Bedggood, Stella Amelia (1916 - 1978)

Summary

Stella Bedggood was a naturalist who made a significant contribution to the Field Naturalists Club of Ballarat. She held office in the Club continuously for 18 years: she was made a Life Member in 1972 in recognition of the role she played in the Club. She was noted for encouraging other to join the Club, such as Patricia and Bill Murphy. Having no training in natural history, Bedggood took a course at the Victorian Forestry School in the identification of plants and the collection and mounting of specimens. In the process she was in contact with Jim Willis who became a family friend. Bedggood's husband, Edwin, was a woodcutter supplying firewood to the people of the city. Stella was often in the bush with him. Her main interest was in conservation, advocacy for which she believed should be based on research and local knowledge. In this she was particularly successful. She was influential as an advisor to Sovereign Hill on the planting of indigenous trees and shrubs. The Stella Bedggood Memorial Lecture was inaugurated by the Club in 1979 to honour her contributions to conservation and the Club. Grevillea bedggoodiana (Proteaceae) is an endemic plant of restricted distribution in the Ballarat area.

Details

Chronology

1922

Life event - Migrated to Australia with her parents

1958 - 1970

Career position - Secretary, Field Naturalists Club of Ballarat

1971 - 1974

Career position - Treasurer, Field Naturalists Club of Ballarat

1972 - 1978

Award - Life Member, Field Naturalists Club of Ballarat

1975

Career position - Vice-President, Field Naturalists Club of Ballarat

Related entries

Published resources

Journal Articles

• Kruss, Susan, 'A passion for plants: the botanical contribution of P. J. Murphy', Muelleria, 36 (2018), 22-50. Details

Theses

• Kruss, Susan, 'A voice for nature: a history of the Field Naturalists' Club of Ballarat', PhD thesis, Federation University Australia, 2024, 594 pp. Details