Dame Rita Mary Buxton, Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire was an Australian community worker, activist, racehorse owner and philanthropist.
Background
Born at South Yarra, Melbourne, the only child of Charles James Neunhoeffer (or Neunhoffer) and Emma Alice O"Connor, she was educated at Sacré Coeur convent school, Glen Iris. Her father was a civil servant turned entrepreneur, becoming the proprietor of Canada Cycle & Motor Company (Victoria) Pty Limited, motorcar importers.
Education
Born at South Yarra, Melbourne, the only child of Charles James Neunhoeffer (or Neunhoffer) and Emma Alice O"Connor, she was educated at Sacré Coeur convent school, Glen Iris.
Career
In 1927 Rita Buxton joined the Toorak auxiliary of Hospital, Fitzroy. By 1936 she was president of the central executive of the hospital"s auxiliaries. She organised voluntary help for in World World War II, working in the laundry herself.
In 1947 she became the first woman (apart from the mother rectress) on the hospital"s advisory council.
Rita Buxton owned several racehorses. Street Razzle, another, was runner-up in 1949.
Australian Red Cross Society (Victoria) Alexandra Club.
Membership
In 1958 she was named founding member of the council of School of Medical Research, for which she engaged in fund-raising and donated large sums of money of her own for fellowships.