Singing for Success!
We are in Women's History Month and soon International Women's Day on the 8th of March. Today I have chosen a woman I wasn't aware of until a few years ago when I was contacted via social media and informed of this person's incredible life. One of many hidden gems calling Rookwood "home" ELIZABETH (ELIZA) WALLACE BUSHELLE - Singer, Survivor. Elizabeth, or Eliza as she was commonly known, was born on the 7th of February 1820 in Ballina, Country Mayo, Ireland to Spencer and Margaret Wallace. Aged ten years she was accepted at the exclusive Ursuline Convent School at Thurles where she impressed the nuns not merely by singing an aria by Rossini but also playing violin and piano. The family emigrated to Australia in 1835; William, Elizabeth's elder composer and pianist brother had already set sail for these shores, and they all travelled as free emigrants. The family arrived in Hobart and in January 1836 moved to Sydney where the Wallaces opened the first Aus...