Zoë Benjamin, (1882–1962) was involved in education, becoming well-known for her work with pre-school children.
She was born in Adelaide in 1882, the daughter of Philip Benjamin, a journalist, and Minnie (née Cohen), and named Sophia, but was known later always as Zoë. She had two brothers and the family moved to Sydney when she was six years old. She was educated with her cousins [Gladys Marks among them] by tutors and governesses. Her father encouraged her to read widely, especially history, philosophy and the arts, and these interests she retained throughout her life, giving her the background to inspire her own students later.
She trained as a kindergarten teacher and began introducing daily free-play periods into kindergartens whose programmes had previously been very structured.
A tiny little lady with curly hair, the greater part of her life was spent in the interests of tiny children. For twenty-five years she was associated with the Sydney Kindergarten Teachers’ Training College as lecturer and as Vice-Principal. Her subjects included psychology, general history and literature, philosophy, history and principles of education, handwork, games and singing.
Zoë Benjamin founded the Australian Kindergarten Magazine in 1910, continuing as its editor for many years and she initiated the Kindergarten Graduates’ Association. In 1924 she established the Kindergarten Mothers’ Union “to enrich the lives” of inner-city mothers and, as its President, she organised handwork exhibitions, a dramatic society and in 1930 a holiday home at Thirroul (south of Sydney) for children from underprivileged children.
In the wider community she used to give lectures and tutor in Child Study subjects for Adult Education classes. She wrote several books on these topics and her pamphlet “Education for Parenthood” (published in 1944) was described by Professor Tasman Lovell as “almost perfect in both form and matter” with the reader “borne along by an unfailing clarity of exposition”. For the ABC she presented talks under the general title of “You and Your Family”: these gave parents expert advice on play needs and behaviour patterns of pre-school children and were published. At the time Zoë Benjamin was associated with Kindergarten of the Air (from 1943) this was a unique programme.
Throughout her life she maintained her interest in the arts. She enjoyed attending the theatre—and also gardening and sewing.
After her death in 1962, aged eighty, the Zoë Benjamin Memorial Fund was established and presented to the Trustees of the Public Library of New South Wales. Her teachings and her work for pre-school children lives on.
[Reference: Biography, AJHS, Vol. 9, Pt 1, June 1981, p.17.]
Brigadier the Hon. Harold Edward Cohen, cmg, cbe, dso, vd
Henry Cohen’s great-grand-son Harold Edward Cohen (1881–1946) was the only child of Montague Cohen and Annie (née Cohen).
The following is distilled from the Obituary in AJHS, Vol. 2, Pt. 6, December 1946, p.359:
Harold Cohen was born in Melbourne in 1881, where his father, Montague Cohen, was an early colonist, and his mother a well-known communal worker. His grand-father, the Hon. Edward Cohen, born in London, was the first Victorian Jewish Cabinet Minister.
Showing considerable promise in his student days at Xavier College and Melbourne University, where he won several prizes, he commenced practice as a solicitor and joined the family firm of Pavey, Wilson & Cohen.
In the Great War, 1914–18, he was decorated on several occasions, being awarded the c.m.g. and d.s.o. and twice mentioned in despatches. He was twice wounded in action. He served in the Middle East in the recent conflict as an Honorary Red Cross Commissioner. On his return to Australia he was appointed Director of Amenities, and subsequently Deputy Adjutant-General of the A.M.F.
In civil life he had a distinguished record. He was always keenly interested in the welfare of his co-religionists, and was a member of the St Kilda congregation. As President of the Victorian Jewish Returned Soldiers’ Circle from 1937–46, he frequently argued the Jewish case in returned soldiers’ circles. He was Chairman of the Victorian Jewish Returned and ex-Servicemen’s Association at the time of his death.
In the Victorian Legislative Assembly the following tribute was paid to the deceased, and the motion put to the House was moved by Mr Cain, Premier and Treasurer, and supported by Mr McDonald (Shepparton), Mr Hollway (Ballarat), Mr Lemmon (Williamstown), Lieut.-Col. Dennett (Caufield), Mr Michaelis (St Kilda), and the Speaker of the House, Sir George Knox:
That this House expresses its sincere sorrow at the death of Brigadier the Honorable Harold Edward Cohen, c.m.g., c.b.e., d.s.o., v.d., and places on record its acknowledgment of the valuable serviced rendered by him to the Parliament and the people of Victoria as a member of the Legislative Council for the Electoral Province of Melbourne South from 22nd June, 1929, to 12th February, 1935; member of the Legislative Assembly for the Electoral District of Caufield from 2nd March, 1935, to 29th April, 1943; Honorary Minister from 1932 to 1935; and Minister of Public Instruction and Solicitor-General in 1935.
Brigadier Cohen’s death at the comparatively early age of 64 is a loss which Australia and Australian Jewry can ill afford. He leaves a widow, well known in the local community, two sons and two daughters.
Geoffrey (____–____) ............
(Sir) Edward (____–____) .........
[References: “Obituary: Harold Edward Cohen” AJHS, Vol. 2, Pt 6, 1946, p.359.
Biography: ADB vol. 8, p.53.]
