The woman behind Albany's Signature Tablecloth

Signature tablecloths, also called autograph cloths, are a fine example of the numerous methods of raising money utilised by various groups especially during the early 20th century. Citizens would pay a nominal amount of money to sign their name and then the signatures would be embroidered by the group. In this case the Girls Leisure Hour Club. 

Created in 1918 to support the troops serving overseas in the First World War, this tablecloth reflects the community spirit of Albany. They have since become a significant historical artefact immortalising many prominent local characters of the time. One of those characters was Mary Ann Driver.

Born Mary Ann Hicken (noted as Hickinbotham) in Rosewater, South Australia in 1877, she moved to Albany and married Henry Haywood Driver in 1897. Between 1899 and 1909 they had five children, but Mary Ann also devoted much of her time and energy to the local community. 

Forming and leading the Girls Leisure Hour Club was one of her first forays into a lifetime of selfless dedication to social reform.  Late in 1918, they moved to Perth so the children had better access to higher education. Passionate about a diverse range of causes she joined the Women’s Christian Temperance Union (WCTU) serving as State president for three years. She was an excellent speaker and travelled extensively lecturing on world peace, women in parliament, healthy eating, gender equality, and numerous other topics. Some of the positions she held over her illustrious career were Superintendent of the Electoral and Legislative section of the WCTU, State Superintendent of the Peace and Disarmament section of the WCTU, State Secretary of the WCTU, Chairman of the Combined Organisations Educating for Peace and President of the Primary Producers WA (women’s section). 

After the tragic death of her husband on their farm at Karloning in 1936, she moved to Alice Springs to be near her eldest son John who was the Chief Resident Surveyor of the Northern Territory. Carrying on with her passions she became President of the local Red Cross branch and Secretary of the CWA. She became involved with the Northern Territory Development League and urged those in power to consider NT self-governance addressing issues of race equality. During several years she spent in Darwin with her youngest son, Arthur – the Administrator of the NT – she continued to be involved with the Red Cross, CWA, NT Society of the Arts and the Church of England Women’s Guild. In 1946 Mary Ann hosted the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester at her sons’ home.

Her oldest child Irene Greenwood followed closely in her mother’s footsteps describing herself as a feminist and peace activist eventually breaking into broadcasting with the ABC. She became involved with the Women’s Service Guilds and held office with the United Associations of Women. She became President of the Australian Federation of Women Voters, State President of the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom campaigning for nuclear and general disarmament. Irene received the Order of Australia in 1975, a Queen Elizabeth II silver jubilee medal in 1977 and a United Nations Association of Australia Silver Peace Medal in 1982. 

In 1949 Mary Ann returned to reside in Perth with her daughter Irene in Nedlands. Well into her 70’s she was still advocating for the disadvantaged and social justice. She died in 1960 at the age of 82 in Perth and after being cremated her ashes were scattered at Karrakatta Cemetery. Few people will have heard her name but many Australians will have benefitted from her tireless lifelong good works.