Mabel Nicholas

OBE The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding valuable service in a wide range of useful activities. It comprises five classes of awards across both civil and military divisions, the most senior two o ...

who became Sister Rosalie (13 July 1866 – 16 July 1958) was a UK-born Anglican Sister and a founder and principal of Perth College for girls.

Life

Nicholas was born in the London area of Kilburn in 1866. Her parents were Mary Ellen (born Hodding) and a wine merchant named John Nicholas. She made her first donation to

Emily Ayckbowm Emily Ayckbowm (1836–1900) was the founder and first mother superior of the Community of the Sisters of the Church. This Anglican order was founded in 1870. Life She was the daughter of Mary Ann(e) born Hutchinson and the Rev. Frederick Ayckbo ...

Community of the Sisters of the Church The Community of the Sisters of the Church is a religious order of women in various Anglican provinces who live the vowed life of poverty, chastity and obedience. In 2012 the order had 105 sisters living in community, together with an extensive ne ...

when she was four years old. She gave money to feed breakfasts for poor schoolchildren. Her parents were well off and she became a novice in 1892, In 1895 she took the name of Sister Rosalie encouraged by Emily Ayckbowm to use her talent for business organisation. She and two other sisters, Vera and Susanna, arrived at

Fremantle Fremantle () () is a port city in Western Australia located at the mouth of the Swan River (Western Australia), Swan River in the metropolitan area of Perth, the state capital. Fremantle Harbour serves as the port of Perth. The Western Australi ...

on the ship named ''Australia'' on 20 November 1901. They quickly founded a school for girls named the ''Girls' High School in Kalgoorlie'' but it was also known as ''Lamington Heights Orphanage''. Nine of the initial students had been transported by the sisters from the ''Orphanage of Mercy'' in Kilburn. These students were aged between six and ten years old. Perth College - 1920 class

Her contribution to the founding of Perth College was significant. The sisters chose

Mount Lawley Mount is often used as part of the name of specific mountains, e.g. Mount Everest. Mount or Mounts may also refer to: Places * Mount, Cornwall, a village in Warleggan parish, England * Mount, Perranzabuloe, a hamlet in Perranzabuloe parish, Co ...

in Perth as a location for their school but it was Nicholas and the diocese's secretary who raised the money in Perth to build it. She then went to England where she gained the support of

Arthur Winnington-Ingram Arthur Foley Winnington-Ingram (26 January 1858 – 26 May 1946) was Bishop of London from 1901 to 1939. Early life and career He was born in the rectory at Stanford-on-Teme, Worcestershire, the fourth son of Edward Winnington-Ingram (a Ch ...

, the Bishop of London, and the editors of two newspapers. They assisted her in publicising the nun's appeal for financial support, By 1916 she was able to supervise the opening of the new school and the school in Kalgoorlie closed. In 1949 she was awarded an

. She is reported to have said "What for?"

Death and legacy

Nicholas died in 1958 in

. Perth College named Rosalie House after her. The school estimates that it has educated over 13,000 girls and it was doing it with another 1,000 enrolled at the school when it celebrated its centenary.

References

External links

Biography at ADB
{{DEFAULTSORT:Nicholas, Mabel 1866 births 1958 deaths People from Kilburn, London 20th-century Anglican nuns Founders of Australian schools and colleges Australian Officers of the Order of the British Empire