Maude Haydon facts for kids
Maude Mary Haydon (born November 6, 1886 – died January 9, 1978) was a talented Australian artist. She was known for painting beautiful scenes of farms and natural landscapes.
Growing Up
Maude Mary Haydon was born on November 6, 1886, at a place called Bloomfield. This was near Murrurundi, in New South Wales, Australia. She grew up as one of six children on the Bloomfield farm. Maude had a hearing impairment, meaning she was deaf.
Maude loved horses and was a very skilled rider from a young age. Her father, Bernard Haydon, was also an excellent horseman. He was the owner of Bloomfield. Maude kept a strong interest in horse racing throughout her life. She finished her schooling at age 17 at SCEGGS in Sydney. There, she showed a natural gift for art.
Her Art Career
Maude Haydon learned art from a famous English teacher, Julian Ashton. She studied at his well-known Art School in Sydney during the 1900s. Maude was quite adventurous. She once took a group of art students camping in the mountains of the Upper Hunter region. They stayed on H.L. White's Belltrees farm near Scone. They even climbed to the top of Mt Woolooma, which is 900 meters high!
Maude created many watercolour paintings in an impressionist style. Her artworks often showed scenes from Bloomfield and the Upper Hunter landscapes. She painted these for many years. In 1934, Maude showed her work at the Women Artists exhibition in Sydney. She often gave her paintings to family and friends. These artworks helped keep a strong connection to Bloomfield. She also donated her art to help raise money for good causes.
When she was 27, Maude traveled with her sister Madge Haydon. They took a steamship to Europe in 1914. Maude hoped to get special medical help for her deafness in Vienna, Austria. However, World War I (WWI) began, stopping their plans. Maude was adventurous, so they turned their disappointment into a holiday. They explored many sights instead.
Maude and her sister visited the Victorian portrait artist Agnes Goodsir. They also saw Agnes's brother, Noel Goodsir, who was a banker and a friend of Maude's father. They stayed with them in London, England. The sisters also visited Haydon relatives in Ireland. These relatives took them riding on a fox hunt. Maude, Madge, and Agnes Goodsir even climbed the snow-covered Ben Nevis, which is 1,300 meters high! Later, Maude donated money to Agnes. This money helped care for wounded WWI soldiers recovering at Agnes's home.
Her Life at Home
Maude Haydon was a good friend of Norman Goodsir, Noel's son. They wrote letters to each other while Norman served in the army in France during WWI. Sadly, Norman died in London in 1919. Maude never married.
Maude spent her life living and working at the 'Bloomfield' homestead with her family. She stayed close with most of her family members. Maude was a great letter writer and kept everyone updated on family news. After her father passed away in 1932, she organized Christmas gatherings at 'Bloomfield'. These parties were attended by many family and friends from at least two different states for over 40 years. During World War II, she hosted a wonderful Christmas dinner party for soldiers' wives and children from the Upper Hunter area.
Maude Haydon was a well-known person in the Upper Hunter community. She had a bright personality and was very generous. Even with her deafness, she was an excellent communicator. Until the 1950s, she used to drive a cart pulled by her horse, 'Jolly', around the area. She would deliver mail to people. After her mother died in 1942, Maude became the main lady of the Bloomfield homestead. She continued to keep her home open for visitors. Maude would pick up guests from the Blandford Railway Station. For over 50 years, she used a horse and sulky, and later a car, to bring them home.
Maude Haydon passed away at the age of 91 in 1978. She was buried in Murrurundi Cemetery.
