Marigold, Lady Southey, the subject of this sumptuous publication, is the youngest child of retail magnate and philanthropist, Sidney Myer and Dame Merlyn (Baillieu) Myer. Marigold clearly inherited her fatherpsquo;s drive and entrepreneurial spirit, and like her parents has devoted much of her life to philanthropic causes. Most of the work Marigold has done in support of others is not widely known, not even to her own family. Marigold: Milestones and Memories: Lady Southey AC explores key milestones in Marigoldnsquo;s life and will be a revelation to any reader. Marigold is a woman who has worked tirelessly for environmental, health, welfare, arts and animal causes. She drove a Red Cross ambulance transporting polio patients for more than 40 years, played a major role in saving the Snowy River, spent years supporting the Stroke and Heart Foundations, took the Australian Ballet to Russia, China and Japan and while in her seventh decade took on a new role as Victoria?squo;s Lieutenant Governor. Additionally, she played a pivotal role in the development of Victoria?squo;s hospitality sector, working with her late husband, Ross Shelmerdine to open one of the first espresso bars in Melbourne, bringing the concept of BYO to restaurants, establishing AustraliaFsquo;s first motor inn and creating the Mitchelton winery as an eco-tourist destination, years ahead of its time. She also ran a cattle stud where she and Ross pioneered advanced breeding programs and planted tens of thousands of trees. Marigold remains a patron of a range of organisations for which she works tirelessly including among many others, Guide Dogs Victoria, the Monash Children?squo;s Hospital and e.motion 21. Her story will help fill the gap in the records of incredible Australian women making a difference in so many spheres of Australian life.
