CINXE.COM

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"> <html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> <head> <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /> <meta http-equiv="imagetoolbar" content="no" /> <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1"/> <script type="application/ld+json"> {"@context":"https://schema.org/","@type":"Article","about":{"@type":"Person","givenName":"Mabel","additionalName":"Mary","familyName":"Lush","name":"Mabel Mary Lush","birthDate":"1881-06-30","birthPlace":{"@type":"Place","address":{"@type":"PostalAddress","addressLocality":"East Melbourne, Melbourne","addressRegion":"Victoria","addressCountry":"Australia"}},"deathDate":"1958-10-01","deathPlace":{"@type":"Place","address":{"@type":"PostalAddress","addressLocality":"Richmond, Melbourne","addressRegion":"Victoria","addressCountry":"Australia"}}},"author":{"@type":"Person","givenName":"Ruth","familyName":"Benjamin","name":"Ruth Benjamin"},"datePublished":"2000-01-01","description":"Mabel Mary Hailes Lush (1881-1958), kindergarten teacher, was born on 30 June 1881 in East Melbourne, third child of George Lush (1846-1932), a Victorian-born merchant and later philanthropist, and his Scottish-born wife Mabel Mary Elizabeth Nicol, née Fullarton.","headline":"Lush, Mabel Mary (1881–1958)","keywords":"Mabel Mary Lush, biography","isPartOf":{"@type":"Book","bookEdition":15,"bookFormat":"https://schema.org/Hardcover","datePublished":2000,"description":"The Australian Dictionary of Biography contains concise, informative and fascinating descriptions of the lives of significant and representative persons in Australian history.","image":"https://adb.anu.edu.au/images/covers/volume15.png","isbn":522848435,"name":"Australian Dictionary of Biography","url":"https://adb.anu.edu.au","copyrightHolder":{"@type":"Organization","name":"The Australian National University","url":"https://www.anu.edu.au"},"copyrightYear":2000,"editor":{"@type":"Person","givenName":"John","familyName":"Ritchie","name":"John Ritchie"},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Melbourne University Press","url":"https://www.mup.com.au"}}} </script> <title>Biography - Mabel Mary Lush - Australian Dictionary of Biography</title> <script async src="https://ssl.google-analytics.com/ga.js"></script> <script> var _gaq = _gaq || []; _gaq.push(['_setAccount', 'UA-21252809-2']); _gaq.push(['_trackPageview']); </script> <script async src="https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtag/js?id=G-RC1X4D063Z"></script> <script> window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; function gtag(){dataLayer.push(arguments);} gtag('js', new Date()); gtag('config', 'G-RC1X4D063Z'); </script> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="/css/multi.php;reset.css,fixes.css,site/adb/generic.css,structure-common.css,site/adb/structure-site.css,infinite.css,shadowbox.css;208393d011387c3a59dadfeafd900bc7"/> <script type="text/javascript"> var settings = {"site_code":"adb","sites":{"adb":"adb.anu.edu.au","ia":"ia.anu.edu.au","la":"labouraustralia.anu.edu.au","oa":"oa.anu.edu.au","pa":"peopleaustralia.anu.edu.au","pib":"pib.anu.edu.au","wa":"womenaustralia.anu.edu.au"}}; </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/js/multi.php;jquery.min.js,jqueryui/jquery-ui.custom.min.js,clearFocus.js,searchBox.js,facets.js,common-utils.js,advanced-search.js,shadowbox/shadowbox.js;ab3d74aadfe94baccb25019eb300b75e"></script> <link rel="stylesheet" href="/css/site/adb/print.css" type="text/css" media="print"/> <link rel="shortcut icon" href="/images/site/adb/favicon.ico"/> <style> .navi:hover { border-bottom: 0px; } </style> </head> <body class="site_adb"><script type="text/javascript">document.body.className += " js";</script> <header> <div id="masthead"> <div class="clearFix" id="topNav"> <ul> <li><a href="https://oa.anu.edu.au">Obituaries Australia</a></li> <li><a href="https://peopleaustralia.anu.edu.au">People Australia</a></li> <li><a href="https://ia.anu.edu.au">Indigenous Australia</a></li> <li><a href="https://womenaustralia.anu.edu.au">Women Australia</a></li> <li><a href="https://labouraustralia.anu.edu.au">Labour Australia</a></li> </ul> </div> <div id="tileAndSearchContainer"> <div class="clearFix" id="titleAndSearchPage"> <h1 class="hideFromScreen">Australian Dictionary of Biography</h1> <ul id="searchSubmitPage"> <li> <form action="/biographies/search/" method="get" id="mastheadSearchForm"> <select id="scopeSelect" name="scope" onChange="searchBox.setTip();"> <option value="person">person</option> <option value="all" selected="selected">text</option> </select> <input name="query" type="text" class="searchTextInput clearMeFocus" title="Quick search" value="" /> <input name="" type="image" class="searchBttns" src="/images/site/adb/bttn_search.png" alt="Search" /> <input name="rs" type="hidden" value=''/> </form> </li> <li id="personTip" class="searchTip"> <span><strong>Tip:</strong> searches only the name field</span> </li> <li id="allTip" class="searchTip"> <span><strong>Tip:</strong> Use double quotes to search for a phrase</span></li> </ul>  </div> <nav class="main-navigation"> <ul class="navigation-menu"> <li class="menu-item menu-item--admin"> <a class="menu-link" href="/">Home</a> </li> <li class="menu-item menu-item--admin"> <a class="menu-link" href="/about-us/">About</a> </li> <li class="menu-item menu-item--admin"> <a class="menu-link" href="/contact-us/">Contact</a> </li> <li class="menu-item menu-item--content"> <a class="menu-link" href="/projects/">Projects</a> </li> <li class="menu-item menu-item--content"> <a class="menu-link" href="/essays/browse/">Group Bios</a> </li> <li class="menu-item menu-item--search"> <a class="menu-link" href="/advanced-search/">Advanced Search</a> </li> <li class="menu-item menu-item--search"> <a class="menu-link" href="/facets/">Faceted Browse</a> </li> <li class="menu-item menu-item--search" id="browseTab"> <a class="menu-link" href="#browsePanel">Browse</a> </li> <li class="menu-item menu-item--donate"> <a class="menu-link" href="/adb-endowment-fund/">Donate</a> </li> </ul> </nav> </div> </div> <div class="panel js-hide" id="browsePanel"> <div class="panelInner clearFix"> <div class="column0203 noh3float"> <div class="browseLabelWrapper"> <h3 class="browseLabel">Browse by:</h3> </div> <div class="browseOptionWrapper"> <ul class="panelInnerNav clearFix"> <li><a href="/biographies/name/">Name</a></li> <li><a href="/biographies/birth/">Date of Birth</a></li> <li><a href="/biographies/death/">Date of Death</a></li> <li><a href="/biographies/browse-author/">Author</a></li> <li><a href="/entities/browse/?otype=map">Maps</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div id="culturalWarning" data-nosnippet="true"> <h2 class="culturalWarning__heading"><span class="culturalWarning__heading--decoration">Cultural Advice</span></h2> <div class="culturalWarning__message"> <p>Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people should be aware that this website contains names, images, and voices of deceased persons.</p> <p>In addition, some articles contain terms or views that were acceptable within mainstream Australian culture in the period in which they were written, but may no longer be considered appropriate.</p> <p>These articles do not necessarily reflect the views of The Australian National University.</p> <p>Older articles are being reviewed with a view to bringing them into line with contemporary values but the original text will remain available for historical context.</p> </div> <div class="culturalWarning__control"> <button id="culturalWarningHide" class="culturalWarning__button">Hide message</button> </div> </div> </header> <div id="pageContentContainer"> <div class="clearFix" id="pageContent"> <div id="pageColumnMain"> <h2>Mabel Mary Lush (1881–1958)</h2> <p class="authorName">by <a href="/biographies/author/?author=392">Ruth Benjamin</a></p> <div class="publish-notice publish-notice--major-project" style="background-color:#dee9f2;color:#153449;"> <p>This article was published:</p> <ul> <li> in the <a href="https://adb.anu.edu.au/biographies/project/?name=australian-dictionary-biography-volume-15" style="color:#905d27;"> <span class="publish-notice__project-name">Australian Dictionary of Biography, Volume 15</span> </a> , 2000 </li> <li>online in 2006</li> </ul> <p class="publish-notice__amended"> <a href="/biography/lush-mabel-mary-10875/text19304" class="publish-notice__amended-link">View Previous Version</a> </p> </div> <div class="biographyContent textContent" id="19305">  <p>Mabel Mary Hailes Lush (1881-1958), kindergarten teacher, was born on 30 June 1881 in East Melbourne, third child of George Lush (1846-1932), a Victorian-born merchant and later philanthropist, and his Scottish-born wife Mabel Mary Elizabeth Nicol, née Fullarton. Her mother died three days after Mary's birth and George Lush remarried in 1886. Educated (1892-97) to matriculation level at Ruyton Girls' School, Kew, Mary studied and taught piano. In 1905 she gained a diploma of music from the University of Melbourne.</p> <p>A devout Christian and a member of the Collins Street Baptist Church, Miss Lush began her teaching career in 1906 as a volunteer at Melbourne's first free kindergarten, in Bouverie Street, Carlton. Showing aptitude for the work, she trained as a kindergarten teacher in 1909-10 and as an infant teacher in 1911. She studied the latest kindergarten methods with John Dewey at Columbia University, New York (1917), and with the McMillan sisters in London (1927). In her work at Carlton as assistant-director (1911-16), director (1916-28) and co-ordinator of student training (1912-28), she achieved a reputation for a high standard of teaching and leadership. She was loved and trusted by the families of Carlton and admired by her students.</p> <p>Lush became a leader of the Free Kindergarten Union of Victoria. She served as an acting-supervisor (1914 and 1916), president of the directors' association, and lecturer (1915-34 and 1940) at the Kindergarten Training College. In 1926 she published her <em>avant-garde</em> curriculum, <em>Progressive</em> <em>Kindergarten Methods</em>. From 1937 she held positions on the F.K.U.V. executive (acting-president 1942-44, president 1944-48), and on the college council and education committee. She represented the F.K.U.V. on the Australian Association of Preschool Child Development (from 1937) and the <a title="Gowrie, Zara Eileen (1879 - 1965)" href="gowrie-zara-eileen-7043">Lady Gowrie</a> centres (from 1939), and lectured on kindergarten education and child development in many forums.</p> <p>Throughout her professional life Lush balanced a strong belief in the value of early childhood education with a philanthropic ideal. She gave her time and knowledge generously, accepted no salary, and made substantial donations to the Carlton Kindergarten, the F.K.U.V. and other related organizations. Unmarried, she combined family life and professional expertise with humanitarian concern. She adhered firmly to traditional values and obligations, nursing her father, sister and stepmother through their final illnesses in the family home at Kew. Academically qualified and displaying competence, commitment and leadership, she was compassionate in her work for the welfare of disadvantaged women and children.</p> <p>When she retired from Carlton Kindergarten in 1928 a stained-glass window was erected in her honour. Lush was made life vice-president of the F.K.U.V. in 1948 and was appointed O.B.E. in 1952. Following a long illness, she died on 1 October 1958 at Richmond and was cremated with Presbyterian forms; her estate was sworn for probate at £49,366. <a title="Lush, Dora Mary (1910 - 1943)" href="lush-dora-mary-10874">Dora Mary Lush</a> was her niece.</p> </div> <div class="infoList"> <h3>Select Bibliography</h3> <ul> <li>L. Gardiner, <em>The Free Kindergarten Union of Victoria 1908-1980</em> (Melb, 1982)</li><li>Free Kindergarten Union of Victoria, <em>Annual Report</em>, 1915-16, 1927-28, 1928-29, 1958-59, and Monthly News Sheet, Oct 1948 (University of Melbourne Archives)</li><li>R. Benjamin, Mary Lush, 1881-1958: A Pioneer in Early Childhood (transcript, 1991, privately held).</li> </ul> </div> <div class="infoList"> <div class="treelink"><h3 class="treelink">Related Entries in NCB Sites</h3><p class="treelink"><a class="treelink" href="/treeview/10875">view family tree</a></p></div> <ul> <li><a href="https://oa.anu.edu.au/obituary/lush-george-18177">Lush, George</a> (father)<span class="linkicon"><a href="https://oa.anu.edu.au/obituary/lush-george-18177"><img src="/images/site/oa/siteIcon.jpg" alt="go to Obituaries Australia entry" title="go to Obituaries Australia entry"/></a></span></li> <li><a href="https://oa.anu.edu.au/obituary/lush-robert-finlay-18178">Lush, Robert Finlay</a> (brother)<span class="linkicon"><a href="https://oa.anu.edu.au/obituary/lush-robert-finlay-18178"><img src="/images/site/oa/siteIcon.jpg" alt="go to Obituaries Australia entry" title="go to Obituaries Australia entry"/></a></span></li> <li><a href="https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/lush-dora-mary-10874">Lush, Dora Mary</a> (niece)<span class="linkicon"><a href="https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/lush-dora-mary-10874"><img src="/images/site/adb/siteIcon.jpg" alt="go to ADB entry" title="go to ADB entry"/></a></span><span class="linkicon"><a href="https://oa.anu.edu.au/obituary/lush-dora-mary-10874"><img src="/images/site/oa/siteIcon.jpg" alt="go to Obituaries Australia entry" title="go to Obituaries Australia entry"/></a></span></li> <li><a href="https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/lush-sir-george-hermann-32911">Lush, George Hermann</a> (nephew)<span class="linkicon"><a href="https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/lush-sir-george-hermann-32911"><img src="/images/site/adb/siteIcon.jpg" alt="go to ADB entry" title="go to ADB entry"/></a></span></li> <li><a href="https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/lyttle-margaret-jane-greta-10884">Lyttle, Margaret Jane</a> (acquaintance)<span class="linkicon"><a href="https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/lyttle-margaret-jane-greta-10884"><img src="/images/site/adb/siteIcon.jpg" alt="go to ADB entry" title="go to ADB entry"/></a></span></li> </ul> </div> <div class="citation"> <h3>Citation details</h3> <p>Ruth Benjamin, 'Lush, Mabel Mary (1881–1958)', Australian Dictionary of Biography, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/lush-mabel-mary-10875/text19305, published first in hardcopy 2000, accessed online 4 December 2024.</p> <p id="origPubDetails"><strong>This article was published in hardcopy in <em><strong>Australian Dictionary of Biography</strong></em>, Volume 15, (Melbourne University Press), 2000</strong></p> <p style="margin-top: 20px;">View the <a href="/frontpages/fp15.pdf" target="_blank">front pages</a> for Volume 15</p> </div> <div id="printFooter"> <p class="floatLeft">© Copyright Australian Dictionary of Biography, 2006-2024</p> </div> </div> <script type="text/javascript"> $(function() { Shadowbox.init({ counterType: 'skip', continuous: true, overlayOpacity: 0.80 }); }); </script> <div id="pageSidebar"> <div class="lifeSummary"> <h3>Life Summary <span><a href ="/lifesummary/lush-mabel-mary-10875" target="_blank">[details]</a></span></h3> <h5>Birth</h5> <p> <a href="/biographies/birth/?bdate=30061881">30 June</a>, <a href="/biographies/birth/?bdate=1881">1881</a> <br /> <a href="/biographies/search/?query=birthLocation%3A%22East%20Melbourne%2C%20Melbourne%2C%20Victoria%2C%20Australia%22">East Melbourne, Melbourne</a>, <a href="/biographies/search/?query=birthLocation%3A%22Victoria%2C%20Australia%22">Victoria</a>, <a href="/biographies/search/?query=birthLocation%3A%22Australia%22">Australia</a> </p> <h5>Death</h5> <p> <a href="/biographies/death/?ddate=01101958">1 October</a>, <a href="/biographies/death/?ddate=1958">1958</a> (aged 77) <br /> <a href="/biographies/search/?query=deathLocation%3A%22Richmond%2C%20Melbourne%2C%20Victoria%2C%20Australia%22">Richmond, Melbourne</a>, <a href="/biographies/search/?query=deathLocation%3A%22Victoria%2C%20Australia%22">Victoria</a>, <a href="/biographies/search/?query=deathLocation%3A%22Australia%22">Australia</a> </p> <div class="life-summary__heading-container"> <h5 class="life-summary__heading--note">Cultural Heritage</h5> <button class="life-summary__note-button" title="View explanatory note" data-note-text-id="life-summary-cultural"> <img src="/images/down_arrow.png" class="life-summary__button-image"> </button> </div> <p class="life-summary__note-text" id="life-summary-cultural"> Includes subject's nationality; their parents' nationality; the countries in which they spent a significant part of their childhood, and their self-identity. </p><ul> <li> <a href="/biographies/search/?query=ethnicity%3A%22Scottish%22">Scottish</a> </li> </ul> <div class="life-summary__heading-container"> <h5 class="life-summary__heading--note">Religious Influence</h5> <button class="life-summary__note-button" title="View explanatory note" data-note-text-id="life-summary-religious"> <img src="/images/down_arrow.png" class="life-summary__button-image"> </button> </div> <p class="life-summary__note-text" id="life-summary-religious"> Includes the religion in which subjects were raised, have chosen themselves, attendance at religious schools and/or religious funeral rites; Atheism and Agnosticism have been included. </p><ul> <li> <a href="/biographies/search/?query=religion%3A%22Baptist%22">Baptist</a> </li> </ul> <h5> Occupation or Descriptor </h5> <ul> <li> <a href="/biographies/occupation/?occupation=early%20childhood%20educationist&rpp=200">early childhood educationist</a> </li> <li> <a href="/biographies/occupation/?occupation=teacher%20training%20college%20teacher&rpp=200">teacher training college teacher</a> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> <footer> <div class="clearFix" id="footer"> <h3>Australian Dictionary of Biography</h3> <p>An initiative of the <a href="https://history.cass.anu.edu.au/centres/ncb">National Centre of Biography</a> at the <a href="https://www.anu.edu.au/">Australian National University</a></p> <div class="clearFix"> <p class="floatLeft">© Copyright Australian Dictionary of Biography, 2006-2024</p> <p class="floatLeft cdp"><a href="/copyright/">Copyright</a> · <a href="/disclaimer/">Disclaimer</a> · <a href="/privacy/">Privacy Policy</a> · <a href="/contact-us/">Contact Us</a></p> </div> </div> </footer> </body> </html>