Celebrating Nillumbik Women 2009 - Nillumbik Shire Council

Edith Apted
1923 - 2008
Nominated by Reverend Anne Sells
Edith Apted was born at home in
Strathewen 86 years ago and attended
Queenstown (now St Andrews) State
School. Marrying a local orchardist and
bearing six children (born over eight
years), she followed the family example of
involvement in community affairs.
Edith contributed to the war effort by making
bullets in Maribyrnong during the Second
World War.
Prior to her 1947 marriage, she graduated
from Melbourne University in Medicine
and completed her residency at Mildura
Base Hospital. She chose medicine rather
than taking up the tertiary Ruth Flockhart
Scholarship at the Melba Conservatorium
that she won after graduating from
secondary school at Essendon High School
and doing the Leaving Honors Year at MLC.
Edith was a homemaker as well as providing
lunches for the workers in the orchard at
Strathewen; being the bookkeeper and
company secretary of the orchard for 46
years in all (until her death in 2008); and
even mastering computerised accounting.
In addition, she was secretary to the
Strathewen School. She also provided first
aid to all and being in a rural area, was able
to assist in emergency situations.
Although she did not work in a medical
practice, she became Medical Officer of
Health for the Eltham Shire for over 30 years.
She was on various committees involving
food standards; lectured on drugs and
alcohol, with her main job being immunising
children. She immunised the children of
parents who she had immunised and she did
this until she was 70.
Edith attended fortnightly doctor’s meetings
at the Austin Hospital until her last year of
life. With her husband, she was a member
of the Anglican Church in Hursbridge
and then in St Matthew’s at Panton Hill,
carrying out the task of organist for 20 of
those years. She taught children in Sunday
school, helped in the Op Shop, at children’s
festivals, cleaned the church and assisted
people in times of need.
Edith took a great interest in all around
her; her wider family, workers, community
and in the church. She was progressive
and shocked even her children by wearing
slacks before it was the done thing for
women. She travelled to South America
when everyone else went to Europe.
A strong gentle woman, commanding
huge respect and love, Edith succeeded
in using her great talents of faith, courage,
perseverance and strength to make a
lasting contribution to family and community.
In the church, as in her family, her very
presence and wisdom was a valuable
appreciated influence on all, greatly missed
since her passing, yet providing a lasting
legacy in many ways.