• Entry type: Person
  • Entry ID: AWE0453

Marfell, Helena Catherine

  • OBE
(1898 – 1981)
  • Born 4 August 1898, Camperdown, Victoria, Australia
  • Died 2 November 1981, Geelong, Victoria, Australia
  • Occupation Community worker

Summary

Helena Marfell was the inaugural national president of the Country Women’s Association of Australia in 1945.

Details

Marfell was a foundation member of the Warrnambool branch of the Country Women’s Association (1931), and twice president of the South-Western Group. She was also a member of the Victorian State Executive, and state president from 1942 until 1945. President of the Women’s Section of the Victorian Country Party, Marfell stood unsuccessfully for the federal seat of Wannon during the election in 1949.

During World War II Marfell was senior superintendent of the Warrnambool district for the Red Cross Society. She donated a silver teapot for use when the Country Women’s Association served refreshments at the railway tea rooms to recruits leaving Warrnambool.

On 1 January 1968 Helena Marfell was appointed an Officer to the Order of the British Empire (Civil) for services to social welfare. She was honoured by being made a Life Governor of the Warrnambool Base Hospital and the Royal Victorian Institute for the Blind.

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Events

  • 1970

    Born daughter of Archibald Glen

  • 1949 - 1950

    President of the Women’s Section at the Victorian Country Party

  • 1942 - 1945

    President of the South-Western Group of the Country Women’s Association

  • 1942 - 1945

    State President of the Country Women’s Association

  • 1945 - 1946

    National President of the Country Women’s Association

  • 1946

    Member of the Corangamite Regional Committee

  • 1943

    Member of the State Relief Committee

  • 1943

    Member of the State Broadcasting Committee

  • 1939 - 1945

    Senior Supertindent of the Red Cross in the Warrnambool district

  • 1938 - 1939

    President of the South-Western Group of the Country Women’s Association

  • 1949

    Country Party candidate for the electorate of Wannon at the Federal election

  • 2018

    Married Henry G Marfell, they had two children

  • 1931

    Helped found the Warrnambool Branch of the Country Women’s Association

  • 2068

    Appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire

Archival resources

  • National Library of Australia, Manuscript Collection
    • Records of the Country Women's Association of Australia, 1945-1969, 2003 [manuscript]

Published resources

  • Edited Book
    • Who's Who in Australia 1962, Alexander, Joseph A, 1962
    • Who's Who in Australia 1950, Alexander, Joseph A, 1950
  • Book
    • The Many Hats of Country Women: The Jubilee History of the Country Women's Association of Australia, Stevens-Chambers, Brenda, 1997
  • Site Exhibition
  • Resource

Related entries


  • Related Organisations
    • Australian Red Cross (1914 - )
    • Girl Guides Australia (1926 - )
  • Foundation Member
    • The Country Women's Association of Victoria Inc. (1928 - )
  • Presided
    • The Country Women's Association of Victoria Inc. (1928 - )
    • Country Women's Association of Australia (1945 - )