The Australian Women's Register

Dorothy Ethel Cook was born in Yass, New South Wales on 26 September 1907, to Albert Edward (b.1880) and Eleanor Cook (nee Wilson) (b.1878). Albert and Eleanor were married on 17 September 1902 and had three children. Dorothy was the middle child, with an elder brother Henry (b.1905) and younger sister Vera Marjorie (b.1909). Their father was a school teacher in Bredbo in 1898 and the family travelled throughout New South Wales. In 1932 she married Vernon (Vernie) Buckmaster (1901-1976) and moved to the homestead ‘The Rivers’ at Uriarra in Canberra. They had two sons Peter (1936-2007) and Jeff (1933-).

On 2 February 1956 Dorothy joined the Canberra branch of the Country Women’s Association (NSW) and very quickly became an active member. She held various positions between 1961 and 1975 including President (1961-1963, 1970-1972, 1978-1980), and Secretary (1973-75). She was awarded a Life Membership by the Monaro Group in 1986 and was patron from 1986 to 1988. Dorothy was a leader and dedicated member and provided substantial support to special appeals such as the Children’s Medical Research Foundation, the Tennant Creek Re-construction and to the World Wide Refugees organisation. She was a kind and understanding women who shared her life with others. She played the organ at St Luke’s in Deakin and regularly performed with the CWA choir for nursing homes and hospitals in Canberra.

In 1977 Vernon and Dorothy moved to Deakin in Canberra, where she died on 4 May 1999.