https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/chisholm-caroline-1894
Caroline Chisholm was an amazing woman and her biography is a must read. I read her biography when I first came to Canberra almost 30 years ago and was very moved by her deeds. This woman did so much for women in Australia in the early days, she had seen heartbreaking stuff and took thing in her stride to get things done. What hampered her was rich protestant women, they refused to give her money to help the poor women, thinking that the money would end up in the Catholic church’s hands. She went all over New South Wales and down to Victoria helping home women and girls into jobs with families needing maids, cooks etc.
She helped unmarried mothers and their tiny babies, saving them from being on the street starving to death. When she returned to England she died penniless. Pretty unfair for a good person that did so much for others.
There is a Social Security building in the Canberra suburb of Greenway named in her honour. I drive past it practically every other day and I always think about her with the utmost respect. Caroline Chisholm was on the five dollar note for many years. Her good name and deeds should never be forgotten.
