Marion Walsh

Marion Jean Walsh (Cooke 1919)

1917-1919; 1919 Head Prefect

Jean came to PLC with her sister Ada Waite formerly Gooch (Cook 1920) in October 1917, just a few months after our Cottesloe campus opened. In April 1920 she was one of those who decided to form the OCA, and was our inaugural Secretary and Treasurer until 1923. She nurtured the OCA through its infancy, until it was firmly established. Jean rowed, played bridge, was an excellent tennis player, and was active with the Girl Guides; but horses were her real passion. She started pony clubbing and formed a large and very successful show jumping team, taking out many prizes in the Royal Agricultural Show.

In 1935 she married Justin Walsh, of Egoline, Northam, and, in time, raised their two daughters. She also established Walsh’s Horses, a riding school, and began to breed horses, many of which were champions.

In 1954 when HRH Queen Elizabeth came to Perth, one of Jean’s horses - Cotton Tail - was chosen for her to ride. Polio meant the Queen never rode him, but the Governor did. Soon came ‘the Educated Horse’, which led to Dressage, Jumping, and Equestrian Federation Australia, in all of which Jean was heavily involved.

Jean was one of WA’s best known horsewomen but when not working with her horses, she was impeccably dressed, and she loved, in particular, hats. During shopping trips to Perth she always stopped by Belle Gladstone’s to try on the many beautiful hats on display, but despite her usual glamorous style, there are very few photos of Jean, as she hated having her photo taken.

Jean was still riding at 70 when, in September 1971, she suffered a massive stroke from which she died, in March 1972.

Without Jean’s dedication in those early years, the OCA is unlikely to have become what it is today.

Top: Jean Walsh (Cooke 1919) in Rome, 1962.

Courtesy Penny Taylor

(Walsh 1958).

Above: Jean Walsh (Cooke 1919) riding Cotton Tail which was to

have been the Queen’s

mount in WA in 1954.

Courtesy Penny Taylor

(Walsh 1958).