People Australia

Florence Mary Chambers Hornibrook (1899-1973) teacher and trade union official

Birth: 10 June 1899 at Waterloo, Sydney, daughter of Thomas Chambers Hornibrook (1870-1931), engine driver, born at Bandon, County Cork, Ireland, and native-born Lillian Amelia, née Buchan (1873-1940). Unmarried. Death: 13 October 1973 at Sydney, New South Wales. 

• Educated at Sydney Teachers' College 1917-1918 and University of Sydney.
• Entered teaching service 1919 at Dulwich Hill Boys Primary School, subsequently serving in many schools throughout Sydney and rural NSW. Hornibrook was in charge of the girls’ department at Armidale Demonstration School in 1939-1940 and from 1940 to 1953 at least was headmistress of the Central Home Science School, Redfern. She retired in 1965 as head of Maroubra Girls Junior High School.
• Active in NSW Teachers' Federation, aligned with Sam Lewis. In 1943 was elected to federation executive. From 1948 to 1956 first female trustee of union, representing federation at many interstate conferences and on NSW Trades and Labor Council. Especially alert to teacher housing issues in rural NSW. She was defeated for the senior vice-presidency of the federation in 1953. In 1962 she was made life member of federation.
• This 'tiny, modest woman...was a force to be reckoned with. Logical, sincere, courageous and yet with a keen sense of humour she would hammer home her points in a convincing and dynamic fashion'.

Sources
Education, 28 October 1944, 28 February 1950, 25 November 1964, 7 November 1974.