This profile is written by Gwynnyth's daughter, Sue Forrester.

Gwynnyth Hamilton Taylor: 25th June 1915 - 21st April 1998.

Born in Melbourne, the fifth of six daughters. At the age of six, she lost her father who was tragically drowned in the Murray River, South Australia, whilst attempting to save the life of a colleague. Life was extremely tough for the bereft family, their mother having to now earn their living by means of cooking - at which she was brilliant.

Despite the hardships and struggle with poverty, Gwynnyth completed her education at Presbyterian Ladies College, then transferred to Burnley Horticultural College. Nearing completion of that course, in late 1933, she and a group of fellow students visited Edna Walling at Mooroolbark. Edna had invited them to assist in clearing and planting Bickleigh Vale Road, the small laneway which bisected the embryonic Bickleigh Vale village which she was then creating.

It was during the final part of the weekend that Edna invited Gwynnyth to consider the offer of a job once Burnley was finished. With no hesitation, Gwynnyth accepted.

She moved to Mooroolbark at the start of 1934, just nineteen, and lived with Edna in her home, Sonning. She fell in love with the work, the opportunities which were presented to develop her own design skills and plant knowledge, and became an indispensable figure in Edna's own life and business. Edna was writing for Home Beautiful during these years too, and relied frequently on Gwynnyth's enthusiastic and knowledgeable input for many of these pieces. The recently published Letters to the Home Gardener contains numbers of references to Gwynnyth, clearly regarded as a valued helpmate.

Edna nicknamed her 'Sam', short for Samson ... she herself was not scared of hard physical work, and neither was Gwynnyth. 'Sam will do it' ... became something of a stock phrase, and is recorded in the play 'Edna For the Garden', performed in March 1989 in Melbourne.

In fact, Gwynnyth 'did' everything. She was cook, gardener, cleaner, designer and draughtswoman, animal carer, putter-out of the boss's clothes each morning, mender, maker, and whatever else was required. Edna clearly grew to depend upon her deeply, and gave her great responsibility with selected clients. Notable amongst these was the Georges family of Toorak (Emporium fame), whose garden Gwynnyth tended fortnightly. She was also responsible for much of its design and maintenance during following years. Fondest amongst her recollections was the memory of old Mr George himself, who on one Christmas occasion gave her some money which she spent on a prized collection of the British Alpine Society publications.

The tragic and devastating fire which destroyed Sonning in 1936 was imprinted on Gwynnyth's mind. She and Edna battled valiantly but without success to save it; only through extreme bravery did Gwynnyth manage to save the two beloved cats which were trapped inside. Everything was lost, much of it totally irreplaceable. But with typical Edna and Gwynnyth philosophy, that same horrific night saw them drawing up plans for a new Sonning.

In 1940, Gwynnyth married Ronald Taylor, and around that time she ceased working with Edna. Gwynnyth had already purchased, for one hundred pounds, one of the available blocks on the estate. The reason for that choice? A magnificent Candlebark (Eucalyptus rubida) which grew in the middle of the block.

The couple designed and built a cottage, which remains as one of the loveliest in Bickleigh Vale, and began their family. A son, Peter, was born in 1942, and daughter Susan in 1945.

Contact with Edna was closely maintained and continued until Edna's final days, with Ronald still acting as Edna's solicitor until her move to Queensland.

Although Gwynnyth and Ronald left Bickleigh Vale in 1949 to settle closer to Melbourne, regular visits continued to Bickleigh Vale because Gwynnyth's mother was still living there, in the cottage still called Winty.

Winty began as a one-roomed dwelling, and was purchased by Gwynnyth, her mother and her youngest sister during the late 1930s. Gwynnyth then lived there, instead of at Sonning. The cottage was extended by Gwynnyth and her sister, who were as capable at building and construction as Edna was.

So there were strong links with Mooroolbark maintained for many years, combined [with] her growing activity and passionate interest in the Peace Movement, nuclear disarmament, anti-Vietnam war activity, conservation and the environment, national parks establishment and the wider fields of social, political and environmental justice. In addition of course were the more usual fields of school support groups (Mothers' Club and secondary school Parents' Association) in which Gwynnyth always participated with commitment and high levels of office-bearing representation.

She became the first woman President of the Victorian National Parks Association during the late 1960s, amongst the most respected of all who have held that office even today. As well, she and Ronald were Founding Members of the Australian Conservation Foundation. They were regarded as leaders in the field of conservation and environmental awareness.

Gwynnyth's lifetime of involvement in a wide range of issues and community concerns culminated in recognition, posthumously unfortunately, as a member of 'Women Shaping the Nation', a citation which was included as part of the Centenary of Federation Celebrations in May 2001.

Clearly, Edna was very attached to Gwynnyth. She must have regarded her as heaven-sent, because she arrived at a time when Edna was embarking on perhaps the most productive and rewarding period of her career. The work load was immense, she was being offered jobs far and wide, and at that stage, I suspect she could choose whatever she wished to do in the way of design and clients.

For Gwynnyth's part, the doors were suddenly flung open .. to a world of stimulus, culture, music, the arts, books and theatre. Gwynnyth's life was directly bound into supporting her mother and sisters, and there were many family problems to be dealt with .. most of which fell upon her shoulders to solve. She must have longed many times for a life of her own, and working with Edna initially at least offered some kind of limited 'escape'. Not entirely however, as every weekend she went back to Melbourne to try to scrape the catastrophes of that week back into some kind of order ... then back to Mooroolbark.

The hours were long, arduous and demanding. They would be working till midnight on plans, having probably dug and balled dozens of plants for a job the next day, then up at 4am to get things underway for a day in Melbourne, or further afield. Other days were spent on nursery work (for many years, Edna and Gwynnyth propagated much of their own stock, as it was otherwise unobtainable), and there was a never ending list of tasks which the upkeep of Sonning and its gardens demanded.

I only know of one trip away that they took together, that being to Tasmania for two or three weeks. Gwynnyth's passion was especially for alpine plants, and I imagine that time spent on the high reaches of Mt Wellington above Hobart would have been a highlight .. in addition to visiting planted gardens of a cool climate, which also yielded treasures for collection.

I know also that Edna gave Gwynnyth a party for her 21st birthday, though the details of who came and so on I do not know. It was another measure however of her relationship, and of her fondness for her young assistant. Edna's mother was very fond of Gwynnyth too, though quite a demanding and insistent woman, and possibly regarded her somewhat in the light of another daughter. She too gave her presents, in particular the start of what became quite a collection of lovely pewter pieces.

It is less widely known that Edna had a strong interest in the arts, and I recall Gwynnyth referring to various artists, musicians and literary people being regular visitors to the haven of Sonning and Bickleigh Vale. Books of all kinds were to be found at Sonning, and most loved were the collected works of Gertrude Jekyll, tragically lost in the Sonning fire.

In summary, I know that Gwynnyth deeply appreciated the years she spent with Edna, despite the huge demands, colossal impositions and insistent requirements for doing her will and wishes that she imposed. Edna was a highly creative, highly intelligent, highly focussed woman, and it is probably stating the obvious to say that she demanded of others no more than she demanded of herself.

Gwynnyth recognised that, and was of the same mould. She often said to me that Edna would call something black even if it were totally white, or vice versa, just to get her own way .. and the next moment would so utterly charm you that all was forgiven. She was by no means blind to Edna's difficult side, or her 'faults', but she was quick to recognise that these are often the hallmarks of a person gifted with great talents, a finely tuned eye, and a deep and abiding sense of the beauty of the natural world. Patience and tolerance were probably not Edna's greatest virtues, but generosity, passion and vision and a desire to get things done certainly were.

For more information on "Edna Walling plants" visit Austraflora: http://www.austraflora.com

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