Rita May Wilson Harris (1888–1975) was an Australian community worker .

Early life

She was born at Brighton Beach, Melbourne, on 24 January 1888, the elder daughter of Victorian-born Alice Frances Mabel, née Wilson and Isidore Henry Moss. The May Wilson family had to experience a seven-year drought at

Dubbo, New South Wales Dubbo (; ) is a city in the Orana (New South Wales), Orana Region of New South Wales, Australia. It is the largest population centre in the Orana region, with a population of 43,516 at June 2021. The city is located at the intersection of the ...

, and as a result, the entire family moved to Melbourne. Harris went to Presbyterian Ladies’ College and worked at Carlton Free Kindergarten as a voluntary helper. Rita May married Norman Charles Harris on 10 April 1912 at the Presbyterian Church, Armadale. During

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

, Harrises kept open house on weekends, and numerous serviceman were entertained there with large tennis parties.

Committee and organizations

Harris was a committee member and the secretary of Collingwood Crèche-Kindergarten, a life governor and a president of Keele Street Kindergarten. In 1955, Keele Street Kindergarten became Rita May Harris Free Kindergarten. Harris was the executive member, chairman of Finance committee and Vice President of the Free Kindergarten Union. To recycle and save waste materials, Harris started the Silver Door auxiliary in her leadership at 1939. As a result of Harris work at Victoria towards Kindergarten Union, she became the Honorary Vice President of F.K.U. (Free Kindergarten Union) in 1950. Harris was also the President, Vice President, and received O.B.E at Melbourne Women's Hospital; and the outpatient's department of

Royal Women's Hospital The Royal Women's Hospital, located in the Melbourne suburb of Parkville, is Australia's oldest specialist women's hospital. It offers a full range of services in maternity, gynaecology, neonatal care, women's cancers and women's health. It also ...

became Rita Harris Wing in 1958. After Harris's retirement in 1950, she was involved with the Melbourne Legacy Club and raised money for the Legacy club and Red Cross. Predeceased by the death of Norman Charles Harris on 1963, Rita May Harries died at Middle Brighton on 21 July 1975.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Harris, Rita May Wilson 1888 births 1975 deaths Australian Officers of the Order of the British Empire 20th-century Australian women public servants 20th-century Australian women People from Brighton, Victoria People educated at the Presbyterian Ladies' College, Melbourne