Clark, Ruth   (1915 - 1997)

Born 6 June 1915 in East Prahan, Victoria, died on 27 September 1997 in Gippsland, Victoria.

Born to Evelyn Elizabeth née Saward (1891-1984) and Albert Ethelbert Clark (c. 1892-1975), her father was a bricklayer.

Later the family had moved to Maffra where their father was a deacon at St John's church, and to Gormandale where he was ordained into the Church of England ministry.

She remained single, moving from parish to parish with her parents and nursing them at Lakes Entrance in their final years.

Collecting specimens to send to botanists for identification and herbaria was a feature of her excursions. Ruth collected and sent plants to W.H. Nicholls and, later, to Dr Jim Willis who wrote:

"I remember Miss Ruth Clark's article [1945 Wildlife] quite well, and was delighted with it at the time. During 1951 and '52 she corresponded with me fairly often, sending mosses from East Gippsland, at least two of which proved to be new records for our state!"

"We regret to announce the death of Ruth Clark on 27 September 1997. Ruth was elected to the Club on 8 September 1941 as a Country member, and was made an Honourary member in 1981. She was also a member of the Bairnsdale Field Naturalists Club and contributed an article on Helmet Orchids in the area to The Victorian Naturalist vol. 80, 346-347, illustrated with her own drawings".
(Vol.115, April 1998)

Source: Extracted from:
The Victorian Naturalist Volume 115 (2) 1998 April - Vale Ruth Clark
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caladenia_clarkiae
Terri Gitsham Allen (2007) 'Gippsland Lady Botanists', South Gippsland Conservation Society.
Portrait Photo: Painting in east Gippsland, 'Gippsland Lady Botanists' p.35.

Collecting localities for 'Clark, R.' (with filters) from AVH (2026)

Data from 318 specimens