ACT Heritage Library Manuscript Collections

HMSS 0483 Sybil Stuckey Papers

Sybil Olive Stuckey, born 27 October 1923, died 19 August 2003, was the only child of Herbert Stuckey, a hairdresser, and Clara nee Cooper, of Queanbeyan.

Herb was born in St Peters in Sydney in 1896 and married Clara at St Clement's Church of England in Yass on 26 January 1920. Clara, the daughter of James Cooper and Clara nee Sorrell was descended from two of the district's pioneering European families.

Herb was resident in Queanbeyan, as early as 1912. His older brother, Alfred Ernest Stuckey married May Royal in Queanbeyan in 1905 and opened his own hairdressing and tobacconist in 1909.  Herb worked with his brother until Alf sold his business to W.R. Buckley in 1919 when he became manager of the business for Buckley. The hairdressing saloon and tobacconist was on Monaro street on the southern side of Moore's Building.  Buckley sold the business in 1932 to Robert John Dunne who continued to employ Herb. During the 1930s, Herb rented the salon from Dunne. In 1937 Herb Stuckey formed a business partnership with Adrian (Addie) Blundell, who had been apprentice in Buckely's salon. They conducted their Hairdressing and tobacconist business in Monaro street. Addie Blundell enlisted in 1942 and left the business.  Herb moved the salon to the Royal Hotel in Crawford Street in 1949 and remained there until he sold the business in 1965.

Herb built a house for his family at 27 Surveyor Street, Queanbeyan in 1926.

Herb was active in the community, particularly in rifle shooting, tennis and the Order of Oddfellows.  In later years he was a lawn bowler. Clara was a keen tennis player and assisted in the shop.

Sybil entered the Commonwealth Public service as a typist and was employed at the Australian National University for many years. She was a competitive local golfer.

On 9 May1927, Sybil attended the opening of Australia's Provisional Parliament House in Canberra.  She was 3 and a half years of age. On 9 May 1988, Australia's new Parliament House was opened.  Among the invitees were some of the people present at the opening of Old Parliament House.  The collection contains Sybil's invitation to the opening of Parliament House in 1988 and related correspondence and ephemera. It also contains some family photographs.