Dame Jacobena Victoria Alice Angliss, DBE ( Grutzner; 23 May 1896 – 10 November 1980), known as Bena Angliss, was an Australian philanthropist, arts supporter, and community worker.

Biography

She was born in

Epping, Victoria Epping is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, north of Melbourne's Central Business District, located within the City of Whittlesea local government area. Epping recorded a population of 33,489 at the 2021 census. Boundaries and ter ...

as Jacobena Victoria Alice Grutzner, daughter of Jacob and Frances (née Ladhams) Grutzner. Jacobena Grutzner married butcher and meat exporter

William Charles Angliss Sir William Charles Angliss (29 January 1865 – 15 June 1957) was a butcher, pastoralist, pioneering meat exporter, businessman, and politician in Melbourne, Australia. Biography He was the eldest son of William Angliss, tailor, and his wif ...

(1865–1957) at St. Columb's Church,

Hawthorn, Victoria Hawthorn is an inner suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, east of Melbourne's central business district, located within the City of Boroondara local government area. Hawthorn recorded a population of 22,322 at the 2021 census. Glenferrie ...

on 31 March 1919; they had one child, a daughter, Eirene Rose. Jacobena Angliss's husband, William (who was knighted in 1939), was a member of the

Legislative Council of Victoria The Victorian Legislative Council (VLC) is the upper house of the bicameral Parliament of Victoria, Australia, the lower house being the Victorian Legislative Assembly, Legislative Assembly. Both houses sit at Parliament House, Melbourne, Parli ...

from 1912 to 1952, had wide experience in industry management and accumulated great wealth through the establishment of a number of pastoral companies. In his will, he set aside £1 million for the creation of a charitable trust. Lady Angliss, who was also involved with several charities, became chairman of the trust. Along with being trustee of the William Angliss Estate, she was chairman of the Bluff Downs Pastoral Company and of Miranda Downs Properties Ltd. A member of both the

Lyceum The lyceum is a category of educational institution defined within the education system of many countries, mainly in Europe. The definition varies among countries; usually it is a type of secondary school. Generally in that type of school the th ...

and Alexandra clubs in Melbourne, Lady Angliss enjoyed gardening and music. She was president of the Astra Chamber Music Society and director of the National Memorial Theatre. On 1 January 1975 she was created a Dame Commander (DBE) of the

Order of the British Empire The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding contributions to the arts and sciences, work with charitable and welfare organisations, and public service outside the civil service. It was established ...

for community and welfare services. She had previously been made a Commander of the order (CBE) on 9 June 1949 for her work as President of the Child Welfare Association of Victoria.

Death

Dame Jacobena Angliss died on 10 November 1980, aged 84, and was buried in Box Hill cemetery alongside her husband. Her granddaughter, Diana Gibson (née Knox), is today a prominent

Victoria Victoria most commonly refers to: * Victoria (Australia), a state of the Commonwealth of Australia * Victoria, British Columbia, provincial capital of British Columbia, Canada * Victoria (mythology), Roman goddess of Victory * Victoria, Seychelle ...

philanthropist Philanthropy is a form of altruism that consists of "private initiatives, for the Public good (economics), public good, focusing on quality of life". Philanthropy contrasts with business initiatives, which are private initiatives for private goo ...

, and is the chair of the William Angliss Charitable Fund.

References

Sources

* ''Australian Dictionary of Biography'' (entry on Sir William Charles Angliss) by E. A. Beever, Vol. 7, p. 71 * ''Who's Who in Australia'', 1977 (ISBN#?) * ''Angliss, J. V. (Jacobena Victoria), Lady, 1897-1980, Sir William Angliss : an intimate biography'';

Melbourne Melbourne ( ; Boonwurrung/Woiwurrung: ''Narrm'' or ''Naarm'') is the capital and most populous city of the Australian state of Victoria, and the second-most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Its name generally refers to a met ...

, 1960
Women of Australia biography
{{DEFAULTSORT:Angliss, Jacobena 1890s births 1980 deaths Australian women philanthropists Australian art patrons Australian Dames Commander of the Order of the British Empire Australian people of German descent People from Melbourne Burials at Box Hill Cemetery 20th-century philanthropists 20th-century women philanthropists People from Epping, Victoria