Obituaries Australia

Amy Fairfax, by Van der Weyde, 1880s

photo provided by family

A private cable message has been received in Sydney announcing the death in London on Wednesday last of Miss Amy Sarah Elizabeth Fairfax, daughter of the late Mr. Charles J. Fairfax, formerly a proprietor of the Sydney Morning Herald, and granddaughter of the late Hon. John Fairfax, M.L.C. The late Miss Fairfax, with her mother, the late Mrs. C. J. Fairfax, and her sister, Miss Caroline Fairfax, resided in England for many years, and they were well known there for assistance in philanthropic work, especially in connection with the Children's Hospital at Chelsea. During the Boer war they rendered great assistance to Australian soldiers in London, and since the European war they have become well known by invalid soldiers and others, whose experience of their kindness is frequently spoken of by returned men, and by the officers in command of the A.I.F. and other forces.

During periodical visits to Sydney the late Miss Fairfax and her sister interested themselves particularly in the Royal Alexandra Hospital for Children at Camperdown. They visited this institution regularly every week, carrying toys and other presents for the little patients. On Empire Day each year the secretary of the hospital received from them a cheque to provide a party for the children, and it was a regular custom for her Majesty Queen Mary to forward through the Misses Fairfax a crocheted garment for presentation to the youngest child in the hospital on Christmas Day. The Misses Fairfax also interested themselves in the Boy Scouts movement here, giving timely assistance at a juncture when it was urgently required, and encouraging a spirit of emulation amongst the boys by the presentation to the New South Wales Boy Scouts' Association of a banner, which became known as the "Fairfax Banner," and is competed for each year by the various troops. This banner, which was brought to Australia by Sir Robert Baden-Powell at the request of the donors, is for the current year in the possession of the Summer Hill troop. Two banners were also presented by the Misses Fairfax to the Petersham troop.