THE reclusive family of Lady Mary Fairfax AC OBE was joined by members of the community, politicians and representatives from some of the nation’s most prominent families for the funeral of one of Australia’s most generous philanthropists and most intriguing women.
Mourners at Darling Point’s St Mark’s Anglican Church for the 10.30am funeral of the 95-year-old socialite who died on Sunday included Premier Gladys Berejiklian and Bronwyn Bishop.
Described by her son Warwick Jr as a woman of “deep faith… but not denominational”, Anglican Minister Rev Dr Michael Jensen – from under a large projection of Lady Fairfax at the height of her powers as a young woman – paid tribute to a woman of vast contradictions who was born a Polish Jew.
Lawyer Garth Symond, Lady Fairfax’s son from her first marriage to lawyer Cedric Symonds, described his mother as a “strong zionist” who wanted to fight anti Semitism.
Read the article by Annette Sharp in the Daily Telegraph.