ULVERSTONE’S LA DONNA & LORNA DOONE

‘La Donna’ was a journalist for many years at The Advocate, a Tasmanian newspaper known affectionally as ‘The Spud Digger’.  In 1935   she wrote a fascinating, lengthy article on Mary Shadbolt, widow of my relative Linden Shadbolt. I always wondered about La Donna’s real identity, and have only just found out.

Her name was Alice ‘Miriam’ Chamberlain. She was born at Latrobe on October 1 1893.

Miriam did well as school, and showed an early interest in writing.  Her first published piece was a long letter to a Children’s Page in the Melbourne Leader. It began as follows;

Source – The Leader, July 15 1905

Her letter ended, ‘Your new little friend 11 ½ yrs MIRIAM CHAMBERLAIN.

After initially working as assistant council clerk at Latrobe (her father was the town clerk), Miriam spent many years with Charles Davis Ltd in Hobart. She joined The Advocate’s Ulverstone branch  in July 1935, moving back to the Coast to begin her journalistic career as La Donna. It must have been an exciting career change for her.

As well as general reporting she was responsible for reporting on social events, fashion and other matter of interest to women along the north west coast. Locals were encouraged to send in material.

Contributions welcome. (Advocate 1939)

Her term at The Advocate covered the difficult years of WWII;

One of the most noteworthy occasions covered by La Donna  in the postwar years was the Queen’s visit in 1954;

Source – Advocate, Feb. 24 1954

FOR THE CHILDREN

Life turned full circle when Miriam adopted a second identity, ‘L0rna Doone’  to run a popular Children’s Corner. Unlike her own, long letter to the Leader’s Cinderella, the contributions were edited snippets of news, hobbies and cheerios.

I loved that in 1945, four of my much older  Abbotsham cousins were members,; Joyce, Lexie, Maureen and Donnie Allen.

By the time Joyce was 13 ¾ she was asking for a boy penpal from America. 😍

While I was researching La Donna I made contact with her great-niece, Jenny Stevenson.  Unfortunately  Jenny did not have a photo of her great aunt, but described her as ‘tall and elegant’.  Here is a delightful memento passed down through the family; a photo mount hand embroidered by  Miriam.

Embroidery by Miriam (Photo courtesy of Jenny Stevenson).

In 1965, when Miriam Chamberlain was in her seventies, she married Ulverstone  widower Charles Langmaid. She died in 1975, aged 83 and was buried in her home town of Latrobe. Her estate was valued at over $16,000, a considerable sum at the time.

Rest in peace La Donna.

To read La Donna’s  interview with Mary Shadbolt, CLICK HERE.