Sister Mabel: A Leitchville Legacy

Simon Rip Robinson

She is a woman on a mission. Short, dressed simply in grey, ready to work, she moves through the crowded cattle sales at Leitchville. Her eyes are on the lookout for who might need a hand, a friendly face or a bit of tender-loving-care, especially the women and children that have been dragged along to this dusty scene. She also stands ready to baptise those who have embraced the Christian faith and share the Church’s message of hope.

A different scene; the same woman. She takes her place on the podium in the city of Bendigo, alongside the Governor of Victoria, some earl from the old country, the Bishop of Wangaratta and the Archdeacon of Bendigo. And yet they are her words that are reported; her words that are remembered. Her name is Sister Mabel Bostock, Deaconess in the Church of England, first woman ordained as a deaconess in the Diocese of Bendigo, and first woman placed in charge of a parish: the Parish of Leitchville.

Can you believe that the year is 1925? Sallying forth from the corner of Bowlands road and the Murray Valley Highway in her white horse and gig, Sr Mabel travelled the district, often setting up for Sunday School at the Gunbower Island school. Her ministry was cut short when, in 1928, following the death of her mum in England, Sr Mabel was recalled to care for her ill sister. According to her correspondence with Leitchy locals, she then went on to the mission field elsewhere.

Fast-forward to the 3rd of September 2015, 90 years to the day that Sr Mabel was ordained. We found that same practical, can-do spirit combined with articulate, memorable speech present in the panel of women that gathered to honour the occasion at Latimer the Martyr Anglican Church, Leitchville. Five dynamic women in holy orders enthralled the gathered diners as they shared generously from their experience, Q&A style. And that same can-do spirit was also clearly alive in the lay women who lavished the crowd with their generous hospitality!

Now here we are today, on the lee side of Sr Mabel’s anniversary, and we find that we still have a large cohort of inspiring women in holy orders helping to lead the diocese from street ministry to the second-most senior role as Dean of the Cathedral and Vicar General. We thank God for Sr Mabel and her trail-blazing ministry.

The above is based on unattributed historical sources.