(B. 1895 D. 1982)
At St Margaret’s 1907-1908
Daphne Mayo has been acknowledged as one of Australia’s most important sculptors. She sculptured in the mediums of stone, clay, plaster, wood and bronze and later in her life she turned to painting portraits.
After leaving St Margaret’s she attended the Brisbane Technical College. In 1914 she won a travelling scholarship enabling her to pursue her studies at the Royal Academy Sculpture School in London. There she was awarded Silver and Bronze medals and in 1923 won the Gold Medal and the Edward Stott Travelling Scholarship. Returning to Australia in 1925, she completed her monumental works in Brisbane. Some of her significant larger works include Brisbane’s City Hall’s Tympanum, the Queensland Women’s War Memorial in Anzac Square and the Statue of Major General The Honorable Sir William Glasgow. Daphne undertook extraordinary physical labours creating her sculptures with most carved in situ. She also had many private commissions in Queensland and interstate for portrait busts. From 1940, she established a career as a sculptor in Sydney and in 1960 returned to Brisbane where she remained until her death in 1982.
In 1950 she was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for her services to art. Daphne was very committed to the promotion of art in Queensland, becoming the first woman Trustee of the Queensland Art Gallery from 1960 to 1967.
St Margaret’s recognises and honours Daphne Mayo with the biennial MAYO Arts Festival and the Friends of MAYO who raise funds to acquire artworks for the school.
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