Thea Stanley Hughes Explained

Thea Stanley Hughes

Thea Stanley Hughes (born around 1907, died after 1990) was an Australian writer and health advocate, president of the Women's League of Health in Australia.

Early life and education

Thea Stanley Hughes was born in England,[1] raised in Australia, the daughter of writer J. Stanley Hughes.[2] She earned a bachelor's degree at the University of Sydney.[3] She studied dance with Ruby Ginner and Irene Mawer in London,[4] and trained as a health educator at the Bagot Stack Health School in England.[5]

Career

In 1935,[6] Hughes brought the work of Mary Bagot Stack and Prunella Stack to Australia,[7] and was founder and president of the Australian Women's League of Health, based in Sydney.[8] [9] She established branches across Australia, including in Melbourne, Perth, and Adelaide.[10] Her work with the league, which continued into the 1950s,[11] encouraged Australian women to pursue physical fitness through exercise, diet, hygiene, and outdoor recreation. The organization also offered pre-natal and post-natal relaxation and exercise classes.[12] [13] One of the League's signature events was a mass public gathering of women for outdoor exercise, often led by Hughes.[14]

Hughes opined against high-heeled shoes, and that good posture, grace, and muscle tone were more conducive to health and beauty.[15] "Freedom can only be achieved through health. If you are unhealthy, you are a slave to your body," she instructed her followers. "The only way to achieve enduring health is by regular exercise."[16] She invited German modern dancer Anny Fligg to tour Australia in 1937 and 1938, giving demonstrations and lectures.[17] [18]

Hughes wrote biographies of Australian historical figures for young readers, including Arthur Phillip,[19] James Cook, Ernest Giles, and Matthew Flinders. Some of her writings reflect her interest in anthroposophy and other forms of mysticism. She also recorded audio books, including biographies of Helen Keller, Alexander Graham Bell, and Florence Nightingale.[20] [21]

Selected works

Notes and References

  1. News: Women's Health Movement. 1936-10-23. Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1931 - 1954). 2020-04-06. 16.
  2. Book: Macdonald, Charlotte. Strong, Beautiful and Modern: National Fitness in Britain, New Zealand, Australia and Canada, 1935-1960. 2013. UBC Press. 978-0-7748-2528-3. 103, 200–201. en.
  3. News: Pursuit of Perfection!. 1936-11-27. Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1931 - 1954). 2020-04-06. 16. Trove.
  4. News: HEALTH AND BEAUTY LEADER.. 1937-11-10. West Australian (Perth, WA : 1879 - 1954). 2020-04-07. 7. Trove.
  5. Shepherd. Joy. November–December 2012. The Women's League of Health; Its Kurrajong Heights Connection. The Millstone. 4.
  6. News: MISS THEA STANLEY HUGHES.. 1935-07-03. Sydney Mail (NSW : 1912 - 1938). 2020-04-06. 21. Trove.
  7. News: Health And Beauty As A National Movement. 1937-03-01. Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1931 - 1954). 2020-04-06. 19. Trove.
  8. Book: Carden-Coyne, Ana. Reconstructing the Body: Classicism, Modernism, and the First World War. 2009-08-20. OUP Oxford. 978-0-19-954646-6. 252. en.
  9. Matthews. Jill Julius. Jill Julius Matthews. 1990. They Had Such a Lot of Fun: The Women's League of Health and Beauty between the Wars. History Workshop. 30. 22–54. 0309-2984. 4289005.
  10. News: Women's League of Health. 1939-08-24. Western Mail (Perth, WA : 1885 - 1954). 2020-04-06. 23. Trove.
  11. News: HEALTHY WOMEN IN STACKS. 1949-07-12. Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957). 2020-04-07. 10. Trove.
  12. News: EXERCISING FOR HEALTH.. 1939-03-29. West Australian (Perth, WA : 1879 - 1954). 2020-04-06. 5. Trove.
  13. News: Sydney women twist and turn their way to better health. 1954-07-18. Daily Telegraph (Sydney, NSW : 1931 - 1954). 2020-04-07. 15. Trove.
  14. News: Women in Health Display. 1939-03-21. The Age. 2020-04-07. 3. Newspapers.com.
  15. News: We Have a false beauty standard. 1941-05-02. Daily News (Perth, WA : 1882 - 1950). 2020-04-06. 17. Trove.
  16. News: Crowd Laughs with Dancer; Health League Display. 1938-04-25. The Sydney Morning Herald. 2020-04-06. 3. Newspapers.com.
  17. News: Miss Annie Fligg. 1937-11-25. The Age. 2020-04-06. 3. Newspapers.com.
  18. News: Women's League of Health; Annual Display; German Dancer. 1938-03-03. The Sydney Morning Herald. 2020-04-07. 25.
  19. News: Hewitt. Hope. ANTIQUE CHARM IN FACSIMILE ACCOUNT. 1983-02-05. Canberra Times (ACT : 1926 - 1995). 2020-04-07. 15. Trove.
  20. Book: Hughes, Thea Stanley. H. Keller and Alex. G. Bell. 1900. [Cabarita, N.S.W : Movement Publications|language=en].
  21. Book: Hughes, Thea Stanley. Florence Nightingale. 1900. [Cabarita, N.S.W. : Movement Publications|language=en].
  22. Book: Hughes. Thea Stanley. Adventure in movement (a new approach to physical training). Health. Women's League of. 1953. [Sydney : printed by the Commercial Printing Co. for the Women's League of Health|language=en].
  23. Book: Hughes, Thea Stanley. Discovery in the modern world. 1970. [Perth] : League of Health. en.
  24. Book: Hughes, Thea Stanley. Movement. 1972. The Author. en.
  25. Book: Hughes, Thea Stanley. Men in the making. 1975. Sydney : [T.S. Hughes]. 978-0-9598611-3-6. en.
  26. Book: Hughes, Thea Stanley. Towards self development. 1976. London; Sydney : Movement Publications. 978-0-905979-02-1. en.
  27. Book: Movement : for those who would bestir themselves. 1976. Movement Publications. Hughes, Thea Stanley.. 0-908076-01-0. Sydney. 6378360.
  28. Book: Hughes, Thea Stanley. Twentieth Century Question: Reincarnation. 1976. Movement Publications. 978-0-9598611-5-0. en.
  29. Book: Hughes, Thea Stanley. For your spare half-hour. 1978. London; Millers Point, N.S.W. : Movement Publications. 978-0-9598611-5-0. en.
  30. Book: Hughes. Thea Stanley. The unknown drug. Australia. Woman's Christian Temperance Union of South. 1978. London [England] : Movement Publications. 978-0-905979-03-8. en.
  31. Book: Hughes, Thea Stanley. Towards social health. 1979. London; Sydney : Movement Publications. 978-0-905979-05-2. en.
  32. Book: Hughes, Thea Stanley. Dear humanity. 1979. Miller's Point, N.S.W. : Movement Publications. en.
  33. Book: Hughes, Thea Stanley. Enduring deeds, in science, exploration & leadership. 1980. Miller's Point, N.S.W.; Palo Alto, Calif. : Movement Publications. 978-0-905979-11-3. en.
  34. Book: Hughes, Thea Stanley. Alternative thinking. 1982. Millers Point, N.S.W : Movement Publications. 978-0-908076-14-7. en.
  35. Book: Hughes, Thea Stanley. Arthur Phillip. 1982. Movement Publications. 978-0-908076-15-4. en.
  36. Book: Hughes, Thea Stanley. Warnings. 1983. Pennant Hills, N.S.W. : Movement Publications. 978-0-908076-20-8. en.
  37. Book: Hughes, Thea Stanley. Matthew Flinders. 1984. Movement Publications. 978-0-908076-21-5. en.
  38. Book: Hughes, Thea Stanley. Weaving threads of destiny. 1987. Cabarita, N.S.W. : Movement Publications. 978-0-908076-22-2. en.
  39. Book: Hughes, Thea Stanley. Ernest Giles reveals the mystery of the centre of Australia. 1988. Cabarita, N.S.W. : Movement Publications. 978-0-908076-23-9. en.
  40. Book: Hughes, Thea Stanley. For your spare moment : anthology. 1990. Cabarita, N.S.W. : Movement Publications. 978-0-908076-19-2. 10th. en.
  41. Book: Hughes, Thea Stanley. Conservation for the young and the young in heart. 1991. Cabarita, N.S.W. : Movement Publications. 978-0-908076-24-6. en.

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