Historical information

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.

Physical description

Amy Huxtable Memorial Committee - Reports from Meeting - five pages of report and letters.

2808.10a

Bereavement Card - thanks from Ruth Lockwood to the committee on the death of her husband Douglas Lockwood, Chairman of the committee.

2808.10b

Rear of above card.

2808.10c

* Report of the Amy Huxtable Memorial Committee 29/1/1981 held at the office of Miss N. Young
* Letter to Andrew Taylor, Superintendent Bendigo City Parks and Gardens, 4/3/1981, in regards to the memorial seat in the Conservatory Gardens.
* Reply to above letter from the acting Superintendent Rod Sweetnam, 6/3/1981.
* Further letter to Andrew Taylor advising that the seat construction is underway, 13/4/1981

2808.10d

* Updated committee signature form to the ANZ Bank, 5/5/1981