Obituaries Australia

MRS. ANTHONY HORDERN
CHARITY WORKER ("Sun" Special)

LONDON. Thursday. The death from pneumonia has occurred in London of Viola, wife of Mr. Anthony Hordern, of Sydney. She was, before her marriage, Miss Violet Sydney Bingham.

Mrs. Hordern was the wife of Mr. Anthony Hordern, who is a brother of Sir Samuel Hordern. She was formerly Miss Viola Bingham, a daughter of the late Colonel Bingham, of Melbourne, and at one time of the Indian Army. She leaves three children, one son and two daughters, who are in London with their father. She was for a time interested in racing, and entered horses at Randwick, and was particularly successful at the picnic races. She was also a prominent exhibitor of cattle at the Royal Sydney Show. Mrs. Hordern, whose home was "Retford Hall," Darling Point, was very handsome, and was very popular in society. With Mr. Hordern, she frequently lent "Retford Hall" for entertainments for various charities, and was a keen supporter of the Women's Hospital, Crown-street. A personal friend of the Hon. Mrs. Pitt Rivers, she was frequently at Admiralty House when Lord Forster was Governor-General of Australia.

The president of the Women's Hospital, Crown-street (Sir Henry Braddon) expressed, on behalf of the directors, tho deepest regret on learning of the death of Mrs. Hordern, and paid a tribute to her magnificent work for this institution. Mrs. Hordern was a member of the board and the house committee tor six years, resigning in 1926, as she was going abroad. During her period of office she frequently visited the hospital and took a keen Interest in the welfare of the patients and the staff. This interest was shown in tho most practical manner, as Mrs. Hordern gave many generous cheques. In 1921 she acted as joint honorary secretary with Mrs. Leslie Walford for the Poster Ball at the Town Hall, and this realised £2188. In 1922, with the assistance of Mrs. A.C. Godhard, who was then Miss Mona Daley, she under took the duties of honorary secretary for the Violet Matinee, from which the hospital received £2704.

Mrs. Hordern was also joint honorary secretary for the Ceramic Ball in 1923, this effort yielding £1920 for the Women's Hospital. Shortly before her resignation from the board she lent the grounds of "Retford Hall" for a garden fete, and this brought in £1100.