The Heart is a Dancer : The Story of Miss Sarah Cargill (1849-1937)
Monica Rimland
Reawakening the history of a hitherto undocumented colonial educational pioneer, The Heart is a Dancer traces the life and achievements of Miss Sarah Cargill (1849-1937).
Sarah’s life began in India where her Cambridge-educated father was a mathematical professor at Dacca College then, later, Principal of Delhi College. Sarah was just six when her father died. Dire financial circumstances compelled the family to return to England. A life dependent on the support of others led to Sarah being admitted to the London Orphan Asylum Clapton for the Maintenance and Education of Fatherless Children where she stayed for five years. On attaining adulthood, Sarah set out alone on a voyage of discovery arriving in Brisbane, Australia in March 1871.
Sarah arrived at a time when demand for education was surging, driven by a growing free-settler population. Brisbane’s fledgling community quickly recognized Sarah as a gifted teacher and educator. In 1875 she became one of the foundation staff of the ‘girls branch’ of the Brisbane Grammar School; and in January 1877 (at the age of 27) she was appointed Lady Principal. Sarah went on to establish her own private schools in Brisbane, Southport and Rockhampton. In a short space of time, Sarah established herself as a successful educator, entrepreneur and philanthropist in the Queensland colony. She was a consummate socialite, in step with the trends at the time – a colonial ‘influencer’. She loved music and dance, hosting parties and balls for her extensive network of students, friends and colleagues. Sarah was held in high regard by the communities in which she lived and worked. She married twice, but late in life, to men with whom she had lifelong friendships. In her later years, Sarah focussed exclusively on teaching dance to the young and young-at-heart, for which she was fondly remembered.
Sarah’s life was one of twists and turns, success and failure, love and loss and, in the end, obscurity. The Heart is a Dancer stakes a claim in history for Sarah Cargill, a woman whose life deserves to be celebrated and remembered.
PRODUCT DESCRIPTION:
Format: Perfect Bound
Trim Size: 189mm x 246mm
Page Count: 144
Reawakening the history of a hitherto undocumented colonial educational pioneer, The Heart is a Dancer traces the life and achievements of Miss Sarah Cargill (1849-1937).
Sarah’s life began in India where her Cambridge-educated father was a mathematical professor at Dacca College then, later, Principal of Delhi College. Sarah was just six when her father died. Dire financial circumstances compelled the family to return to England. A life dependent on the support of others led to Sarah being admitted to the London Orphan Asylum Clapton for the Maintenance and Education of Fatherless Children where she stayed for five years. On attaining adulthood, Sarah set out alone on a voyage of discovery arriving in Brisbane, Australia in March 1871.
Sarah arrived at a time when demand for education was surging, driven by a growing free-settler population. Brisbane’s fledgling community quickly recognized Sarah as a gifted teacher and educator. In 1875 she became one of the foundation staff of the ‘girls branch’ of the Brisbane Grammar School; and in January 1877 (at the age of 27) she was appointed Lady Principal. Sarah went on to establish her own private schools in Brisbane, Southport and Rockhampton. In a short space of time, Sarah established herself as a successful educator, entrepreneur and philanthropist in the Queensland colony. She was a consummate socialite, in step with the trends at the time – a colonial ‘influencer’. She loved music and dance, hosting parties and balls for her extensive network of students, friends and colleagues. Sarah was held in high regard by the communities in which she lived and worked. She married twice, but late in life, to men with whom she had lifelong friendships. In her later years, Sarah focussed exclusively on teaching dance to the young and young-at-heart, for which she was fondly remembered.
Sarah’s life was one of twists and turns, success and failure, love and loss and, in the end, obscurity. The Heart is a Dancer stakes a claim in history for Sarah Cargill, a woman whose life deserves to be celebrated and remembered.
PRODUCT DESCRIPTION:
Format: Perfect Bound
Trim Size: 189mm x 246mm
Page Count: 144
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