E. A. Southee Explained

Ethelbert Ambrook Southee (6 August 1890^[1] – 27 December 1968), invariably referred to as E. A. Southee or Bert Southee, was an Australian educator.

History

Southee was born in Cootamundra, New South Wales to Frederick Southee, a baker, and his wife Catherine Charlotte Southee, née McCutcheon; his older siblings were Fred, Ernest and Arthur and Alice.^[2] He was educated at Cootamundra Superior Public School, Sydney Boys' High School and the University of Sydney, graduating B.Sc. in 1912. A "brilliant academic and sportsman"^[3] (he was NSW long-jump champion)^[4] Southee won a Rhodes scholarship in 1913 and proceeded to St John's College, Oxford.

His academic career was "put on hold" by the outbreak of the First World War: he enlisted immediately and received a commission in the British Army, serving on the Western Front and in Italy, rising to the rank of Acting Major and was appointed O.B.E. in 1919. He resumed his studies and graduated BSc.Agr in 1919 and was elected a fellow of the Linnean Society of London.

Southee and his wife Charlotte moved to Cornell University, Ithaca, New York State, to undertake research and further studies, but she suffered a miscarriage, losing twin sons.^[5] He cut their stay short to accept the post of principal of the Hawkesbury Agricultural College, Richmond, New South Wales, serving from 1921 to 1954 as "one of Australia's foremost agricultural educators".^[3]

Other interests

He was a longtime member of the NSW Royal Agricultural Society and a vice-president of the Society 1939—1968.

Personal

On 23 June 1918 in Sydney Southee married Charlotte Elizabeth "Lottie" Lappin^[6] (died 10 July 1944).^[7] Their children included:

• Joyce Elizabeth Southee (15 November 1921^[8] – 28 June 2021^[9]), married Gordon Marshman on 29 January 1949^[10]
• Colin Ethelbert Southee (9 March 1928^[11] – 7 November 2015^[12])

Recognition

• Southee horticultural pavilion at the Sydney Showground was named for him, as was
• E. A. Southee Primary School in Cootamundra.
• Southee Rd, Richmond is named in his honour, running along the southern edge of town from the gates of the old Hawkesbury Agricultural College (now Western Sydney University), to Castlereagh Rd.

Notes and References

1. Book: Australian Dictionary of Biography: 'Southee, Ethelbert Ambrook (1890–1968)' . National Centre of Biography, Australian National University . 2002 . 4 December 2023.
2. News: Family Notices . . New South Wales, Australia . 4 August 1927 . 4 December 2023 . 5 . National Library of Australia.
3. Book: Vernon Graham . The Story of "The Land" 1911–2011 . 6 . 146 . 9780646538556.
4. News: The "Sydney Mail" Record of Champion Athletes of New South ales 1911–12 . . XCIII . 2621 . New South Wales, Australia . 31 January 1912 . 4 December 2023 . 30 . National Library of Australia.
5. News: Family Notices . . 25,859 . New South Wales, Australia . 20 November 1920 . 4 December 2023 . 12 . National Library of Australia.
6. News: Family Notices . . 25,153 . New South Wales, Australia . 17 August 1918 . 4 December 2023 . 12 . National Library of Australia.
7. News: Family Notices . . 33,244 . New South Wales, Australia . 12 July 1944 . 4 December 2023 . 14 . National Library of Australia.
8. News: Family Notices . . 26,200 . New South Wales, Australia . 24 December 1921 . 4 December 2023 . 8 . National Library of Australia.
9. News: 2021-07-03 . Death notice . Wagga Wagga Daily Advertiser . Ryerson Index.
10. News: 18 February 1949 . Wedding Bells . XLIV . 14 . The Farmer and Settler . 3 . New South Wales, Australia . 6 December 2023 . National Library of Australia.
11. News: Family Notices . . 28,191 . New South Wales, Australia . 12 May 1928 . 4 December 2023 . 16 . National Library of Australia.
12. News: 2015-11-11 . Death notice . The Sydney Morning Herald . Ryerson Index.