Dodd, Margaret Heather Bell,
McKay, Margaret Heather Bell,
Name
Heather Dodd,
Collection
Territory Women,
HistoryNT,
Place of birth
Wyndham (N.S.W.),
Date of birth
1900-09-20,
Occupation
Educator,
Multicultural Services,
Date of death
1987-09-01,
Place of death
Darwin,
Place of burial
Darwin,
Biographical notes
Margaret (Heather) married James (Jim) Jenkins Dodd on 13 October 1928; he was a ceramics engineer in Sydney. They moved to Queensland in 1941 and a daughter was born. In 1949, they accompanied Margaret's mother to Mainoru Station in the Northern Territory to visit family, it was only going to be a short visit, but they stayed. In 1957, Margaret was approached by the Department of Education in the Territory to start a school for all the children on the station. This school was amongst the first of its kind on a Territory cattle property. In 1958 a departmental inspection report commented that the school was well equipped and Heather's enthusiasm and energy had produced a ‘very impressive school.' The students she taught were known for their good command of English and excellent handwriting and several of the Aboriginal children at the remote Mainoru School became teachers. In the 1960s, there were 53 children which was a remarkable achievement for one teacher.
Her husband dealt with the medical work he died in 1961, Heather continued his work as a nursing sister as well as operating and teaching at school each day in addition to the usual household routine which included the monitoring of the radio schedule which began at five each morning. When she became ill her brother Sandy kept the school going, unfortunately her other brother Jack died in 1966 leaving the property to Margaret's daughter Heather. By 1968 ‘death and taxes' had destroyed any possibility that it could be kept as a going concern it was sold. Margaret moved to Darwin taught at a training school for paramedical workers in Aboriginal communities which were then base at the East Arm Leprosarium as well at the Rapid Creek School. Her help was frequently sought formally and informally, though she never received any official recognition.,
Subject
Women,
Northern Territory,
Related links
http://trove.nla.gov.au/work/5981629 [Carment, D. 1949-. Northern Territory Dictionary of Biography. Rev. ed. ed. Darwin: Charles Darwin University Press, 2008.],
http://trove.nla.gov.au/work/10418243 [Northern Territory Women's Advisory Council. Northern Territory Women's Register 1948-1988. 2nd ed. ed. Darwin: Northern Territory Women's Advisory Council, 1991.],