POWERHOUSE COLLECTION

Notes

The donor was Marjorie Wane, the daughter of Louisa Honora Killeen who was born in Balmain, New South Wales, on 27 February 1876, her parents were Francis John Killeen and Lydia Swannell. Louisa was the third of four children, she had two older sisters, Sarah Cassandra (b.1866) and Mary Alice (b.1871), and one younger brother Francis Patrick John (b.1881). In 1902, Louisa Killeen married George Wane and settled into the role of wife and homemaker. Louisa and George had three children, Doreen (b.1903), Marjorie Lydia (b.1907) and Alan (b.1912), who passed away as an infant in 1915. Whist originally living in Balmain the family later moved to Lindfield, a suburb on Sydney's Upper North Shore. Louisa was very skilled in the production of clothing. With Louisa's passing in 1936 her daughter Marjorie retained this and many other items which she ultimately donated to the Museum. As a young woman Marjorie attended Lindfield Public School and later North Sydney Girls' High School. Upon leaving school Marjorie became a stenographer with Phillips Industries, rising to the position of buyer. She remained with this company all her working life until she retired in 1967. Once retired Marjorie became heavily involved in community life. Marjorie joined the Bush Children's Education Foundation of New South Wales, working with this organisation for 30 years, firstly as a bookkeeper then secretary. It was only ill health in 1997 that forced Marjorie to relinquish this role. Marjorie's dedication was recognised with the award of the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in 1994. Marjorie also joined the Ku-ring-gai Historical Society in 1970, holding the position of Assistant Secretary and Librarian from 1979-1982, and Librarian from 1982-1985. In her personal life Marjorie was an enthusiastic artist, a keen doll maker and milliner. Marjorie never married and resided at the family home at Lindfield for most of her life. Marjorie passed away in 1998 after a short illness. Horst Nixdorf, Curatorial Assistant 2020