Florence May Harding
Encyclopedia
Florence May Harding known as May Harding, was a teacher
, naturalist
, botanist, and artist
at Broken Hill, New South Wales
.
in 1908, May Harding was one of three children of Frederick Joseph Harding and Florence May Boyle. The family soon moved to Broken Hill where her father followed the trade of a foundryman and moulder. Her family resided at 59 Williams Street, where after the early death of her mother in 1935 she cared for her father until his death in 1956, and then lived alone at that same home for the remainder of her life. Being without private wealth or income, she led a frugal existence. She never married.
in Sydney, and with Douglas Robert Dundas (1900–1981), but in effect had no formal training in either botany
or art
. Early in life she developed a passion for the native flora of the arid West Darling region, collecting and identifying plants. Self taught in botany she combined this attraction with art, as early as 1922 exhibiting paintings of wildflower
s.
In the 1930s her interest in the native vegetation of the Broken Hill region was further spurred by the actions of Albert Morris
, who was determined to control the city’s dust problem. Morris was in 1918 the inaugural Secretary of the Barrier Field Naturalists’ Club, a position subsequently held by May Harding, her membership spanning 45 years.
In this role she was adept as organiser, researcher, librarian, and speaker at Club meetings, as well as leading numerous field excursions, both within the district and further, such as the Flinders Ranges
. In 1946 she was made an honorary member of the North Queensland Naturalists’ Club. By 1950 she had Australia-wide botanical connections, recognising her expertise in the botany of arid and semi-arid lands.
A talented artist and graphic designer in oils and watercolours, she failed to attract critical acclaim in her own right, but from the early 1950s was instrumental in zealously promoting the art and artists of Broken Hill. In 1961 she was a foundation member, secretary, and treasurer (and sole female committee member) of the Willyama Arts Society that stimulated the career of local artists such as Pro Hart
and Sam Byrne, leading to the famous Brushmen of the Bush
. In 1965 she was selected to open the Festival of Australian Wildflowers in Canberra
. She was an Honorary Life Member of the Arts Council of Australia
(NSW Division). She is sometimes accredited with having been appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire
(MBE), which doubtless would have been a popular appointment, but there is no record of such an award.
May Harding died at Broken Hill on 24 August 1971 and is interred in the Broken Hill Cemetery. A section of the Broken Hill Regional Art Gallery was named in her honour and a Field Naturalists’ flower show was dedicated to her following her death in 1971. A street in Broken Hill is named May Harding Drive after her. She is recorded at Design and Art Australia Online, and on The Australian Women’s Register.
Teacher
A teacher or schoolteacher is a person who provides education for pupils and students . The role of teacher is often formal and ongoing, carried out at a school or other place of formal education. In many countries, a person who wishes to become a teacher must first obtain specified professional...
, naturalist
Naturalist
Naturalist may refer to:* Practitioner of natural history* Conservationist* Advocate of naturalism * Naturalist , autobiography-See also:* The American Naturalist, periodical* Naturalism...
, botanist, and artist
Artist
An artist is a person engaged in one or more of any of a broad spectrum of activities related to creating art, practicing the arts and/or demonstrating an art. The common usage in both everyday speech and academic discourse is a practitioner in the visual arts only...
at Broken Hill, New South Wales
Broken Hill, New South Wales
-Geology:Broken Hill's massive orebody, which formed about 1,800 million years ago, has proved to be among the world's largest silver-lead-zinc mineral deposits. The orebody is shaped like a boomerang plunging into the earth at its ends and outcropping in the centre. The protruding tip of the...
.
Family Life
Born at the mining town of Silverton, New South WalesSilverton, New South Wales
Silverton is a small village at the far west of New South Wales, Australia, 25 kilometres north-west of Broken Hill. At the 2006 census, Silverton had a population of 89 people....
in 1908, May Harding was one of three children of Frederick Joseph Harding and Florence May Boyle. The family soon moved to Broken Hill where her father followed the trade of a foundryman and moulder. Her family resided at 59 Williams Street, where after the early death of her mother in 1935 she cared for her father until his death in 1956, and then lived alone at that same home for the remainder of her life. Being without private wealth or income, she led a frugal existence. She never married.
Public Life
May Harding studied at the National Art SchoolNational Art School
The National Art School is an art school in Sydney, Australia. It is a Public Company Limited by Guarantee with a board of directors. It has Institutional Registration and Course Accreditation supported by the DET Higher Education Directorate....
in Sydney, and with Douglas Robert Dundas (1900–1981), but in effect had no formal training in either botany
Botany
Botany, plant science, or plant biology is a branch of biology that involves the scientific study of plant life. Traditionally, botany also included the study of fungi, algae and viruses...
or art
Art
Art is the product or process of deliberately arranging items in a way that influences and affects one or more of the senses, emotions, and intellect....
. Early in life she developed a passion for the native flora of the arid West Darling region, collecting and identifying plants. Self taught in botany she combined this attraction with art, as early as 1922 exhibiting paintings of wildflower
Wildflower
A wildflower is a flower that grows wild, meaning it was not intentionally seeded or planted. Yet "wildflower" meadows of a few mixed species are sold in seed packets. The term "wildflower" has been made vague by commercial seedsmen who are interested in selling more flowers or seeds more...
s.
In the 1930s her interest in the native vegetation of the Broken Hill region was further spurred by the actions of Albert Morris
Albert Morris
Albert Morris was born on 13 August 1886 in Bridgetown, South Australia. Faced with the depression in the South Australia of the late 1880s, Morris's father sought work in the new mines of the Barrier ranges and moved his family to Broken Hill to live....
, who was determined to control the city’s dust problem. Morris was in 1918 the inaugural Secretary of the Barrier Field Naturalists’ Club, a position subsequently held by May Harding, her membership spanning 45 years.
In this role she was adept as organiser, researcher, librarian, and speaker at Club meetings, as well as leading numerous field excursions, both within the district and further, such as the Flinders Ranges
Flinders Ranges
Flinders Ranges is the largest mountain range in South Australia, which starts approximately north west of Adelaide. The discontinuous ranges stretch for over from Port Pirie to Lake Callabonna...
. In 1946 she was made an honorary member of the North Queensland Naturalists’ Club. By 1950 she had Australia-wide botanical connections, recognising her expertise in the botany of arid and semi-arid lands.
Art and Botany
Between 1940 and 1970 she was the sole teacher (part-time) of art and botany at the Broken Hill Technical College, where from 1947 she also ran art classes for forty local children on Saturday mornings. As well as a fondness for children she had a soft spot for cats, of which she always had a dozen or more lounging about her rumpled home amid her private library and favourite artworks, both hers and those of her artist devotees.A talented artist and graphic designer in oils and watercolours, she failed to attract critical acclaim in her own right, but from the early 1950s was instrumental in zealously promoting the art and artists of Broken Hill. In 1961 she was a foundation member, secretary, and treasurer (and sole female committee member) of the Willyama Arts Society that stimulated the career of local artists such as Pro Hart
Pro Hart
Kevin Charles "Pro" Hart, MBE , born in Broken Hill, New South Wales, was considered the father of the Australian Outback painting movement and his works are widely admired for capturing the true spirit of the outback...
and Sam Byrne, leading to the famous Brushmen of the Bush
Brushmen of the Bush
Brushmen of the Bush was a painting group of five artists who got together in Broken Hill, New South Wales in 1973. It was active until 1989. The five members of the group were Pro Hart, Eric Minchin, Jack Absalom, John Pickup and Hugh Schulz....
. In 1965 she was selected to open the Festival of Australian Wildflowers in Canberra
Canberra
Canberra is the capital city of Australia. With a population of over 345,000, it is Australia's largest inland city and the eighth-largest city overall. The city is located at the northern end of the Australian Capital Territory , south-west of Sydney, and north-east of Melbourne...
. She was an Honorary Life Member of the Arts Council of Australia
Regional Arts Australia
Regional Arts Australia is the national peak body for regional arts organisations throughout Australia. Formed in 1966 as the Arts Council of Australia, it is a federation of the peak non-metropolitan community arts organisations in each of the Australian states and territories. It advocates better...
(NSW Division). She is sometimes accredited with having been appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(MBE), which doubtless would have been a popular appointment, but there is no record of such an award.
Legacies
A self-assured yet humble character, May Harding was undoubtedly the most loved and respected figure in Broken Hill art circles of the mid-20th century. Her lively spirit and dedication laid the foundations of the thriving Broken Hill art culture of today.May Harding died at Broken Hill on 24 August 1971 and is interred in the Broken Hill Cemetery. A section of the Broken Hill Regional Art Gallery was named in her honour and a Field Naturalists’ flower show was dedicated to her following her death in 1971. A street in Broken Hill is named May Harding Drive after her. She is recorded at Design and Art Australia Online, and on The Australian Women’s Register.