Elizabeth RENWICK

RENWICK, ELIZABETH (NÉE SAUNDERS) (b. Sydney, NSW, 1842; d. Sydney, 17 Mar 1918). Philanthropist.

Daughter of a Baptist minister and his wife and educated in England while her father practised law in 1868 Elizabeth married Congregationalist (from 1894, Sir) Arthur Renwick. He was a prominent Sydney physician, politician and philanthropist, they were survived by six children. Elizabeth and Arthur shared membership, and frequently leadership, of many of Sydney's major philanthropic organisations. They were both committed to ensuring that women were involved in charities for women and children; children were a special interest. While Arthur was president she was active on the committees of the Institution for the Deaf, Dumb and Blind and the State Children's Relief Board. Elizabeth supported her husband's interests in health reform through the Australasian Trained Nurses Association, Children's Hospital, Child Study Association, and as president of the Ladies' Sanitary Society.

Her charitable and evangelistic work for women was undertaken through the Sydney Female Mission Home and the Ladies Committee of Sydney City Mission and as president of the YWCA. She was a vicepresident of the National Council of Women and worked for animal welfare. While Arthur was prominent in the University of Sydney's affairs, Elizabeth was vice-president of Sydney University's Women's Society. A member of the Womanhood Suffrage League of NSW, she fought for women's franchise as a means of promoting evangelical values. She supported missions as president of the NSW Bush Missionary Society and the LMS Zenana board.

Elizabeth and Arthur Renwick, talented, ambitious and energetic, dominated Sydney's later nineteenth century evangelical and social reform movement. Elizabeth had a strong personality and deep belief in the power of prayer, she was valued especially as an 'ideal President', articulate, tactful and influential.

ADB 6- J Godden, 'Philanthropy and the Woman's Sphere', (PhD, Macquarie University, 1983)

JUDITH GODDEN