Dr Margery Owens...Children Helping Children. The Story Of A Subiaco Sunshiner.
Margery Owens lived at 228 Hensman Road, Subiaco, with her family during the 1920’s and 1930’s. She was a member of the Sunshine League at the Daily News newspaper in Western Australia. Margery’s letters were first published in the Daily News on a page called ‘A Page For The Boys And Girls Of Western Australia’ when she joined the Sunshine League in 1928.
Margery was educated at the Sisters of Mercy Convent in Subiaco and Victoria Square in Perth. The family then moved to Albany where she graduated from Albany High School where her uncle was Headmaster. In 1942 Margery graduated from the University of Melbourne with first class honours as a doctor and won the Ryan Prize for Medicine. Dr. Margery Owens was appointed resident doctor at St. Vincent’s Hospital in Melbourne (Mount Barker and Denmark Record 1942). She returned to Western Australia where she worked at the Children’s Hospital.
Margery regularly wrote letters to Auntie Nell, sharing the events in her daily life with her and other readers of the children’s pages, completed competitions to win prizes, donated to the Cot Fund for the Children’s Hospital that raised money for beds and submitted poetry and short stories that were published. Margery also recruited new members to the Sunshine League. She was actively involved in the Sunshine League for over four years. Margery also occasionally wrote to Aunt Kitty and was published on her ‘Boys and Girls’ pages at the Sunday Times.
Below are some of the short stories and poems Margery wrote that were published in the Daily News newspaper. They are from Trove the database of National Library of Australia. I have also included some articles about Margery becoming a doctor and returning to work at the Children’s Hospital. No copyright infringement intended.
Daily News, 5 January 1929
THE FAIRY BALL
(By Margery Owens).
Mildred had been sharpening some pencils and now there were shavings all over the lawn, edged with blue, green, yellow, and red. That night there was going to be a ball at the Fairy Queen's Palace, and all the fairies were invited. A prize was to be given to the best dressed fairy and Katinka had set her heart on gaining that coveted prize, but now her dress had been spoiled by the rain and she was unable to go. She crept to her favorite nook beneath the rose-bush and wept silently for a little while; then her eye caught a little tinge of blue, in the grass and thinking it might bs some of her fairy friends watching her, she hastily dried her tears. She advanced towards the object and found it was a shaving edged with blue. She was full of joy at her discovery for she thought she might be able to find another piece and then she would be able to make herself a dress out of it. Finding it she flew home in great haste and told her little friend, Twinklestar of her great idea. “Will you lend me some of your rose-leaf cotton to sew it with?” she asked Twinklestar and it was given to her without delay. “You had better make haste or you will be late.” Twinklestar warned her, but Katinka was too busy, making her dress to take any notice of Twinklestar. At last she was ready and, she set off with her little friend. The prize was to be given at one o'clock, after the dancing was finished. She entered the great hall of the Palace and stood still for a minute amazed by its great beauty. Lanterns hung everywhere and the dancers made a pretty sight as they mingled with all their beautiful dresses. At last the time for prize-giving came and the Fairy Queen stood up to call the name of the fairy whose luck It was to receive the prize. The Queen's voice sounded clear as a bell above the noisy chatter that was going on round the room. Katinka stood stock still with amazement when she was named as the lucky fairy. She stepped up to the Queen amidst the clapping and received the prize, a dainty little dew-drop necklace. Then the party ended and Katinka, with her little friend, set off for home, Katinka with the dew-drop necklace clasped tightly in her hand.
Daily News. 1 March 1930.
THE STRING 'FAIRY'
(Original)
Norma stretched herself lazily. She was going back to school in a few days time, and she wanted to make the most of the rest of her holidays, but there was simply nothing to do.
“I wish I could see a fairy, and then perhaps she might take me to Fairyland with her,” she thought dreamily.
Suddenly she caught, her breath. What was that lithe, fairylike form swinging on the old vine near the door? She could only catch glimpses of it through the blind, but it seemed just like, a fairy. She sat and watched it for a while and hoped her brother would I not come and frighten the little thing away. Sometimes it seemed to be hitting the vine, at others it appeared to be dancing gaily in the breeze. Norina got up quietly and advanced towards the door. She wanted to be especially silent In case the fairy was scared away. Then she paused. Her “fairy” had been an old piece of string, which had some how got caught in the vine. Margery Owens (11 years).
Daily News 3 October 1931
THE FAIRIES
(By Margery Owens.)
When the Fairy of the Breeze goes fluting by:
When the Fairy of the Buda is nigh:
When the Voice of the Bees does ever hum,
Then the Fairy of Spring is surely come.
When the Fairy of the Flowers is bright and gay;
When the Fairy of the Sun gives warmth all day;
When the Voice of the River Is no longer dumb.
Then the Fairy of Summer is surely come:
When the Fairy of the Wind goes fluttering by:
When the Fairy of the Leaves is heard to sigh;
When the Voice of the Sea is ever glum,
Then the Fairy of Autumn is surely come.
When the Fairy of the Gale Is moaning round;
When the Fairy of Fires make's a crackling sound;
When the Voice of the Rain is cold and numb,
Then the Fairy of Winter is surely come.
Mount Barker and Denmark Record. 9 July 1942.
Here and There.
Local and Other Topics.
Qualifies as a Doctor.
By "Observer".
The many Albany friends of Miss Margery Owens will be pleased to learn that she has recently qualified as a doctor at the final examinations conducted by the Melbourne University. Miss Owens obtained first-class honours in Medicine and Surgery, and subsequently won the Ryan Prize for medicine at the same University. Dr. Owens has been appointed resident doctor at St. Vincent's Hospital in Melbourne, her present intentions being to continue practising at that institution for 12 months and then to return to Western Australia. Dr. Owens received her early education at the Sisters of Mercy Convents at Subiaco and Victoria Square (Perth) and finished her studies at the Albany High School. Dr. Owens is a niece of the late Mr. F. Mi. Reedy, formerly headmaster of the High School. Another uncle, Mr. H. J. Reedy, resides at Northern Gully.
Geraldton Guardian and Express 6 November 1943.
Miss. G. M. Owens, of Subiaco, is at present holidaying in the district as the guest of her brother and sister-in-law (Mr. and Mrs. H. J. Reedy) at 'Myarra Springs.' Northern Gully. Mrs. Owens is accompanied by her daughter (Dr. Margery Owens), who is attached to the medical staff of the Children's Hospital in Perth.
