Maryanne was born in Melbourne in 1960. While she was very young her family moved to Ballarat, Victoria, where she was educated. She attended the Victorian College of the Arts in Melbourne from 1979 to 1981 and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts (Fine Arts) Painting. She undertook further studies at the University of NSW graduating in 1984 with a Graduate Diploma in Professional Studies (Painting). She commenced a Master of Arts candidature in 1996 at the University of Ballarat converting this to a PhD candidature in 1997, receiving her Doctor of Philosophy in 2000. Her first major award was the Blake Prize that she won jointly in 1983 with the painting " Easter in my Room", now part of the collection of the Australian Catholic University, Ballarat Campus. Maryanne has worked as a Sessional Lecturer at the Arts Academy, University of Ballarat (1999 - 2003), the Department of Fine Art and Design, Monash University, Melbourne (2000 - 2005) and the Faculty of Humanities and Social Science, Latrobe University, Bendigo Campus (2008). She was a Lecturer in the Faculty of Arts and Science, Australian Catholic University, Melbourne and Ballarat campuses (2003 - 2004). She is currently (from 2006) a Lecturer in Drawing and Painting in the Department of Fine Art, Monash University, Melbourne. Collections of her work are in various galleries including the Art Gallery of Ballarat and Federation University, Ballarat.women of note, maryanne coutts, educated in ballarat, university of ballarat, master of arts, doctor of philosophy, blake prize, university of nsw, victorian college of the arts, department of fine art, monash university, australian catholic university, latrobe university bendigo university, federation university, art gallery ballarat

Amy Huxtable was born at Cheltenham in 1918, to Robert Henry Huxtable and Violet a Dagg. Her father was an installer for an oil company and travelled the State. taking his family with him. She completed her education at the Bendigo High School and later attended the Bendigo Business College, becoming an expert shorthand writer. Her first position was as a copy writer with Radio 3BO, in the mid 1930s. She worked with an advertising agency in Melbourne and then with the Age,newspaper. In 1953, Miss Huxtable was appointed temporarily to succeed Miss E B Millane as social editress of the Bendigo Advertiser, during the latter's absence abroad. In 1956, Amy travelled abroad and on her return in 1957 was appointed permanently as Women's editor, a position she held for twenty-three ears. During her early years with The Advertiser she wrote under the name Toora, but in later years her own name became widely known. Miss Huxtable was well known both in her professional capacity and through a interest and involvement in community activites. She was life governor of the Bendigo Hospital, the Bendigo Home for the Aged, and Mirridong Home for the Blind, she was a member of Soroptimist International and the Business and Professional Women's Club. Amy was also a tireless worker for the spastic society and a strong supporter of the YWCA. When Amy Huxtable died at Mt AJvernia Hospital on 16 January 1980 Mayor Campbell ordered the city flag to be flown at half-mast. "Lowering the flag is the least we can do for such a lady" Cr Campbell said. Douglas Lockwood, editor of the Bendigo Advertiser said, "She was a devot d colleague who gave her craft and her newspaper the kind of service which identified a rare and generous spirit." She was a true professional who decided to make Bendigo her home. More than 300 people packed St Paul's Church for her funeral ervice the bell tolled as the casket was carried from the church. At a ceremony in the Conservatory Gardens on No ember 22 1981 The Amy Huxtable Memorial Committee presented to the City of Bendigo, a garden seat in memory of the late Miss Huxtable. This Bendigo manufactured seat was a fitting tribute to one ofBendigo's most loved and esteemed citizens. All Miss Huxtable's Advertiser articles were microfilmed and presented to the Library by the above committee. Amy Huxtable Memorial History Prize Winner as awarded by the Latrobe University Bendigo Campus, thank you letter from the Bendigo Historical Society to the University and also an enclosed letter to Ms Maree Edwards, the winner of the prize.history, amy huxtable, bendigo, amy huxtable memorial history awards