Ellie Veronica Pullin (1918-1994) was born in Perth where her father, William Rockliff, was caretaker and attendant at Perth’s Library and Museum. His quarters had once been the Perth Convict Gaol, which he had adapted into a family home, so Ellie grew up surrounded by history.

Ellie married Ron Pullin in Melbourne in 1941 and the couple settled in Ringwood where they became stalwarts of the local community. She was foundation secretary of the Ringwood Pre-School Association and later its president. Her interest in early childhood education led to membership of the Australian Pre-School Association and in the 1970s she was a delegate to Council Meetings of the World Organisation for Early Childhood Education in Paris and London. Her contributions to this field were honoured in 1973 when she received an MBE and there is a pre-school in North Ringwood named in her honour.

She was also a prodigious worker for the history cause. A foundation member of the Ringwood Historical Research Group in 1958, she served as its president, archivist and secretary for long periods. She joined RHSV in 1969 and in that year became the secretary of the newly established Victorian Committee of Affiliated Historical Societies (VCAHS) (now History Victoria Support Group). She served on the RHSV Council from 1970 to 1973 then stepped in July 1973 as Acting Director when Greeba Hoskin became ill. She was appointed Director in December 1973, a position she held until her retirement in November 1977 aged 59. At that time she was elected an RHSV Fellow. She continued as VCAHS secretary until 1979.

Ellie’s husband Ron, also an RHSV member, had been in poor health for some time and died in July 1978. She died in 1994.

Cheryl Griffin

20 July 2022