Our people their stories: My life in the Midlands with Vera Taylor

Vera Taylor grew up on her parents' farm on the Macquarie Soldier Settlement near Cressy. She attended Cressy school before boarding at Methodist Ladies College in Launceston. As a child she was eager to learn and read books. She attended the Hobart Teachers College where she specialised in Kindergarten.

Vera taught in schools around the state for three years before travelling overseas with a school friend, joining a bus tour from Nepal to London then a camping tour to Morocco. The friends worked in a London hotel and Vera found work with families in the ski fields of Europe, work in London and country England.

On her return to Tasmania, Vera ran the first mobile Kindergarten in the State and taught at Campbell Town. Here, in 1975, she re-met John Taylor who lived nearby at Winton. They married that year.

Vera soon discovered herself on a historic sheep and wool property which was to become her passion into the future. The Taylor family were among early Scottish settlers who immigrated to Tasmania. At Winton, with the contribution of Eliza Forlong, a renowned superfine Saxon flock was established, which, since the 1830s, has formed the basis of many early Tasmanian and mainland merino flocks.

Vera became absorbed in the wool industry while supporting her husband, John, who took several leadership roles. Vera collated her first book on the Winton merino stud’s 150th anniversary in 1985, her second on the 150th Campbell Town Show in 1988. This led to other publications including a recent book on a history of sheep and wool in Tasmania.

Vera's tourism ventures began to include her love of the garden and history. Her interest in art led her to water colour and pastel painting and to joining art groups.

John and Vera retired to Launceston and among other interests still support wool events, but their family is paramount.

Queen Victoria Museum at Inveresk

10.30am, Wednesday 27 September 2023

Admission FREE for QVMAG Friends, $5 for the general public. RSVP is essential to admin@qvmagfriends.asn.au or 0459 658 457