Dorothy Nancy Wellington

Dorothy Nancy WELLINGTON was born in Melbourne in 1913. She was the eldest child of Frank WELLINGTON and Elizabeth VAIL. Married Thomas Heron Steel. They had one son and two daughters. 
Dorothy Steel (Wellington) 1913-2003

Dorothy Steel passed away two days before Christmas after a long and fruitful life, at the age of 90 years. She attended Lauriston for all of her schooling, matriculating and going on to complete a Science degree at Melbourne University. As well as being an academic achiever at school, she was a keen hockey player, continuing this sport through her University days. A proud Lauristonian, Dorothy was the first captain of Mitchell House in 1930.

Although Physics was not taught at Lauriston at the time, Dorothy, ever determined, took up this subject at University and graduated in 1935 with a Physics major. She went on to work at Royal Melbourne Hospital with Dr. Kaye Scott in the new field of radiotherapy. Her job involved designing the dose rates and placement of radiation treatment in what were then pioneering days of X-ray technology. By all accounts she was the first full-time physicist employed in a hospital in Australia.

In 1942 Dorothy married Tom Steel, a medico and first cousin of Gladys Davies. She continued with her radiotherapy work while Tom was away at the war; then after a year living in London where Tom was studying on a Nuffield Scholarship, they settled back in Melbourne and family life became the focus. Their two daughters Elizabeth Taverner (1965) and Margaret Coventry (1967) both attended Lauriston as did their niece Margaret Henderson (1969).

Throughout the years of raising a family Dorothy was very involved in various community and charity works. She spent many years committed to the management and development of the Berry Street Babies’ Home, being president of the Building Committee during a time of major change. She served on the Lauriston School Council and was always active in the Old Lauristonians’ Association, hosting many ‘Old Girls’ meetings at her home. She loved this school and maintained contact with her old school friends throughout her life. Alongside these activities she expressed her creativity in her fine pottery and her beautiful garden.

Farewell Dorothy, you were a loyal ‘Old Girl’ through and through and “high in our hearts we hold thee.”

Lauriston Life 2004