Minard Fannie Crommelin
Letters to Margaret Sadler [a family relation]
Note from Miff Crommelin, Canada:On June 7, 2017 I received a package in the mail from my distant cousin, Govert Deketh in Switzerland. He had met recently with the daughter of the late Richard Pugh who lived in England but who had passed away several months previously. Govert was given an archive of letters written over many years to 'Margaret' Sadler by Minard Fannie Crommelin, the founder of a natural wildlife research station at Pearl Beach, Australia. Margaret was an aunt of Richard Pugh, both of whom having connections with the Crommelin family. Richard's daughter handed this archive over to Govert who, in turn, mailed me the entire package so that its contents might be preserved via the internet.
Richard Pugh and wife, Ann SwalesThe natural wildlife sanctuary that Minard Fannie Crommelin founded was turned over to the University of Sydney in 1947 and is now a well-respected facility used by students in environmental studies. This archive, therefore, has some historical value because in a way it documents the struggles of a determined lady who was a pioneer in wildlife preservation and who single-handedly forged the first research facility for the study and preservation of Australia's natural flora and fauna.
What we have here are the letters by Minard Crommelin to Margaret Sadler in England, and various clippings and photos that were sent to her from 1951 to 1963 when, presumeably, Margaret died. We don't have Margaret's side of the correspondence because her letters and attachments are likely in the archive located at the University of Sydney or at the Society of Australian Genealogists - neatly filed somewhere amongst Minard's other voluminous correspondence!
If Minard ever had a close friend and confidante - a 'kindred spirit' - it must have been Margaret Sadler, a woman she never did get to meet. They lived half-a-world away but they shared a passion for wildlife and conservation, and also a love for genealogy and family history. Minard summed it up in two words: "Ancestors and Animals"! That was the special bond between these two spinsters. Minard lived alone much of the time at her wildlife sanctuary, "Warrah", located near Pearl Beach, until a group of students and professors would periodically descend upon her outdoor classroom for a few days of environmental field studies. Perfect tranquility broken only by periods of hectic youthful exuberance! In recent years "Warrah" has also become the beautiful venue for an annual 'Opera in the Arboretum' organized as a fundraiser by the Rotary Club of Woy Woy.
We trust that those who have passed through 'Warrah' for environmental studies, or to attend a Pearl Beach Opera in the Arboretum, will be intrigued by these letters of the lady who stands behind their magical outdoor experience at Pearl Beach, Australia...
Bagpipe player at the 2017 Pearl Beach Opera in the Arboretum
hosted by the Rotary Club of Woy Woy, Australia
Minard Fannie Crommelin (1881-1972),
Founder of 'Warrah', Environmental Research Facility, Pearl Beach, AustraliaLetters to Margaret Sadler
1949-08-06 - Clipping / Snippet - "A Woman and her Dream" 1949-10-21 - Clipping - "Warrah" - First Sanctuary Devoted to Research 1950-09-04 - Letter from Minard to Ed Crommelin re his possible emigration to Australia from Europe
1951-10-22 - Clipping - The Dream of Miss Crommelin 1951-11-20 - Getting acquainted; Shared Crommelin genealogy; Drought and wildfires nearby; Alterations to the cottage; Formalizing the library; Notes on Crommelins in Bengal
1952-01-30 - Extreme bush fires; Mary Davy died before Christmas; Visit from niece before departing for Canada
1952-07-26 - Anne Wilkinson; Disinterested siblings & family members; Sir Thomas Lawrence picture; Cuthbert Featherstonhaugh's book "After Many Days"; Lord Lake; Hervey's book about Crommelin in India; Olive oil as a tonic; Adjusting to new quarters; Increased visitor traffic; Storm damaged roads; Charles Russell Crommelin
1952-07-28 - Disappointment over family disinterest; Irish Branch of the family
1952-08-22 - Thomas Lake Crommelin; Dobbs family; Clipper "Anglesey"; Louis/Anne Silhouettes
1952-08-31 - Air mail covering letter of earlier package which was sent via ordinary mail
1953-02-15 - Flooding in Europe; Research on Russell family in India; Thoughts about Radio; 'Warrah' discussed on radio broadcast
1953-05-25 - Coronation stamps; Trip to Sydney; Shakespeare play Henry IV; Richard Crommelin enigma; Rain storm and flooding upon return home; Great anticipation of Coronation broadcast
1953-10-20 - Ailments; Coronation; References regarding Crommelins in India
1953-11-22 - Introduction to the Bedford legacy; Julian Huxley visit; The Russell family connection; Ailments
1953-12-07 - Worries about not getting Bedford funds; Fate of rare animal species; NZ Crommelins; High Temperatures; Evelyn Crommelins in London; Mary Ardon marriage
"Warrah" is situated on upper right hillside at Pearl Beach, 1954
- now some of the most expensive real estate in Australia.1954-01-10 - Minard's appeal to John Ian Russell, 13th Duke of Bedford, for funding to help realize an Arboretum in Australia
1954-01-12 - Bush fires; A kindred spirit; Marc Antoine C.-Russell connection; Mystery of a missing brass casket; Bedford-Crommelin connection; Problems with cooking; Thoughts on Roman Catholicism; Irish Louis & Samuel Louis Crommelins; Library books
1954-01-16 - Recalling a Russell incident; Notes regarding family members
1954-01-30 - An answer to prayer; 'Ancestors and Animals'; Appeal to the Duke of Bedford for financial support; Queen to arrive in Australia
1954-02-09 - Response from Bedford solicitor; Queen's arrival fanfare; Minard's bookplate; Neave Parker's book & illustrations
1954-02-26 - Huguenot Library in London lost (to fire?); Dutch Crommelin brothers; Rudolph Crommelin; Edward Crommelin; Extravagance of Queen's visit
1954-03-24 - Ailments; Road problems; Bedford Legacy diminished by death duties; Queen's jewelry
1954-04-21 - Easter Sunday service; Comparing violets; Helpful zoologists; Bedford Legacy strategy; Feeling connected to the land
1954-06-09 - Clipping - "Native Plant Life" 1954-07-28 - Margaret's accident; Unusual weather; Dead birds and sea-snakes; "Walkabout" magazine; No response from Bedford Duke; Incoming parties of scientists
1954-12-12 - Unusual weather; Ailments; A rescued possum named 'Jacqueline Wiggles Horner'; Duke of Bedford; Flight of Dowager of Bedford
1955-01-24 - Ailments; Upcoming conference; Spaying domestic animals; 'Wiggles' the possum; 'Walkabout' article
1955-03-13 - Terrible floods near Warrah; Atom bomb tests perhaps causing weather disruptions; 'Wiggles' being raised unnaturally; inscriptions on miniatures of Thomas Lake Crommelin
1955-07-20 - Husband of sister Nell died; Her daughter Alison is in Canada; Miniature of T.L.Crommelin painted by Frederick Cruickshank; Woburn Abbey home of Russell family; Reference books on Bengal Crommelins; Wattle and Geraldton wax flowers
1955-12-05 - Woburn Abbey; New baby possum; Chequers estate tied to Russells; Historical family ties; Notes about Daniel Crommelin; Charles C. of Bombay; Abraham C.; de Berniere; James Arden C., Engineer of Bengal.
1958-01-10 - Anxiety over bush fires; Book on Bombay by Archdeacon Ashley-Brown; Waratah tree in bloom; Sydney Scientific Film Society makes film of marine life
1960-12-05 - Illness; MBE Investiture; Purdon family; Huguenot dinner; Caretaker paralyzed; Fatigue
1961-11-08 - 80th birthday; Ailments; Looking for a live-in companion; Society memberships
1963-03-09 - Margaret's illness; Companion, Mary Hartwell, leaves Warrah quarters; 100 visitors this year
1963-03-23 - Purdon; Berniere; Rev. Ian de la Cherois Crommelin Neill, chaplain to Queen Elizabeth
1963-09-19 - Frailty sets in; Societies affiliation; Warrah becomes a National Park; Mary Hartwell's estranged husband comes to stay
1968-07-15 - Letter to 'Edith (?)' - Celebrated 87th birthday; 20 Botany students at Warrah; Eyesight failing; Still doing housework; M.B.E. decoration; Difficulty walking; Visited Edith in 1936
