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Heather Irwin

Celebrating the life of
Heather W. Irwin
(nee Cochran) 1925 to 2001

Biography

1925, 26th June Born Heather Willison Cochran, Ballarat, Victoria
1931 to 1936 Pleasant Street Primary School, won scholarship to Clarendon
1936 to 1943 Clarendon Clarendon Presbyterian Ladies College
1942 Dux of CPLC Editor of Touchstone (school magazine)
1943
  • Dux of CPLC (again)
  • Winner of Coulter Cup for excellence academically and at sport.
  • Captain of hockey team
  • Successful sprint runner
  • Captain of Kennedy House
  • Editor of Touchstone (school magazine)
1944 to 1946
  • Residential scholarship, JCH & Academic scholarship, University of Melbourne
  • University of Melbourne & Janet Clark Hall
  • Studied Bachelor of Arts & Diploma of Social Work (we are unsure if she took out the BA)
1947 Staff social worker, Kinear's ropes, Footscray
1947 Married John Irwin, moved back to Ballarat
1949 to 1951 Mount Clear house built
1951 Moved to new home at Mount Clear. Adopted Benjamin, Golden Labrador.
1955 to 1958 Lived Bristol UK. Worked as a sales person in Parker Furniture.
1958 Adopted Julia in Bristol (UK), returned to Mount Clear.
1959 Adopted Jonathan in Ballarat (from Melbourne)
1960 Patrick born
1968 Returned to part time social work with Red Cross in Ballarat
1973 Separated from John, later divorced
1976 Returned to full time social work with Commonwealth Social Securities
1978 Founded VIP Flowershop at Ballarat Base Hospital
1987 Retired
1983 to 2000
  • Volunteer Guide, Ballarat Fine Art Gallery
  • Continued to live at Mount Clear independently, mainly with Fergus the golden retriever.
Late 2000 Health declined with multiple ailments. Hospitalised & briefly in care after.
2001, 30th January Died. Ballarat, Victoria. Cancer.