Daphne Gum – A Celebration

January 23, 2016 | Posted by Lesley Jakobsen | Australian History, LIFE | 14 Comments |

Yesterday, on the eve of her 100th birthday, TVC was honoured to join Daphne Gum MBE OA and family in a sumptuous afternoon tea celebration.  Today, the 24th January 2016, Miss Gum is celebrating this milestone with friends in her care facility.

Miss Gum is acknowledged world-wide for her contribution to the welfare and education of children, particularly children with cerebral palsy.  To us she is Auntie Daphne, a staunch, cheerful and purposeful influence in our lives.

To read more about this pioneering woman, see Lesley’s updated Wikipedia article, “Daphne Lorraine Gum” go to  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daphne_Lorraine_Gum

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Note: Sadly, Daphne Gum passed away on 28 February 2017. She touched and enlivened a large number of people in her long life, and, as might be expected, a large number of people attended her memorial service. Vale Daphne.

14 Comments

  1. Reply

    Kerry Albrecht Szabo

    January 24, 2016

    What a truly remarkable woman, she gives us something to aspire to every day. Happy 100th birthday Aunty Daph xx

    • Reply

      Vicki Renner

      January 30, 2016

      I love the photos Kerry! Well done - and thank you so much for them! Much better than what our smart phones can capture.

  2. Reply

    Denise Jakobsen

    January 26, 2016

    My sister Daph is a wise and good person whose goals were set very early. She always knew she wanted to teach, and teach she did, superbly, all through her long life. I may have been one of her first pupils. She was visiting our farm in the holidays and I was a kid about 6 struggling with my first set of correspondence lessons. Daph understood and got me started and I still remember my delight and relief. She was a great enabler, which perhaps goes with being a great teacher.
    The study she undertook in Melbourne equipped her to teach cerebal palsy children, but the love and understanding for those children was already strongly within her. Her goals were already set.
    Denise

    • Reply

      Lesley Jakobsen

      January 26, 2016

      Peter says: any skill I have for writing something concise and true, I got from my mother, Denise Jakobsen. What a beautiful comment!

  3. Reply

    Vicki Renner

    January 30, 2016

    What a wonderful piece on Auntie Daph - and beautiful photos! I particularly love the hero shot with champagne. It was such a touching, heart-warming and delightful afternoon. I feel blessed and proud to have known Daph all of my life. She has always been an inspiration for me. And I know for many others. May her example live on.

  4. Reply

    LOIS WALDEN - SISTER TO GRAHAM COLEGATE

    February 4, 2016

    MY NAME IS LOIS AND MY BROTHER GRAHAM COLEGATE WAS ONE OF MISS GUM'S
    FIRST STUDENTS WHEN SHE OPENED AT NORTH ADELAIDE. GRAHAM WAS WITH HER
    FOR MANY YEARS & WENT TO ASHFORD SCHOOL ALSO WHEN IT OPENED AND ALWAYS TALKS ABOUT HER. I HAVE TRIED TO FIND OUT WHERE SHE WAS
    LIVING AS HE WOULD LOVE TO SEE HER.

    MISS GUM WAS WONDERFUL AND I HAVE ALREADY EMAILED HER BIRTHDAY PHOTOS
    TO HIM - GOD BLESS YOU

    • Reply

      Lesley Jakobsen

      February 7, 2016

      Thank you so much for your comment, Lois. Indeed, many of Miss Gum's students talk about her with fondness and gratitude even after all this time. Has Graham seen the Wikipedia entry about her? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daphne_Lorraine_Gum Best wishes to you both!

  5. Reply

    Anne Frey

    February 9, 2016

    The photos are great. Thank you for posting them here. It was a wonderful moment as Daph entered the room, tears in her eyes, as she saw all her family joining her to celebrate this momentous occasion!

    • Reply

      Lesley Jakobsen

      February 9, 2016

      Thank you for your comment Anne. We know that, as her niece, you have a close bond with Daphne and we agree, that was a touching moment. Daphne applauded us and we applauded her!

  6. Reply

    Lorraine Bolto

    February 11, 2016

    Congratulations to Miss Gum. I am Graham Colegates cousin
    and when I was only about 12 I used to take Graham in the bus to North Adelaide to the school there so Miss Gum has been in my sights
    all my life with updates from Graham

    • Reply

      Lesley Jakobsen

      February 15, 2016

      Hello Lorraine, thank you for your comment. You will see that Graham's sister Lois has commented too! It was a special day with a special lady.

  7. Reply

    Lesley Jakobsen

    March 21, 2016

    WE DID GO TO SEE MISS GUM A FEW WEEKS AGO AND FOUND HER TO
    BE VERY HAPPY TO SEE US. WE GOT THERE AROUND 10.30 AND SHE WAS
    STILL IN BED. WHEN WE PHONED THEY ADVISED US THIS WAS THE BEST
    TIME TO VISIT

    I AM NOT SURE IF SHE REALLY UNDERSTOOD WHO WE WERE, BUT SEEMED
    HAPPY TO TALK TO US, AND SEEMED TO CONNECT TO GRAHAM

    THEY BOTH SEEMED TO ENJOY THEMSELVES AND GRAHAM HAS DONE NOTHING
    BUT TALK ABOUT IT.

    WE TOOK OUR CAMERAS BUT OURS DIDN'T WORK. GRAHAM TOOK HIS AND MY
    HUSBAND TOOK SOME PHOTOS. HOWEVER, GRAHAM IS STILL TRYING TO GET
    THEM PRINTED ONTO HIS COMPUTER.

    GRAHAM IS ASKING TO GO AGAIN, SO WE WILL CHECK OUR CAMERA AND TRY AGAIN
    FOR THE PHOTO WHICH WE CAN TAKE OFF.

    (from LOIS WALDEN)

  8. Reply

    Elyse Edwards

    October 8, 2016

    Hi Lesley,

    My Aunty Robyn Smith was a student of Miss Gums at Ashford House many years ago. I am looking to see if it is possible for my Aunty to visit Daphne?

    Many thanks,

    Elyse

    • Reply

      Lesley Jakobsen

      October 13, 2016

      Thank you for your message Elyse. I hope you have received my email? Please do let me know if you have not.


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