Tuesday Treasure

Every Tuesday Clare at Clare's Craftroom gives us a chance to share something special as part of Tuesday Treasures. This week I've chosen a book written by my DH's grandma.

Grandma Daly was a remarkable woman who wrote a number of books as a fundraiser for childrens charities in Victoria.  She was made a dame for this charity work and the work she did in WWII.

Grandma moved in artists' circles and was friends with some of Australia's best and most well known artists.  She decided to ask them to illustrate the childrens stories she wrote. 

I've always been very interested in history, so loved the stories she had to tell.  Often at family gatherings I would seek her out and the two of us would sit and chat and she would entertain me with her anecdotes. 

One of my favourites was about a dinner party she attended where she was seated next to William Dobell.  He leaned over to her and pointed out a lady sitting opposite them at the dining table.  "What a magnificent woman", he exclaimed to Grandma Daly.  She glanced across  the table and thought the woman was actually quite unattractive.   "She'd make the most marvelous gargoyle", added Dobell.

Still makes me smile when I think about it now.

The blogging world is wonderful.  Fabulous Nessaknits just sent me this link which provides a biography of Grandma.  Really interesting, I didn't know we had a deputy coroner in the family nor did I know about her medal from the Pope.