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 and Newspaper Vale Article
Bendigo Advertiser Article 23/10/1993 entitled: "Vale Amy: a rare individual"
2808.13e Photo of Amy from the article
2808.13a, 2808.13b, 2808.13c: The Article describe her life and contributions to Bendigo.
2808.13d - 12 pages of Correspondence and committee records.
Page 1
Letter from the the committee to the art gallery 14/9/1993 re event happening (Presentation of the Ola Cohn works as funded by excess money before the committee "winds up" the letter encloses a list of whom the committee consider should be invited to the event).
Page 2
List of people as above with adresses
Page 3
Invitation to the above event from the art gallery 7/9/1993
Page 4
From the art gallery 29/9/1993 enclosing some factual notes on Amy Huxtable to be confirmed and added to by the committee if need be.
Page 5
From the art gallery 20/10/1993 to the committee, a copy of an article written for the Bendigo Advertiser - for comments.
Page 6
From the art gallery 29/1/1993 - thanking the Chairperson of the committee Miss Norma Young for her speech at the reception for the Amy Huxtable Memorial - Ola Cohn Works.
Page 7
From Norma Young back to the art gallery 3/11/1993, thank you for the combined work of the gallery and the memorial committee
Page 8
Another thank you letter to the art gallery committee of management 3/11/1993.
Page 9 -12
Speech as given by Norma Young, chairperson of the committee to the reception at the art gallery.
