Wilhelmina MATHEW

MATHEW, WILHELMINA (b. Edinburgh, Scotland, 2 Aug 1863, d. Brighton, Vic, 24 Feb 1940). Presbyterian minister's wife and active laywoman.

Wilhelmina Scott was the daughter of prosperous flour-miller Mungo Scott and his wife Mary Anderson, came out to Victoria at the age of two with her family and grew up in Carlton and Fitzroy. She attended Presbyterian Ladies College. In the 1880s, the family moved into a mansion near Princes Park, 'Lauriston'. The family were members of Erskine Church, Carlton, whose minister the Rev Alexander Yule was closely associated with the Theological Hall. For some years, theological student John Mathew also attended Yule's church and frequently visited the Scott home. Wilhelmina ('Minnie') was married to the Rev John Mathew (q.v.) at 'Lauriston' by Yule on 6 July 1887.

She shared the manse at Ballan 1887-89 and Coburg 1889-1923, after which her husband retired but they continued to live in the erstwhile Coburg manse. The Mathews started and fostered the new home mission station at Moreland from 1925. After his death in 1929 she moved to Brighton in order to be close to a son.

She was the complete minister's wife of the era, raising four sons and a daughter supporting her husband in his calling and in his many outside involvements. She also shared with her husband both a deep and abiding faith and a great love of music. When he died, her letters to him were interred with his body.

'Minnie' Mathew was a stalwart of the Presbyterian Women's Missionary Union in Victoria, being its president from 1924 to 1935, as well as a branch president for 44 years. She taught at the Moreland Sunday School for 18 years, displaying wisdom, tact, understanding and a keen desire 'to win her scholars for Christ'. She was convenor of the Coburg Chinese School for 15 years.

R Y Mathew, John Mathew 1849-1929, (ts, NLA); The Messenger 5 Apr 1940, 640; Information from A Talsma, Herne Hill, Vic

MALCOLM D PRENTIS