Ethel Pedley (8 works by) (a.k.a. Ethel Charlotte Pedley; Ethel C. Pedley )
Born: Established: 19 Jun 1859 London ; Died: 6 Aug 1898 Darlinghurst
Gender: Female
Arrived in Australia: ca. 1873
KD searched early Index. trans. More work to be done on Dot and the Kangaroo - Bal constraints at this time. JK 20/3/07 Proper bio needs to be written. JK 24/4/07 Emailed TGON 24/4/07 - Could you look at the BAL download for Ethel Pedley and let me know if you want any changes made especially re previous BAL entry for Gross, Yoram and Hargreaves, Daniel. JK Rang TGON as I appear to have accidentally deleted his email reply re above - will follow up with another email. JK 17/5/07 > Hi Joan. The only changes I'd make to your present entry would be to > delete: > /Dot and the Kangaroo. Book 1 : Dot Begins Her Adventure/ (1978). > /Dot and the Kangaroo. Book 2 : Dot and the Kangaroo Meet Mr. > Platypus/ (1978). > I think we can leave almost all in ACB(2 &3) unlisted, covered by > "Children''s Books Include", i.e. we don't have to list every > children's book listed in ACB. After all, Pedley only wrote Dot and > the Kangaroo and all the other titles are just taken from that one > book. I would however add "by Stella Chapman and Douglas Ancelon" > after "was dramatised in 1924" in Comment/s. Also add (q.v.) after > Yoram Gross. TGON 17/5/07

BiographyHistory

Ethel Pedley is best remembered for her only children's book, Dot and the Kangaroo, which was published posthumously in 1899. It is thought her writing was inspired by her visits to the property owned by her brother Arthur, near Walgett.

Pedley was an accomplished musician. She took up the violin at the age of 17 and studied at the Royal Academy of Music in London in 1880. After returning to Sydney in 1882, she taught singing and violin and founded the all female St. Cecilia Choir. In 1896 she persuaded the London Royal Academy of Music and the Royal College of Music to extend their system of music examinations to the Australian colonies.

Pedley died of cancer at her companion Emmeline Woolley's Darlinghurst home. She was buried in the Anglican section of the Waverley Cemetery, and is listed as one of the notable persons buried there.

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