Magdalene Dick
ca. 1851 — 22 July 1922
Magdalene Dick (18‑35‑25)
Magdalene Dick was born in Brecon, Wales around 1851. She was the daughter of David Price, a plumber, glazier and painter and his wife, Mary William or Williams. Magdalene came to Australia as a young girl and the family settled in Ballarat where she later married William Heddle Dick, a journalist who wrote for major newspapers in Sydney, Hobart and Brisbane and who established a penny newspaper in Toowong. Magdalene was also a journalist and sister of Thomas Evan Price who was the social and drama critic of the Sydney Morning Herald.
After William’s death Magdalene became superintendent of the first group of female switchboard operators at the Brisbane telephone exchange.
Telephonists working at the Brisbane Central telephone exchange, Brisbane, 1910 — State Library of Queensland.
Mrs William Heddle Dick, First Lady Superintendent of the First Telephone Exchange in the Colony of Queensland - State Library of Queensland
Headstone
The headstone was demolished by the Brisbane City Council as part of the "Beautification scheme" in the 1970's.
Inscription
In Loving memory of William Heddle Dick died July 21st 1893 aged 43 years.
His wife Magdalene died July 22nd 1922 aged 70 years.
Mabel Nellie died July 6th 1889 aged 2½ years.
Also Lottie Magdalene Wells. Died at Johannesburg July 27th 1923 aged 38 years.
Thomas Evan Price died at Sydney Jan 22nd 1893 aged 36 years.
Grave Marker
V1 924