Phyllis_Frost

Phyllis Frost

Phyllis Frost

Australian welfare worker and philanthropist

Dame Phyllis Irene Frost AC DBE JP (née Turner; 14 September 1917 – 30 October 2004) was an Australian welfare worker and philanthropist, known for her commitment to causes, such as helping prisoners. She chaired the Victorian Women's Prisons Council for many years, established the Keep Australia Beautiful movement, worked for Freedom from Hunger and raised millions of dollars for charity.

Quick Facts Born, Died ...

Career

Frost was born 'Phyllis Irene Turner' in 1917 in Brighton, Melbourne to parents Irene Turner née Rickard (1887-1973), and Harry Turner (1884-1977). She had two sisters, Caroline Nancy Cats née Turner, and Elizabeth Kathleen Turner and they grew up in Croydon.[1] She attended Presbyterian Ladies' College, Melbourne and the University of Melbourne, training in physiotherapy and, later, criminology. The latter would help her to better understand the female offenders, to whom she had committed her assistance.[2]

At university she met Glenn Frost, whom she was to marry in 1941; the couple had three daughters.[3]

Honours

Frost was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 1963 Queen's Birthday Honours.[2][4]

She was appointed a Dame Commander of the order (DBE) in the 1974 New Year's Honours, for "outstanding service to the community".[2][5]

In the 1992 Australia Day Honours, Frost was named a Companion of the Order of Australia (AC).[6]

On 1 January 2001, Frost was awarded the Centenary Medal, "for long and dedicated voluntary service to welfare at local, state and national levels".[7]

Legacy

The Victorian government recognised her achievements with women prisoners by renaming the Deer Park Metropolitan Women's Correctional Centre the Dame Phyllis Frost Centre in 2000.[3]

Death

Frost died at aged 87 in Nunawading, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia on 30 October 2004 and was given a State Funeral.[3]

The Victorian premier at the time, Steve Bracks paid tribute to Frost, acknowledging her work with around 47 charitable committees and associations. He said that "This work marks her as truly one of the great women this state has produced.''[3]

References

  1. [1]
    Doery, Mary K. (February 2000). "The Victorian Naturalis: A Tribute". The Victorian Naturalist (117 ed.). Victoria: Field Naturalists Club of Victoria. pp. 77–79. Retrieved 13 March 2024.
  2. [2]
    "Frost, Phyllis Irene (1917 - 2004)". The Australian Women's Register. Retrieved 26 July 2021.
  3. [3]
    "Dame Phyllis Frost dies, aged 87". The Age. 31 October 2004. Retrieved 26 July 2021.
  4. [4]
    "It's an Honour: CBE". Archived from the original on 11 October 2016. Retrieved 21 March 2013.
  5. [5]
    "It's an Honour: DBE". Archived from the original on 11 October 2016. Retrieved 21 March 2013.
  6. [6]
    "It's an Honour: AC". Archived from the original on 29 January 2019. Retrieved 21 March 2013.
  7. [7]
    It's an Honour: Centenary Medal
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