Elsie Goold-Adams Explained

Honorific Prefix:Lady
Elsie Goold-Adams
Birth Name:Elsie Riordan
Birth Date:1882
Birth Place:Montreal, Canada
Death Place:Spalding, Lincolnshire, England
Known For:Founder and inaugural President of the Queensland division of the Australian Red Cross

Lady Elsie Goold-Adams (née Riordan; 1882 – 26 August 1952) was a Canadian-born Australian who was the inaugural president of the Queensland division of the Australian Red Cross and led the activities of the division during World War I. During this time she was also a charity patron for causes relating to supporting soldiers in the war effort, advancing the roles of women, and child education and welfare. She was married to Sir Hamilton John Goold-Adams, the 12th Governor of Queensland.

Early life

Goold-Adams was born Elsie Riordan in 1882, in Montreal, Canada one of four children of Edith Susan Ellis of Toronto, and Charles Alfred Riordan of Ireland.[1] In 1911, while in London, she married Sir Hamilton John Goold-Adams, a soldier and colonial administrator. In March 1915, Hamilton took up the position as the 12th Governor of Queensland, and they moved to Australia.[2]

Career

Goold-Adams lived in Australia for five years and resided at Fernberg, Queensland's Government House. In that time she was actively involved in League of Women's Relatives of Sailors and Soldiers. She was fluent in eight languages other than English, French, German, Italian, Spanish, Turkish, Russian, Greek, and Arabic.[3] She also established a vegetable garden at the bottom of the front lawn.[4]

Goold-Adams was the President of the Queensland branch of the Australian Red Cross. When war broke out, in August 1914, Lady Helen Munro Ferguson established the Australian branch of the British Red Cross Society, which was the foundation of the Australian Red Cross. Ferguson saw an opportunity for the Australian Red Cross to be led by women, and contacted the wives of the governor generals of all states of Australia, making them members of the central organisation, and invited them to establish their own local branches.[5] At the time there was no Governor of Queensland, as the previous governor had retired in July 1914, and there was as interim lieutenant-governors presiding until a new governor was appointed.[6] [7] As such, Ferguson sent the invitation to Lady Alice Augusta Morgan, who established the branch, which Goold-Adams was to preside over when she and her husband arrived in April 1915 after he had been appointed Governor.[8] [9]

Goold-Adams said of the women who worked for the Red Cross:

“I am certain the men of Queensland will not hesitate to acknowledge the fact nor begrudge most of the credit being given to their wives and sisters for what has been done by the Red Cross.”[10]
Goold-Adams hosted Red Cross fundraising events at Government House.[11]

Charity patron

During her time at Government house in Queensland, Goold-Adams was also involved in charity work outside of the Red Cross. She was involved in organising the Queensland Soldiers' Comforts Fund, and she was the Patron for a number of charitable organisations and events for causes such as those supporting the advancement of Women, the benefit of Children, and supporting the soldiers in the war effort.

On behalf of the Playground Association, Goold-Adams opened Queensland's first free children's book library on 15 June 1918 at Ithica. This was the second known free children's library in Australia.[28]

Goold-Adams initiated the Queensland branch of the Girl Guides, by hosting a meeting at Government House for its establishment on 15 November 1919.[29]

In October, 1915, Goold-Adams's husband adjudicated a competition between Queensland boy scout clubs regarding their efforts contributing to the Red Cross war effort, and Goold-Adams presented the winning club with a flag known as the 'Lady Goold-Adams colours'.[30] The flag had a union jack and the scouts badge, with gold trimmings and tassels, It became a yearly competition for the scouts, with the winner being presented with the flag known as the 'Lady Goold-Adams colours' to be held by the winning club for the year.[30] As of 2022, the flag was on display at the Scouts Queensland Heritage Centre.[31]

Later life and death

In January 1920, Goold-Adams sailed for England with her family.[32] However, on the journey they stopped in Cape town, where her husband Hamilton had previously worked. Before getting off the ship Hamilton contracted a chill which developed into pleurisy and pneumonia. He spent five weeks in hospital, and died on 20 April 1920.[33]

In June 1921, while living in England, Goold-Adams received an invitation from the Queensland branch of the Royal Geographical Society of Australasia to attend the French Geographical society's centenary celebration in Paris.[34]

Goold-Adams died in England on 26 August 1952.[35]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Riordon . James . 2005-05-23 . Charles Riordon: Pioneer Manufacturer and Philosopher . 2024-07-19 . The Riordon family genealogical website . en-US.
  2. Book: The Spouses of the Governors of Queensland . Government House Queensland, The State of Queensland, Australia . 2018 . 978-0-646-98873-3 . 2nd . Brisbane, Queensland . 20–21 . Lady Goold-Adams.
  3. News: ECHOES OF THE PAST . . 5734 . Queensland, Australia . 4 December 1937 . 18 July 2024 . 7 . National Library of Australia.
  4. News: 28 July 1932 . A House Blending the Old and New . 19 July 2024 . . Queensland, Australia . 6 . National Library of Australia . 23,243.
  5. Web site: "The Red Cross has given women a chance to show their capacity" . 2024-07-20 . Glow Red: 100 Voices . en.
  6. News: Sir William MacGregor . The Northern Herald . VI . 67 . Queensland, Australia . 17 July 1914 . 20 July 2024 . 18 . National Library of Australia.
  7. News: SIR ARTHUR MORGAN. . The Northern Herald . V . 64 . Queensland, Australia . 26 June 1914 . 20 July 2024 . 15 . National Library of Australia.
  8. Web site: Archives . Queensland State . 2014-08-19 . Australian Red Cross centenary - Stories from the Archives . 2024-07-19 . blogs.archives.qld.gov.au . en-AU.
  9. News: SOME FEATURES OF RED CROSS WORK IN QUEENSLAND . Sydney Mail . XII . 305 . New South Wales, Australia . 30 January 1918 . 20 July 2024 . 16 . National Library of Australia.
  10. Web site: The Red Cross Magazine . 2024-07-17 . Anzac Square & Memorial Galleries . en.
  11. News: VICE-REGAL GARDEN PARTIES . The Courier mail . 278 . Queensland, Australia . 19 July 1934 . 19 July 2024 . 21 . National Library of Australia.
  12. News: QUEENSLAND NOTES . The Australasian . CV . 2743 . Victoria, Australia . 26 October 1918 . 20 July 2024 . 42 . National Library of Australia.
  13. News: Centenary of Missions to Seamen Recalls Helpers' Devoted Toil . The Telegraph . Queensland, Australia . 12 December 1935 . 19 July 2024 . 17 . National Library of Australia.
  14. News: RED CROSS FUND . Sunday Times . 1529 . New South Wales, Australia . 9 May 1915 . 20 July 2024 . 7 . National Library of Australia.
  15. News: WOMEN'S REALM . The Daily Mail . 6027 . Queensland, Australia . 30 September 1921 . 20 July 2024 . 4 . National Library of Australia.
  16. News: M'GUIRE v DEMLEN . Daily Standard . 917 . Queensland, Australia . 10 December 1915 . 20 July 2024 . 5 . 2nd . National Library of Australia.
  17. News: CHRISTMAS TOY FUND . The Telegraph . 13434 . Queensland, Australia . 11 December 1915 . 20 July 2024 . 6 . National Library of Australia.
  18. News: SCOTTISH WOMEN'S WAR HOSPITALS . The Brisbane Courier . 18577 . Queensland, Australia . 1 August 1917 . 20 July 2024 . 7 . National Library of Australia.
  19. News: CRECHE AND KINDERGARTEN. . Daily Standard . 1724 . Queensland, Australia . 26 June 1918 . 19 July 2024 . 2 . 2nd . National Library of Australia.
  20. News: WOMEN IN SPORT . Sunday Mail . 564 . Queensland, Australia . 18 March 1934 . 19 July 2024 . 16 . National Library of Australia.
  21. News: QUEENSLAND LADIES' KENNEL CLUB. . The Brisbane Courier . 18751 . Queensland, Australia . 21 February 1918 . 20 July 2024 . 3 . National Library of Australia.
  22. News: A QUEENSLAND BABIES' HOME . The Sydney Morning Herald . 24911 . New South Wales, Australia . 7 November 1917 . 20 July 2024 . 7 . National Library of Australia.
  23. News: BRISBANE NEWS . Queensland Times . LXI . 10476 . Queensland, Australia . 26 September 1919 . 20 July 2024 . 5. National Library of Australia.
  24. News: WOMEN'S MUTUAL SERVICE CLUB . Darling Downs Gazette . 7737 . Queensland, Australia . 20 October 1915 . 20 July 2024 . 3 . National Library of Australia.
  25. News: Ladies' Page . The Week . LXXXIII . 2,147 . Queensland, Australia . 16 February 1917 . 20 July 2024 . 6 . National Library of Australia.
  26. News: WOMAN'S WORLD . The Brisbane Courier . 18,496 . Queensland, Australia . 28 April 1917 . 20 July 2024 . 15 . National Library of Australia.
  27. News: BRISBANE LADIES' ROWING CLUB . The Brisbane Courier . 18473 . Queensland, Australia . 31 March 1917 . 20 July 2024 . 11 . National Library of Australia.
  28. News: 27 April 1949 . Name 'Anzac' is too exclusive for April 25 . 19 July 2024 . The Courier-mail . Queensland, Australia . 2 . National Library of Australia . 3874.
  29. News: 24 March 1931 . THE GIRL GUIDES. . 17 July 2024 . The Brisbane Courier . Queensland, Australia . 13 . National Library of Australia . 22824.
  30. News: 28 December 1918 . THE BOY SCOUTS . 22 July 2024 . The Brisbane Courier . Queensland, Australia . 9 . National Library of Australia . 19015.
  31. Web site: 2022 . Tales from our Heritage: Scouts at the Brisbane R.N.A. Showgrounds over the years . 22 July 2024 . Scouts Queensland.
  32. News: Departure of the Governor . Warwick Daily News . 1 . 255 . Queensland, Australia . 31 December 1919 . 17 July 2024 . 4 . National Library of Australia.
  33. News: LATE SIR H. GOOLD-ADAMS . The Daily Mail . 5547 . Queensland, Australia . 5 June 1920 . 20 July 2024 . 7 . National Library of Australia.
  34. News: 3 October 1921 . LADY GOOLD ADAMS . 19 July 2024 . The Daily Mail . Queensland, Australia . 9 . National Library of Australia . 6030.
  35. Book: Forrest . Peter . All for Queensland : the Governors and the People . Forrest . Sheila . Shady Tree . 2009 . 9780980351552.

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