A small note left in a pilot’s logbook reads ‘took Daphne D as passenger – dibs.”
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The handwritten note was one among thousands left in the possessions of one of Launceston’s most well-known socialites Winifred Daphne (WD) Booth.
Mrs Booth lived in Launceston for 60 years and died in 2000 aged 85 but left behind a charitable legacy in the form of a Trust that was established as a directive of her will.
The pilot’s note was the first notation made about her by RP Booth, who later became her husband.
The WD Booth Charitable Trust has provided nearly $6 million to charitable organisations in Tasmania.
However, the personal life of the woman known as “Kim” or “Mrs Booth” has not been as well known as the efforts of the Trust.
That is set to change in a new book by Launceston author Julian Burgess, launched at the Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery on Wednesday.
Mr Burgess said he first became interested in the story of Mrs Booth after his involvement with the Trust in his role as a reporter for The Examiner. He said the pilot’s note was one of the reasons he became hooked on telling it.
“I wanted to know how someone like her ended up in Launceston; how did she meet her husband and how they ended up here,” he said.
A Woman of Charity is a chronological tale of Mrs Booth’s life as documented in her various letters and personal effects.
The documents were held by trustee Jill Dearing, but they have now been donated to QVMAG.
“There was a wallet in there and it still had money inside,” he said.
Mr Burgess said he thought it was important those in the community knew the true story behind the name.
“The WD Booth Charitable Trust is just a name, it’s known but the story behind it isn’t as well known.”
He said Mrs Booth was known as a private person and had been described as “aloof, expected respect and was dismissive of people who didn’t know their place.”
However, through studying her personal effects and documents, Mr Burgess said he had learned more about Booth as a person.
It took Mr Burgess about two months to read, file and compile the letters.
A Woman of Charity was launched at QVMAG on Wednesday by Mr Burgess and the trustees.