General News
10 September, 2024
Local group contributes to Aston display
A number of objects from the Maryborough Midlands Historical Society’s (MMHS) collection will be on display in Melbourne this month — to celebrate the remarkable life of Matilda ‘Tilly’ Aston as part of a National Trust exhibition at Como House in South Yarra.
MMHS has loaned the National Trust artifacts from Tilly Aston’s life, including her birthday book, a special pocket watch (with raised numbers), her doll, a tiny beadwork chair that she made, plus a signed copy of her book of poems entitled Songs of Light.
Excluded from most historic records, the handwork, writing, scrapbooks, artefacts and photographs of girls and young women featured in the exhibition offer a rare glimpse into the lives they led at the time.
Co-curator of the exhibition Catherine Gay, a PhD student at the University of Melbourne, visited Maryborough several years ago to view the Tilly Aston collection.
Born in Carisbrook in 1847 — the youngest of eight children — Tilly Aston became totally blind by the time she was seven.
Twice the recipient of the King’s Medal for distinguished citizen service, Tilly Aston’s inspirational life is commemorated locally with a memorial in her hometown of Carisbrook.
The federal electorate of Aston in Melbourne is named in honour of Tilly.
MMHS president, Barb Nielsen, said the exhibition was a wonderful opportunity to remind the general public of Tilly Aston’s lasting contribution to society.
“In spite of popular perceptions regarding the role of the vision-impaired in society, Tilly forged a career as a writer, poet, teacher, Esperanto enthusiast, community worker and campaigner for the blind community,” Ms Nielsen said.
“Her advocacy for the vision-impaired led to the establishment of the Association for the Advancement of the Blind and the Association of Braille Writers — precursors to organisations such as Vision Australia.”
The National Trust ‘Traces of Girlhood’ exhibition runs from August 23 to October 20 at Como House in South Yarra.
For more information and bookings go to: www.nationaltrust. org.au/event/traces-of-girlhood