EDNA TURVEY 1925 - 2006

Long-time Darlington resident Edna Turvey died at Katoomba on 30th July.

Edna was the consummate community activist. She was the power behind the South Sydney Festival Arts & Crafts Exhibition. An early campaign of hers was to stop an expanding Sydney University eating the heart out of Darlington. This led, at Edna's insistence, to the election of Independents to an ALP-dominated South Sydney council - starting with neighbour Bev Hunter, and manifest still with Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore.

Other campaigns were recycling before the councils took it up; a creative-writing group, a Darlington School history, a neighbourhood newsletter, and, of course, Esperanto.

Outside of these, she miraculously found time for an honours degree in anthropology; wood carving and lino cuts; raising 2 children and caring for a very active husband - Fred.

Before coming to Darlington, Edna had worked as a radio technician during the war; travelled the world; worked as a tram conductor; and lived at Lilyvale - a rural retreat accessible only by train.

Edna grew up at Leura, and, after Fred's death in 2002, 'retired' to Hazelbrook.

She is survived by brother Frank, children Alan and Ruth, and grandchildren Karina, Eric and Tom, and the rest of us.

EDNA TURVEY 1925-2006

To know Edna is to have a story about her. I am compiling a collection of Edna stories (for sharing with family & story-tellers) Please contact me with yours. Barrie McMahon 9698 1082.

[A special service is being arranged in September or October to remember Edna]

[South Sydney Herald September 2006]