of Women

  • 1954 - 1976

    Trustee National Council of Women War Memorial Fund

  • 1970 - 2001

    Life vice-president of National Council of Women SA

  • 1957

    Government appointee Women’s Reception during visit to South Australia by Queen Mother

Published resources

Related entries


  • Membership
    • National Council of Women of Australia (1931 - )
    • Lyceum Club Adelaide Incorporated (1922 - )
    • Queen Adelaide Club (1909 - )
  • Vice President
    • National Council of Women of Australia (1931 - )
  • President
    • Australian Federation of Graduate Women Inc. (1922 - )
  • Related Cultural Artefacts
    • Pioneer Women's Memorial Garden
  • Chaired by
    • Pioneer Women's Memorial Garden
  • Presided
    • National Council of Women of South Australia (1902 - )
  • Related Women
    • Somerville, Dorothy Catherine (1897 - 1992)
  • Related Organisations
    • Methodist Ladies' College (MLC), Adelaide (1902 - 1977)