Matilda (Tilly) Aston was one of the most important activists in the history of disability in Australia. The challenges she faced in managing life as a woman with blindness became the impetus for Tilly to work to improve the lives of other people who were blind. She achieved not only significant advances and rights for people who are blind, but also became a celebrated author and the first female teacher who was blind.
Background
Life was difficult for the family; Tilly’s father died in 1881 and her mother worked as the local midwife to support the family.
Six months later a breakthrough came when Thomas James, an itinerant missionary arrived at the Astons. James, who was himself blind, traveled around the country helping others who were blind or who had low vision. He introduced Tilly to braille and expanded her world. Soon after, the choir of the Victorian Asylum and School for the Blind (now part of Vision Australia) came to Carisbrook, and the Principal convinced Tilly's family to enrol her as a boarder at the school in St Kilda Road.
Tilly had been a long time correspondent with Helen Keller, disability activist in the US, but sadly passed away in November 1947, a year before Miss Keller came to Australia.
Education
She began an Arts course at Melbourne University, but was forced to abandon her studies during the second year because the study material she needed was not available in Braille.
Career
As a child, Tilly's parents encouraged her to develop an appreciation of beauty and nature, leaving her with many memories, which inspired her to take up writing. A writer of poetry and prose sketches, she published her first book, "Maiden Verses" in 1901. In 1904 she won the Prahran City Council’s competition for an original story. "The Woolinappers” or “Some Tales from the By-Ways of Methodism" was published in 1905.
In 1913, Tilly Aston applied for the Education Department post of Teacher at the Royal Victorian Institute for the Blind school. This was formerly the Asylum where Tilly had received her own schooling (and now part of Vision Australia). She was the first woman who was blind to hold this position.
"Singable Songs" was published in 1924, followed by "Songs of Light" in 1935, "Old Timers" in 1938, "The Inner Garden" in 1940 and "Memoirs of Tilly Aston" in 1946.
Her writings were also serialised in Victorian newspapers and for twelve years she edited and wrote for "A Book of Opals", a Braille magazine used in Chinese missionary schools.
She was also a keen exponent of Esperanto and corresponded with fellow linguists all over the world.Some Tales from the By-Ways of Methodism
Politics
Tilly Aston established the Victorian Association of Braille Writers (now part of Vision Australia) in 1894 to provide braille for all. The Association established training programs for sighted volunteers to learn and transcribe braille.Tilly Aston was the first secretary of the association, serving for seven years. She later became the president, a position she held until her death in 1947.
