Biography

Florence Perrin (nee Dawson) (1884 - 1952) was born in Launceston in 1884, the daughter of the Revd William Dawson, a Methodist minister, and Mary, the daughter of T. W. Monds. The first ancestor of Florence to arrive in Van Diemen's Land was William Monds who came in 1822. His son, Thomas Wilkes Monds, was a flour miller of Carrick and the founder of the firm Monds & Affleck in 1918. The Revd Dawson died at the early age of 32 and Florence and her mother, Mary Dawson, were taken into the care of T. W. Monds at his home at Carrick. A William was also born to the Dawsons. He died in Abyssynia on 26th son, September, 1916.

Florence was educated at the Methodist Ladies' College, Launceston. On 20th August, 1907, at the Paterson Street Methodist Church she married George Edward Perrin, a son of Walter and Kate Perrin of Launceston. There were two girls born of this marriage, Jean who became Mrs Fred Smithies, and Eileen who became Mrs J. G. Branagan. Florence Perrin was a very keen bushwalker and mountaineer and it is said she was the first woman to climb many of the peaks in the Cradle Mountain area. Perrin's Bluff in the Pelion Mountains was named after her. She was almost certainly the first woman in Northern Tasmania to engage in the vigorous sport of snow ski-ing, and she and her husband were foundation members of the Northern Tasmanian Alpine Club.

Florence Perrin followed many other pursuits, interests and charities. She was a foundation member of the Country Women's Association in Tasmania, donating the land at Low Head for the C.W.A. holiday home, as well as working tirelessly for the movement. She was also an active member of the Launceston Horticultural Society, and with her husband, developed a beautiful garden at their family home in High Street. They specialised in rhododendrons and azaleas.

The Perrins were regular attenders of St. Aidan's Church, and for several years held garden parties at their home in aid of the church. They also attended and supported Christ Church at Low Head. It was at Low Head that the Perrins had their holiday home and Florence owned a farm and a great deal of land there.

She was a keen botanist with a special interest in seaweeds and worked for a time with Professor Lucas studying in many parts of Australia. "Seaweeds of South Australia" by Lucas and Perrin is recognised as a standard work. It is understood that 'South' is intended to mean 'Southern'. Florence's interest in botany enabled her to make a fine collection of almost all the ninety-odd orchids native to Tasmania. Another interest was in painting water-colours, and she painted all the flowers she collected. Her other interests were in rug-making, cooking, cabinet-making and photography, especially stereoscopics.

She worked for the Red Cross during both wars and for the Comforts Fund in Launceston and districts. Florence Perrin died on 25th April, 1952, and her husband donated a stained-glass window to St. Aidan's Church in her memory. The date of his death was added to the plaque later. The window depicts Christ as 'The Light of the World’, and the inscription on the plaque reads:
"IN MEMORY OF FLORENCE PERRIN DIED 25TH. APRIL 1952 THE GIFT OF HER HUSBAND GEORGE EDWARD PERRIN DIED 10TH. APRIL 1970."

Source

"Engraved in Memory", GILL, Jenny, 1988

Companion to Tasmanian History
https://www.utas.edu.au/tasmanian-companion/biogs/E000753b.htm
Tasmanian Times - article Jan. 2022 "What’s all the Fuss over Perrin’s Paddock?"
https://tasmaniantimes.com/2022/01/whats-all-the-fuss-over-perrins-paddock/