People Australia

Alice Fisken, n.d.

from Who's Who in the World of Women, vol 2, 1934

Born, Lal Lal, Ballarat, Victoria. Invested with M. B. E. by King George V. at Buckingham Palace in 1918, for services rendered during the Great War. Great grand-daughter of Archibald Fisken, Esq., of Auchterarder, Perthshire, Scotland, and grand- daughter of Archibald Fisken, Esq., of Backsweethope, Bottiwell, Lanarkshire, who was born in 1797, and died in 1854; married Eliza Inglis, born 1800, died in Australia in 1845. Daughter of Archibald Fisken, Esq., of Backsweethope, Bottiwell, Lanarkshire, who was born in 1829 and died in Melbourne in 1907; came to Australia in 1840, and five years later purchased Lal Lal, near Ballarat, which was a part of the property originally known as Warrenheip Station, which is now in possession of his grandson, Clyde Fisken, Esq. Sister of John Inglis Fisken, born in 1859, died in 1932; married Miss L. B. McLaughey in 1903. Archibald James Fisken, born 1866, died 1923; married Beatrice May Wanliss in 1896; their son, Archibald Clyde, was born in 1897, and during the Great War won the M. C. at Vimy for conspicuous bravery—married in 1924, Elspeth Cameron, of Mona Vale, Tasmania, four children: Cynthia, John, Jocelyn and Virginia. Cecil Herbert Fisken, born in 1874, died 1928; married Elizabeth Smiley in 1915—one daughter, Bettine Charlotte. Lily Edith Fisken, M. B. E., born 1860, died in 1923. Ethel Fisken, M. B. E., born 1870; wife of R. E. O’Hara, of County Sligo, Ireland—one daughter, Sheela.

ACTIVITIES. Has travelled extensively abroad, and when residing in Victoria was much occupied with many philanthropic works, being specially interested in the District Nursing Society and Free Kindergarten of Victoria. Left for England in 1915, with her sister Lily, and on arrival joined the Robert Lindsay Hospital, and she and her sister were amongst the first to offer their services as Munition Workers, and were actively engaged at Vickers’ Works. Later they joined the Red Cross and became Principals of the War Clothing Department, and on the expiry of the Great War were selected in a delegation of 20 women sent to France to inquire into the maltreatment of French women by the enemy in the vicinity of Lille-Armentieres.

CLUBS. Alexandra Club (Melbourne), Ladies’ Empire Club, 69 Grosvenor St., London; Phyllis Court, Henley, England.

ADDRESS. Melbourne Mansions, Melbourne, Victoria.