Mary Daly (Australian writer) facts for kids
Dame Mary Dora Daly (born August 24, 1896 – died June 11, 1983) was an important Australian writer and helper. She spent her life working for charities and helping people in need. She received special awards for her amazing work.
About Mary Daly
Early Life
Mary Dora MacMahon was born in Cootamundra, New South Wales, Australia, on August 24, 1896. Her father, Patrick MacMahon, was a lawyer. Her mother was Mary Ellen.
Mary went to Loreto convent schools. She studied in Normanhurst, New South Wales and Ballarat, Victoria.
On January 3, 1923, she married John Joseph Daly. He was a doctor. They had two children, John and Marie.
Helping Others During War
When World War II started, Mary Daly became very active. She was the only woman on the executive team of the Catholic Welfare Organisation (CWO). This group was started in Melbourne in 1939 to help people.
Mary became the president of the CWO in 1941. She led their efforts to support people during the war.
She also helped many other groups, including:
- The Australian Red Cross Society (ARCS)
- Caritas Christi Hospice, where she helped raise money
- Australian Catholic Relief, where she was the first woman president from 1966 to 1975
- The Ryder-Cheshire Foundation (Australia), which she helped start
Her Books
Mary Daly also wrote books, especially for children! Her stories were enjoyed by many young readers.
Here are some of her books:
- Cinty and the laughing jackasses and other children's stories (1961)
- Timmy's Christmas surprise (1967)
- Holidays at Hillydale: a story for children about a family's holiday spent on an Australian sheep station (1973)
- Catholic Welfare Organisation: its work for the men and women of the Services during World War II, September 1939 - June 1948 (This book was about the important work of the CWO during the war.)
Awards and Recognition
Mary Daly received several special awards for her service. These awards recognized her hard work and dedication to helping others.
She was given:
- The Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1937
- The Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 1949
- The Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) in 1951
The Roman Catholic Church also honored Mary Daly. They gave her the Cross Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice in 1951. This was for her great service to the church, especially her work with the Catholic Welfare Organisation.
She also received a long service medal from the Australian Red Cross Society in 1940. In 1971, they made her an honorary life member.
Dame Mary Daly passed away in Fitzroy, Victoria, on June 11, 1983, at 86 years old.
