Eadith Campbell Walker

Dame Eadith Campbell Walker, DBE (b. 18 September 1861, Yaralla, New South Wales - d. 8 October 1937, Yaralla, New South Wales) was an Australian philanthropist.

Eadith Campbell Walker was the daughter of Australian banker and politician, Thomas Walker. She and her father carried out numerous charitable works in Australia. When the First World War came she took a special interest in returned soldiers suffering from tuberculosis, and had 32 of them at "The Camp" in her grounds at Yaralla from 1917 to 1920.

From April 1917 to December 1922 she lent another home at Leura for the same purpose, and paid the entire cost of maintenance. It was afterwards made a children's home. She built cottages for elderly men at Yaralla, and provided an endowment fund for their upkeep.

She supported sporting clubs and religious, educational and health institutions, and after the First World War, returned soldiers. She was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (1917) and Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (4 June 1928) for philanthropic and charitable services.

She died on 8 October 1937, aged 76, having never married. She left an estate of £265,000. After providing for many legacies to relations, friends and employees, one-third of the residue of the estate went to the Returned Soldiers' and Sailors' Imperial League of Australia, and the real estate to the Red Cross Society.

After her death two-thirds of the income from £300,000 of her father's estate was set aside for the upkeep of this hospital, £100,000 was used to found the Dame Eadith Walker convalescent home for men, and one-third of the income from another sum of £300,000 was set aside for its maintenance.

References

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External links

* [http://www.womenaustralia.info/biogs/IMP0056b.htm Australian Women - Biographical entry]