Tapestry Guide Camp, former Rylah house site, 15 Rankines Road, Strathewen
`â¦Until recently a former Girl Guide Association of Victoria property, Tapestry was originally the country retreat of Ann Rylah (later Lady Rylah). It is located at Strathewen, adjoining the Kinglake National Park. Lady Rylah died in 1969 and bequeathed this property to the Girl Guide Association of Victoria who became the proprietor in 1970 . Probate was granted to Morven Bond, solicitor July 1969.
Her will stated: `I give devise and bequeath my property situate at Strathewen 17C 17D and 17 F of Section 4 in the Parish of Kinglake together with furniture and furnishings therein ⦠to the Girl Guidesâ Association of Victoria of 20 Russell street Melbourne aforesaid for its use by the Ranger Branch. If the said Association shall not accept the said property furniture and furnishings them my trustee shall hold the same for my daughter UPON TRUST ANNABEL JANE BROWNELL absolutely.â Ann also bequeathed her house at Kew to her daughter my property (15 Victor Avenue Kew) â¦`together with all the contents therefore owned by me which are not otherwise specifically bequeathed by this will and together with the goodwill of the Veterinary practice carried by me at 15 Victor Avenue Kew aforesaidâ.
Her will described Tapestry thus:
`Property known as âtapestry;â off Fraser Road and Bowden Spur Road, Strathewen, Victoria. All that piece of land containing 59 Acres 1 rood and 1 perch of more or less so much and such pars as lie above the depth of fifty feet below the surface being allotments 17C and 17D ⦠and all that piece of land containing 7 acres 22 perches more or less on the surface and sown to the depth of fifty feet below the surface being Allotment 17F of Section A in the Parish of Kinglake County of Evelyn â¦. The building is timber house of 4 rooms, carport and sheds and outbuildings. Valued by sworn valuer Stanway and Flint Pty Ltd at $11,550.00â .
The Girl Guides sold the property in 1994.
Ann FF Rylah (on the title as a veterinary surgeon of 15 Victor Ave, Kew) had purchased the 59 acre property in 1951: there were no buildings, only fruit trees from a former orchard (at least one apple tree remains). The property was allotment 17C&D, Section A Kinglake parish and was first purchased in 1928 by Strathewan orchardist, Sydney Horn for â¤55.
Ann purchased three timber worker huts from near the Strathewen Post Office and moved them to the property as temporary accommodation, naming the hut amalgamation Panda Hut (named after Annâs dog). Only remnants of the Panda Hut chimney remain but it is pictured as a gabled timber hut located south-west of the house.
The 1967 aerial view shows the house and hut, along with the pine ring in its infancy .
As well as a country retreat, Ann Rylah made Tapestry a venue for a number of Ranger training and camping activities. Many rangers and girl guides camped in Panda Hut as a result during her lifetime.
Ann Flashman BVSc, later Ann Rylah, later Lady Ann Rylah
(largely derived from Robin Giesecke Ann Flashman BVSc October 2002)
Ann Flora Flashman was the first woman to enrol in the Sydney University School of Veterinary Science in 1930. She became the fourth woman to qualify and enter the veterinary profession in Australia. Her enrolment is thought to have encouraged other women to train as veterinarians. Ann was educated at the Ascham School for Girls, Sydney, matriculating in 1929: there she was the popular leader of the schoolâs girl guide troop. She was also a keen sportswoman and had developed an interest in journalism.
She enrolled at Sydney University in 1930, where she received the full support of the Faculty staff and pursued her Guiding activities and played intervarsity hockey. Her final year essay on duodenal ulcers in dogs was published in the Australian Veterinary Journal, and she was awarded the STD Symons prize for clinical subjects. Her final year practical work was undertaken at the Berri Experimental Farm and she graduated in 1936. Her graduation was preceded only by those of Belle Reid from the Melbourne Veterinary College in 1906, Margaret Keats from the Melbourne University Veterinary Faculty in 1923 and Pat Littlejohn from the Sydney University Faculty in 1935.
Ann joined the staff of the Lost Dog's Home in North Melbourne as its first paid veterinarian, following the footsteps of Belle Reid who had worked there in an honorary capacity. She also worked for the Lort Smith Animal Hospital in North Melbourne until she set up her own practice at her marital home 15 Victor Street, Kew, as Ann Flashman. She had married Arthur Rylah (1909-1974) in 1937, a former Deputy Premier of Victoria, government leader in the Assembly (Liberal party member), attorney general and Chief Secretary, and later Sir Arthur Rylah KBE 1968, a national political figure and reformer: she was his official partner and hostess in government circles. They had two children and lived at Kew (Athur Rylahâs birthplace, son of Walter Rylah), in a large Old English style home that survives today. They separated in 1968- a year before Annâs death. Arthur Rylah retired to his hill station retreat, Laurieton, at Mt Macedon (he is also listed at 34 Range St, Camberwell in WWA 1968) and Ann remained at their 15 Victor Avenue, Kew home and Tapestry (Refer to Costar in ADB V16: 161-2)
She gained the devotion of many animal lovers in Victoria through her tireless devotion to caring for animals and young people. She wrote a column called Pet Talk in the Melbourne Herald under the pseudonym John Wotherspoon, addressing issues such as tail docking, suitable pet ownership and the psychology of dogs and owners. These columns ran well in to the 1960s and were followed by two books: The Australian Pet Book (1962) and The Australian Dog Book (1971).
In her professional life she had brought great credit to the profession, being a skilled diagnostician and small animal practitioner; one who amply met the expectations of Ian Clunies Ross when he had written that there is "no conceivable reason why they (women) may not achieve a distinction equal in all respects to that of their brother members".
As a Girl Guide leader she was captain of the 4th Yarra Company, Division Commissioner, North Eastern Suburbs, Captain of the First Melbourne Cadet Company and District Commissioner, Northcote. From 1962 to 1967 she was Senior Branch Adviser for Victoria in 1968 she held the post of Lieutenant of the 4th South Yarra Company and Training Adviser for Victoria. She wrote (as Ann Rylah), `Australian Adventure. Girl guiding under the Southern Cross' (published in Sydney 1967) as a definitive handbook for Girl guides (136 pages).
Ann was an active member of and contributor to the Victorian Division of the Australian Veterinary Association and was its Vice President when she died from a cerebral haemorrhage on 15 March 1969. Then separated from her husband, Annâs cremation without an inquest caused some controversy, particularly after her husband, Sir Arthur Rylah, remarried in the same year.
The many tributes paid to her included one by Reverend Gordon Brown who described Ann as "One of those people possessed of a driving force which would not let her rest. In her professional and private life she was a dynamo who would not rest until she had accomplished what she set out to do." If one considers that while running a veterinary practice, having a high profile social responsibility and bringing up a family she also devoted much time and care to fostering the Guiding Movement in Victoria, she accomplished a great deal..'
Tapestry Guide Camp, former Rylah house site, 15 Rankines Road, Strathewen
`â¦Until recently a former Girl Guide Association of Victoria property, Tapestry was originally the country retreat of Ann Rylah (later Lady Rylah). It is located at Strathewen, adjoining the Kinglake National Park. Lady Rylah died in 1969 and bequeathed this property to the Girl Guide Association of Victoria who became the proprietor in 1970 . Probate was granted to Morven Bond, solicitor July 1969.
Her will stated: `I give devise and bequeath my property situate at Strathewen 17C 17D and 17 F of Section 4 in the Parish of Kinglake together with furniture and furnishings therein ⦠to the Girl Guidesâ Association of Victoria of 20 Russell street Melbourne aforesaid for its use by the Ranger Branch. If the said Association shall not accept the said property furniture and furnishings them my trustee shall hold the same for my daughter UPON TRUST ANNABEL JANE BROWNELL absolutely.â Ann also bequeathed her house at Kew to her daughter my property (15 Victor Avenue Kew) â¦`together with all the contents therefore owned by me which are not otherwise specifically bequeathed by this will and together with the goodwill of the Veterinary practice carried by me at 15 Victor Avenue Kew aforesaidâ.
Her will described Tapestry thus:
`Property known as âtapestry;â off Fraser Road and Bowden Spur Road, Strathewen, Victoria. All that piece of land containing 59 Acres 1 rood and 1 perch of more or less so much and such pars as lie above the depth of fifty feet below the surface being allotments 17C and 17D ⦠and all that piece of land containing 7 acres 22 perches more or less on the surface and sown to the depth of fifty feet below the surface being Allotment 17F of Section A in the Parish of Kinglake County of Evelyn â¦. The building is timber house of 4 rooms, carport and sheds and outbuildings. Valued by sworn valuer Stanway and Flint Pty Ltd at $11,550.00â .
The Girl Guides sold the property in 1994.
Ann FF Rylah (on the title as a veterinary surgeon of 15 Victor Ave, Kew) had purchased the 59 acre property in 1951: there were no buildings, only fruit trees from a former orchard (at least one apple tree remains). The property was allotment 17C&D, Section A Kinglake parish and was first purchased in 1928 by Strathewan orchardist, Sydney Horn for â¤55.
Ann purchased three timber worker huts from near the Strathewen Post Office and moved them to the property as temporary accommodation, naming the hut amalgamation Panda Hut (named after Annâs dog). Only remnants of the Panda Hut chimney remain but it is pictured as a gabled timber hut located south-west of the house.
The 1967 aerial view shows the house and hut, along with the pine ring in its infancy .
As well as a country retreat, Ann Rylah made Tapestry a venue for a number of Ranger training and camping activities. Many rangers and girl guides camped in Panda Hut as a result during her lifetime.
Ann Flashman BVSc, later Ann Rylah, later Lady Ann Rylah
(largely derived from Robin Giesecke Ann Flashman BVSc October 2002)
Ann Flora Flashman was the first woman to enrol in the Sydney University School of Veterinary Science in 1930. She became the fourth woman to qualify and enter the veterinary profession in Australia. Her enrolment is thought to have encouraged other women to train as veterinarians. Ann was educated at the Ascham School for Girls, Sydney, matriculating in 1929: there she was the popular leader of the schoolâs girl guide troop. She was also a keen sportswoman and had developed an interest in journalism.
She enrolled at Sydney University in 1930, where she received the full support of the Faculty staff and pursued her Guiding activities and played intervarsity hockey. Her final year essay on duodenal ulcers in dogs was published in the Australian Veterinary Journal, and she was awarded the STD Symons prize for clinical subjects. Her final year practical work was undertaken at the Berri Experimental Farm and she graduated in 1936. Her graduation was preceded only by those of Belle Reid from the Melbourne Veterinary College in 1906, Margaret Keats from the Melbourne University Veterinary Faculty in 1923 and Pat Littlejohn from the Sydney University Faculty in 1935.
Ann joined the staff of the Lost Dog's Home in North Melbourne as its first paid veterinarian, following the footsteps of Belle Reid who had worked there in an honorary capacity. She also worked for the Lort Smith Animal Hospital in North Melbourne until she set up her own practice at her marital home 15 Victor Street, Kew, as Ann Flashman. She had married Arthur Rylah (1909-1974) in 1937, a former Deputy Premier of Victoria, government leader in the Assembly (Liberal party member), attorney general and Chief Secretary, and later Sir Arthur Rylah KBE 1968, a national political figure and reformer: she was his official partner and hostess in government circles. They had two children and lived at Kew (Athur Rylahâs birthplace, son of Walter Rylah), in a large Old English style home that survives today. They separated in 1968- a year before Annâs death. Arthur Rylah retired to his hill station retreat, Laurieton, at Mt Macedon (he is also listed at 34 Range St, Camberwell in WWA 1968) and Ann remained at their 15 Victor Avenue, Kew home and Tapestry (Refer to Costar in ADB V16: 161-2)
She gained the devotion of many animal lovers in Victoria through her tireless devotion to caring for animals and young people. She wrote a column called Pet Talk in the Melbourne Herald under the pseudonym John Wotherspoon, addressing issues such as tail docking, suitable pet ownership and the psychology of dogs and owners. These columns ran well in to the 1960s and were followed by two books: The Australian Pet Book (1962) and The Australian Dog Book (1971).
In her professional life she had brought great credit to the profession, being a skilled diagnostician and small animal practitioner; one who amply met the expectations of Ian Clunies Ross when he had written that there is "no conceivable reason why they (women) may not achieve a distinction equal in all respects to that of their brother members".
As a Girl Guide leader she was captain of the 4th Yarra Company, Division Commissioner, North Eastern Suburbs, Captain of the First Melbourne Cadet Company and District Commissioner, Northcote. From 1962 to 1967 she was Senior Branch Adviser for Victoria in 1968 she held the post of Lieutenant of the 4th South Yarra Company and Training Adviser for Victoria. She wrote (as Ann Rylah), `Australian Adventure. Girl guiding under the Southern Cross' (published in Sydney 1967) as a definitive handbook for Girl guides (136 pages).
Ann was an active member of and contributor to the Victorian Division of the Australian Veterinary Association and was its Vice President when she died from a cerebral haemorrhage on 15 March 1969. Then separated from her husband, Annâs cremation without an inquest caused some controversy, particularly after her husband, Sir Arthur Rylah, remarried in the same year.
The many tributes paid to her included one by Reverend Gordon Brown who described Ann as "One of those people possessed of a driving force which would not let her rest. In her professional and private life she was a dynamo who would not rest until she had accomplished what she set out to do." If one considers that while running a veterinary practice, having a high profile social responsibility and bringing up a family she also devoted much time and care to fostering the Guiding Movement in Victoria, she accomplished a great deal..'