The Australian Women's Register

Summary

Heather Crosby, née Gumley, was born in Oxford, England. Her father’s calling as an Anglican priest took the family first to India and then to Australia. Her Australian-born mother played a prominent role in the parishes in which they lived, and Crosby and her sisters were encouraged to gain tertiary qualifications. Crosby came to Adelaide to study social work and married in 1944. She helped her husband establish his general practice in Blair Athol, and they had two daughters. She became involved in community work and began her association with the YWCA in 1960. Crosby was President and Executive Director of the Adelaide YWCA, and a member of the National Council and the World Executive. She was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in 1981.