• Entry type: Person
  • Entry ID: IMP0021

Cosgrove, Gertrude Ann

(1882 – 1962)
  • Born 1 January, 1882
  • Died 31 December, 1962
  • Occupation Community worker

Summary

Gertrude Cosgrove appointed to the Order of the British Empire – Dames Commander on 1 January 1947 for public service in Tasmania.

Details

In the biography of Sir Robert Cosgrove in the Australian Dictionary of Biography, W A Townsley writes:

“On 10 January 1911 at St Mary’s Catholic Cathedral, Hobart, Cosgrove [later premier of Tasmania] married Gertrude Ann Geappen (1882-1962); they were to have four children. …
“Gertrude was a staunch companion to her husband in his political career and a devoted mother to their children. … Mrs Cosgrove was treasurer of the West Hobart women’s branch of the A.L.P and active in the Australian Comforts Fund, the Country Women’s Association, the Australian Red Cross Society and the Victoria League. From 1916 she worked devotedly for Elizabeth Street State School; her leisure activities included gardening and crochet. Appointed D.B.E. (1947) she was invested at Buckingham Palace, London by King George VI in 1949.”

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