Dorothy (Wall) Badgery (1894 - 1942)

Born 12 Jan 1894 in Kilbirnie, Wellington, New Zealand

Ancestors

Wife of Andrew Delfosse Badgery — married 4 Nov 1921 (to Jan 1935) in Burwood, New South Wales, Australia

Died 21 Jan 1942 at age 48 in North Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

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Biography

Dorothy (Wall) Badgery is Notable.

• Dorothy Wall gained acclaim for not only writing stories for children, but also her delightful illustrations.
• Dorothy's creation "Blinky Bill" (an anthropomorphic koala ) was granted his own postage stamp - issued by Australia Post in 1985.

Life Events

Dorothy Wall was born on the 12th January 1894, in Kilbirnie, a suburb of Wellington, North Island, New Zealand, the daughter of Charles James William Wall and Lillian Palethorpe, both English born.^[1]

Dorothy (Wall) Badgery migrated from Wellington, New Zealand to Australia.

Blinky Bill book cover.

Dorothy married Andrew Badgery in 1921 at Burwood, New South Wales.^[2] Dorothy and Andrew had one child, son Peter. Sadly, the marriage was not to last, and the couple separated, Peter staying with his mother. Andrew's tale of desertion woe is chronicled in the news report in September 1934, noting he was granted a restitution order requiring Dorothy return to her husband.^[3] The couple was granted a divorce in 1934, finalised in January 1935; Andrew marrying again not long afterwards; Dorothy never did.^[4]

In May 1927, a number of Dorothy's sketches, and water colours, were on display at Swain's gallery, as reported by the Sydney Morning Herald. The author of the piece seemed most taken with one item in particular, going on to describe it in some detail. Apart from the pictures of bees, the most attractive picture in the exhibition is without doubt the water-colour "The Spring Fairy." The curious little creature is sitting on a spray of apple-blossom, eyes cast up-ward, hands resting on knees, and red hair flaring out wildly on every side. Here too, there are bees, but they are sober, realistic bees, and not semi-human things. The spring fairy appears in a number of the other subjects, and unless one has seen this water-colour first it seems there somewhat inexplicable and irrelevant with its long legs and gaily patterned body.^[5]

In August 1933 the Sydney Morning Herald ran a small article highlighting the publication of Dorothy's first book : Ginger Pop and the Bees. It is interesting to note that the book mentioned was later known as Bridget and the Bees.

HER FIRST BOOK.^[6]

Dorothy Wall—Artist and Writer.

Probably one of life's most exciting moments comes to the young authoress signing her first contract for the publication of her work, and this thrill has just been experienced by Mrs. Badgery (Dorothy Wall) who last week put her signature to a contract with Methuen and Co., London, for the publication of a children's book, "Ginger Pop and the Bees." The book, which is purely Australian in theme, tells of the life of the bees and acts about their habits in the form of a fairy story. Ginger Pop is a gnome who takes Susie through the hives explaining their wonders to the little girl. The story is profusely illustrated in water-colour, sepia and line sketches by Miss Wall.

The author-artist is at present engaged in a series of children's illustrated books, the first of which, "Blinkie Bill," will be published for Christmas by Messrs. Angus and Robertson. She has also done the illustrations for another book, "Jacko, the Broadcasting Kookaburra," by Dr Brooke-Nicholls, to be published next week.

"Blinky Bill," the Koala, and his mother in sad circumstances, as sketched by the artist.

Blinky Bill and Nutsy book cover.

One of Dorothy's most beloved creations was the anthropomorphic koala she named Blinky Bill. Her first book about the little koala, “Blinky Bill—The Quaint Little Australian” was written in Sydney, during the time the marriage was breaking down. By the time it was published, Dorothy and Peter had moved to Blaxland, where Peter would attend school.

Dorothy's listing in the 1938 Who's Who in Australia informs the reader that she was born in New Zealand, to Chas. and Lillian Wall of Wellington; that she attended school at Wellington State School, and Wellington Tech School (art); that she was a commercial artist in Sydney from 1914 on; that she had been an artist with the Sydney Sun, Smith's Weekly, Women's Budget, 1929-34; that she wrote and illustrated books for children; that her publications were: Bridget and the Bees (1933), Blinky Bill (1933), Blinky Bill Grows Up (1934), Brownie (1935), Stout Fellows (1936), Blinky Bill & Nutsy (in preparation), The Rainy Day (1937) for the Commonwealth Bank of Australia, Thrift Department; that she had married in 1921, and the marriage had ended; that she had one son; that her recreations were: reading travel books, and gardening; and that her contact address was in C/- Angus & Robertson, Sydney (her publishing house).^[7]

On the electoral roll for 1938, Dorothy gave her address as c/- Mrs Little, Little Bower Street, Manly, Warringah, New South Wales; her occupation as press artist.^[8]

Bridget and the Bees - illustrated book page.

After moving back to New Zealand for a while, working as an artist for the New Zealand Herald, Dorothy departed Auckland on the Monterey in July 1941 and travelled back to New South Wales, where she lived for a time with her sister, Marjorie. ^[9]

Blinky Bill's christening - illustrated book page.

In 1942 Dorothy developed pneumonia, and was hospitalised in a Neutral Bay private hospital. Sadly, penicillin, which might have saved her life, was not yet readily available.
Dorothy Badgery née Wall passed away on the 21st January 1942, in North Sydney, New South Wales, just nine days after her 48th birthday.^{[10] [11]}

Dorothy was buried in the Macquarie Park Cemetery and Crematorium, North Ryde.^[12]

Blinky Bill visits Mrs Spotty's class at Frog Hollow

Mrs Spotty asks "Do you eat frogs?"

Blinky Bill - Dorothy's dedication to her son, Peter.

Images pertaining to Dorothy and her artwork can be found on the Images for Dorothy Wall page.

Sources

1. ↑ Birth Registration — Government of New Zealand BDM Historical Records online search Births: Registration Number: 1894/17691, Family Name: Wall, Given Name(s): Dorothy, Mother's Given Name(s): Lillian, Father's Given Name(s): Charles James William
2. ↑ Marriage Registration — New South Wales Marriage Index: #16175/1921
3. ↑ Newspaper Article — "PREFERRED BUSH TO HUSBAND" Truth (Sydney, NSW : 1894 - 1954) 30 September 1934: 22. Web. 30 Mar 2021 <http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article169335158>.
4. ↑ Newspaper Article — "IN DIVORCE." The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954) 23 January 1935: 11. Web. 28 Mar 2021 <http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article17131864>.
5. ↑ Newspaper Article — "MISS WALL'S EXHIBITION" The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954) 31 May 1927: 11. Web. 30 Mar 2021 <http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article28056563>.
6. ↑ Newspaper Article — "HER FIRST BOOK." The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954) 26 August 1933: 7. Web. 28 Mar 2021 <http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article17001626>.
7. ↑ Who’s Who in Australia, 1921-1950; Joseph A. Alexander, ed. Who’s Who in Australia 1938. Xth Edition. Melbourne: The Herald Press, 1938.
8. ↑ AEC voter registrations 1938 — Australian Electoral Commission. [Australia, Electoral Rolls, 1903-1980].
9. ↑ Back to Australia — "New Zealand, Archives New Zealand, Passenger Lists, 1839-1973," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QJDN-TRHC : 5 July 2019), D Badgery, 1941; citing ship , Archives New Zealand, Wellington; FHL microfilm 004448990.
10. ↑ Death Registration — New South Wales Death Index: #5038/1942
11. ↑ Newspaper Article — "Death of Dorothy Wall." The West Wyalong Advocate (NSW : 1928 - 1954) 12 February 1942: 1. Web. 28 Mar 2021 <http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article185790955>.
12. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (accessed 27 March 2021), memorial page for Dorothy Wall Badgery (12 Jan 1894–21 Jan 1942), Find A Grave: Memorial #145276488, citing Macquarie Park Cemetery and Crematorium, North Ryde, Ryde City, New South Wales, Australia ; Originally Created by: T.V.F.T.H. (46496806) ; Maintained by Find a Grave (contributor 8).

• New South Wales births, deaths & marriages.
• Newspaper.

See also:

• Wikipedia Profile: Dorothy Wall
• Wikidata: Item Q5298672, en:Wikipedia