Obituaries Australia

Marjorie Carter, n.d.

photo supplied by Ian Carter

Marjorie Carter was born in 1884 at “Morven” station, Branxholme, Victoria, fourth daughter of James Weatherly (1843–1914), one of the earliest landowners of western Victoria, and third daughter of his second wife Jane Wilson (1844–1905). She was raised at “Wallaloo Park” near Marnoo with her four sisters Agnes Millicent (b. 1877, unmarried), Eloise Florence Elizabeth (b. 1881, d. 1952, Mrs J. S. Gregory, “Longerenong”) Frances (b. 1882, Mrs O. Esperson) and Isabella Grace Harriet (b. 1887, d. 1946, unmarried).

Marjorie was educated at the Church of England Girls’ Grammar School, Ballarat. After their father’s death in 1914, she managed “Wallaloo Park” with her sister Isabella. On 26 November 1918 she married William Charles Carter (1867–1941), of “Glenwood”. The couple relocated to “Wallaloo Park” in 1920 and raised their sons Alexander James Weatherly (1920–2011), and James Samuel (1922–2000).

Marjorie died in 1967 at Rupanyup, Victoria. She was from a line of writers whose ancestry dates back to Sir Thomas 'The Rhymer' of Ercildoune, believed to be Scotland’s earliest poet and prophet. He predicted the sudden death of King Alexander III of Scotland and Kinghorn on 19 March 1286 (Kinghorn is the name of Marjorie Weatherly’s grandmother). Publications by Marjorie include the novels The Keys of Heaven (1918), Australia’s Child (1951) and A False Balance (1955), and poetry including Contrasts (1925), Voices from My Garden (1928), To My Sister (1948) and Fragments (1950).