| 
  • If you are citizen of an European Union member nation, you may not use this service unless you are at least 16 years old.

  • You already know Dokkio is an AI-powered assistant to organize & manage your digital files & messages. Very soon, Dokkio will support Outlook as well as One Drive. Check it out today!

View
 

Bingham-Georgina-Rachel

Page history last edited by Lenore Frost 10 months, 2 weeks ago

Time Travellers in Essendon, Flemington and the Keilor Plains

Biographies

 

Georgina Rachel Bingham

 

An Energetic Worker

 

by Marilyn Kenny

 

MRS JOHN ROBERT BINGHAM (1911, February 18). Weekly Times

(Melbourne, Vic. : 1869 - 1954), p. 10. 

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article222243105

 

A small, grey eyed woman addressed the enthusiastic crowd in the Melbourne Town Hall.  It was 1908 and Victorian women had just obtained full suffrage but it was still rare to see a private woman speaking to a mixed public gathering.  Social convention and the absence of means of amplifying the voice made it so.  Although she had not been forewarned that she would be called, Georgina Bingham had no hesitation accepting the invitation to speak.  Essendon folk would not have been surprised for, in this district, she was famed for

 

Her characteristic (often impromptu) public speeches.

 

Georgina Rachel Thacker was born in 1863 near Southwark St Saviour, London, her father Henry Thacker a soldier.  In 1880, stating she was 19 years old, actual age 17 years, she married John Robert Bingham, 21, a tailor, son of Henry Bingham, also a tailor, and Ruth Bagley.  The marriage was at All Saints Church, Newington.  The couple arrived in 1885 as cabin passengers on the RMS Cuzco.  Georgina gave her age as 28 though she was 22 years.  

 

By 1887 the couple were living in their own home, Rutlands, 34 Bank St, Ascot Vale, the first house built in the street.  Rutlands was on the north side, a 6 room brick home on a 38 foot frontage.  John soon advanced to tailors cutter, a skilled professional in his trade.  He was active in the Ascot Vale Athletic Club and organised the club’s first Gymnastic Display in the Town Hall in 1892.  Georgina, contrary to custom, was almost always referred to publicly by her own forenames or initials rather than her husband’s.  

 

The Essendon Ladies Benevolent Society was formed in 1892.  These local groups were the main source of non-residential aid to the poor.  Governments made contributions, however funds were mainly raised through the 5/- annual subscription and charity events.  Councillor’s and clergymen’s wives were default LBS members, aided by charitable women.  The Ladies had complete control, investigating all applicants for aid, deciding what assistance should be given and visiting regularly in order to ensure that it was well used.  They were helped in the organizational work by supportive gentlemen.  Georgina played a key role in forming the Essendon group and spoke at the first meeting, seconding the motion proposing Cr James Taylor as President. 

 

The Ladies worked according to Wards and Mrs Bingham served as an Ascot Vale representative.  She was probably active in the 1895 Ascot Vale house-to-house collection which raised £38.  Her name, however, is not mentioned in the glittering throng of over 400 attending the LBS Annual Ball at the Essendon Town Hall (which raised £75 in 1894) or events such a garden party at Northpark. Georgina frequently exhorted Essendonians not to spend so much on lavish entertainments, and such functions would not have found favour.

 

However the LBS required funds to continue its work.  Essendon LBS’ Annual Report to Parliament shows in 1893, 455 Essendon residents were relieved; expenditure being 300, £10 of this being the Government grant. In 1894, with £50 more, 600 individuals were assisted.  

 

Georgina became known as an energetic worker for the district, always ready to assist in all charitable movements.  One of these was the Victorian Neglected Children's Aid Society (VNCAS).  This was established in 1894 by Selina Sutherland after she disagreed with the Presbyterian Church’s sectarian relief policies.  The VNCAS ran a home at Parkville placing and supervising rescued children in foster homes.  Mrs Bingham was the Local Correspondent i.e.  she was Secretary of the branch.  Her role was not desk bound.  Georgina spoke of walking along the lonely Keilor Road and being hailed by a boy who addressed her as the Baby Woman.  He knew she had given a bonzer baby to a neighbour but rejected one for himself as we have stacks of kids at our place.  This work may have enabled the Binghams to adopt family; at least two children were raised in their home.  Georgina’s association with VNCAS resulted in her being invited to speak at the 1908 Town Hall meeting, congratulating Miss Sutherland on being cleared of charges of intemperance and cruelty.

 

Mrs Bingham had also been active in other arenas.  In 1902 Georgina and Mrs Annie Rose (Secretary and Treasurer of the LBS) stood for election to the Essendon Board of Advice.  The BOA acted, agitated and communicated on behalf of local schools and scholars and followed up truancy cases.  In their announcement of candidacy the ladies stated, Having by a large number of residents been requested to allow ourselves to be nominated we promise if elected to utilise for the ratepayers the experience we have already gained in serving the public.  They were not elected but Mrs Bingham did receive 290 votes.

 

From 1906 Mrs Bingham focused on the Court system’s interaction with children.  In 1906 Elsie Ruth Bingham, an intelligent eleven year old girl from a most respectable family, narrowly escaped being a victim of the Ascot Vale outrages.  She gave evidence in the Magistrate’s Court and from this time Mrs Bingham associated herself with those promoting the establishment of a Children’s Court and Probation Officers.  Georgina became one of the first group of Honorary Probation Officers appointed in 1907. She studied this work, contributed formal papers at PO Conferences and continued to hold the role for several decades.

 

 Mrs Bingham at a shooting competition at the Women's Work Exhibition, second from the right in the front row.

(1907, December 7). Leader (Melbourne, Vic. : 1862 - 1918), p. 25. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-page21517173

 

Georgina had also been an early member of the Commonwealth Ladies Rifle Club, founded in 1900.  In early 1907 she and John utilised these skills running the shooting gallery at the Essendon Horticultural Society Queen’s Park fete.  Later that year she competed in the Rifle Shooting Section at the Australian Women's Work Exhibition.  She shot at two feet square targets in the Single v Married Ladies Section and received the second place Diploma for her score.  The five week display at the Exhibition Building showcased the work of women musicians, artists and craftswomen.  Exhibitors from all States, Britain, Europe, the Americas, India and Africa contributed.  At least a quarter of a million visitors attended, inspecting the 16,000 entries.  Georgina was the Treasurer for the Essendon AWWE Committee.  She was also a member of the Essendon branch of the Australian Women's National League.  This conservative political federation was first established in 1904, the Essendon branch in 1905.  In 1908 she spoke at the AWNL State Congress, her topic - Our Australian Cadets.

 

 Later that year locals farewelled the Binghams who removed to a marine suburbGeorgina, in her goodbye speech, indicated that she would be a frequent visitor to Essendon.  This removal may have been related to her new endeavours.  Assisted immigration from Britain resumed in 1906, associated with Closer Settlement schemes.  Until 1923 the supervision of nominations, selection of migrants and assistance was largely a State responsibility.  A Bureau was established to administer the scheme, provide reception, initial settlement and employment services and to co-ordinate assistance.  Mrs Bingham started offering aid to single female migrants on a voluntary basis, perhaps under the auspices of the Girls Friendly Society.  She later said that her motivation was memories of her feelings very lonely, miserable and homesick, as a girl bride immigrant.

 

By 1910 Mrs Bingham was lecturing on the Immigration of Women in Melbourne suburbs.  In 1911 she was appointed to a paid position, Lady Immigration Officer (£100 per annum). The fact that the position was not advertised and she was just appointed was the subject of Parliamentary questions.  It was extraordinary that the position was given to a person in no need of employment.  It was explained that she was the most suitable, the work was taking up all of her time and that Georgina was most zealous and her work gave entire satisfaction.  As Matron in the Victorian Intelligence Bureau with a city office, Georgina had complete charge of the arrangements for dealing with female immigrants.  She boarded  every migrant ship after docking (many bringing up to 1000 newcomers) interviewed all women needing employment, supervised them until they were placed in approved domestic service and oversaw Richmond House, the main reception hostel.  She prevented white slavery, dealt with illness, deaths, complaints and escorted groups of women to country centres to execute her plan of decentralising migrants.  All local clergy were informed of migrants placed in their districts and asked to keep an eye on them.  Georgina also admitted that sometimes she was a kind of matrimonial agent, and had indirectly she been responsible for some of the new arrivals being happily married.

 

Within days of war being declared Mrs Bingham was asked then if she would go to the front should occasion arise.  The journalist putting the question noted that she holds the record of never having left the Williamstown ranges without winning a trophy.  Georgina commented, The very fact of practising with the rifle and handling a gun seems to stir up all the patriotism within one.  There is a big satisfaction in knowing that one is able to get on the defensive and fight for her own.  I don't suppose any woman could shoot in cold blood, but with the noise of warfare in one's ears there is some comfort in knowing that one can handle a rifle and use it with satisfaction.  However, I think the majority of markswomen would prefer to carry the Red Cross and put away the rifle.

  

One of her sons, Roy Christol Bingham, aged 20, enlisted in the first month of the war.  He did not return home till 1918. His war service is commemorated on the Ascot Vale State School Roll of Honour.  In the period 1914-1918 Georgina worked for CLRC ambulance fund, the Thrift campaign and organised for Women’s Rifle clubs to march, carrying their rifles in the 1917 Win the War procession.  

 

A 'Win the War Day' procession, held in Melbourne on 24 February 1917.

Museums Victoria Collections https://collections.museumvictoria.com.au/items/768561

 

The Binghams returned to Rutlands in 1916 when migration ceased.  That year Georgina had to advertise for a general servant, offering 17 shillings per week, noting that a housemaid is also kept.  

 

In 1917 when the decision was made to appoint policewomen, it was understood in official circles that Mrs G. Bingham, is likely to be chosen as one of the policewomen.  She was interviewed, giving her age as 40, (actual age 54 years) height 5 feet  2 inches, weight 9 stone and physically fit.  As well as having two references she was personally known to the Under Secretary in the Justice Department.  She was experienced with women’s migration, Children’s Courts, Probation, was a member of the Women’s Council and has a friend to look after her home.  The conclusion was, She is undoubtedly well qualified but as she is married and residing with her husband not to say she has two in the family (adopted boy 19 years, and girl 20 years) it may be considered she is disqualified.  The Binghams saw out the war in Ascot Vale with Georgina offering aid to resettle ex-servicemen.  In 1920 the couple travelled for a year to the UK. They returned to Middle Park where they had a number of investment properties as well as their own home in Nimmo Street.  Georgina joined the Housewives Association, one of the largest women's organisations in the State.  In 1923 she was elected to the Executive.  In 1925 Mrs Bingham started advocating for the establishment of a Big Sister movement to aid girl migrants.  This was eventually launched by the New Settlers' League.

 


Mrs Bingham is in the back row, far right.  PROMINENT MEMBERS OF THE HOUSEWIVES' ASSOCIATION. (1924, January 25). Farmers' Advocate (Melbourne, Vic. : 1917 - 1924), p. 12. Retrieved September 1, 2017, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article223608809

 

Georgina Bingham was appointed an Honorary Magistrate and Justice of the Peace in 1929, and in the 1930s regularly sat in the South Melbourne Court.  In 1935 it was reported that she had been assaulted by a woman after a dispute about overdue rents.  In court Georgina withdrew the charge asking only for an apology.  John, who had retired in 1930, died in 1941.  Georgina died a year later, her death certificate giving her correct age of 79 years.

 

Georgina Bingham, throughout her long life, provided services to distressed women and children.  She lived up to her creed of being a useful member of the community and promoting the happiness of the whole.

 

 

Main References

PROV Shipping Lists, Wills and Probates, Police Correspondence

Newspapers Argus, Essendon Gazette, Emerald Hill Record, Weekly Times, Table Talk

Australian Dictionary of Biography, War Service Records, EHS Newsletters and Holdings

©M Kenny 2017

 

 

Comments (0)

You don't have permission to comment on this page.