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 - Correspondence - 18 Pages

Page 1

Letter to Andrew Taylor, Superintendent, Bendigo City Parks and Gardens 2/6/1981 re siting of the Memorial Seat.

Page 2

Reply to the above letter 2/7/1981

Page 3-4

Letter to the Council suggesting the seat be placed in the Conservatory gardens 7/7/1981

Page 5

Letter from the committee to Denis O'Hoy thanking them for supplying clay and plaster for the prep work 7/7/1981

Page 6

Letter from Andrew Taylor, Bendigo City Council 22/7/1981 advising the committee that the council has approved two seats and a vandal proof sign be placed up against the Conservatory facing the Bendigo Advertiser offices.

Page 7

Letter 14/8/1981 from the committee to the council re the plaque design

Page 8

To the Bendigo council 8/9/1981 suggesting a date and time for the handover of the seat.

Page 9

From the council 12/10/1981 thankyou letter from the Mayor agreeing to the time of the memorial seat handover.

Page 10

Letter back to the Mayor on 10/7/1981 from the committee with a suggested program for the afternoon.

Page 11-13

Letter from the committee to BCV TV Channel 8 10/11/1981, asking them to advertise the event on their community noticeboard, the wording enclosed; and also an article for the news.

Page 14-15

The wording on the plaque

Page 16

Letter to the Bendigo Council 16/8/1984 asking for some repairs to be done to the seat due to weathering.

Page 16

Letter back from the council 23/8/1984 advising the committee that it is on the list of maintenance for later in the year.

Page 17

Letter from the Bendigo Regional Arts Centre to the committee 28/6/1990 adising receipt of $1000 for seats ion the re-vamperd Capital Theatre; seat inscription to be "Donated by:- Amy Huxtable Memorial Committee In Memory of :- Amy Huxtable