The Ballarat community is celebrating the life of Janet Cowles OAM after she died peacefully at home on Monday.
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Mrs Cowles was well known in Ballarat and St Arnaud for her service and commitment to community, particularly as a pioneer of Sovereign Hill.
She was recognised with a Medal of the Order of Australia.
The 82-year-old was the wife of The Courier managing director and one of Sovereign Hill’s founders Doug Cowles, who died in 1995.
She is survived by daughters Jane, Victoria and Penelope, grandchildren Charlotte, Isabel, Hattie, Charlie, Bea and Prue and great grandson Alfie.
Daughter Jane Cowles described her mother as ‘strong’, ‘independent’, ‘charming’ and ‘friendly’, traits that came across during her work within the community.
“Mum was involved in lots of different community things over her life time,” she said.
She set a good example for my two sisters and I. We appreciate that supporting your local community is important and we do that in our own way.
- Jane Cowles
Mrs Cowles served on the Sovereign Hill interiors committee during the 1960s and later as the Sovereign Hill Foundation chairperson, while maintaining generous donations throughout the years.
“She had a passion for continuing the story of Ballarat’s history and loved everything that Sovereign Hill represented,” Jane said.
Sovereign Hill chief executive Jeremy Johnson said Mrs Cowles was one of few people to become a life governor of Sovereign Hill.
“She has always been a wonderful supporter of Ballarat as a city and Sovereign Hill as an institution. She will be very sadly missed and we loved her dearly.”
Mrs Cowles was born in Sea Lake, grew up in St Arnaud and went to boarding school in Melbourne before working as a nurse at the Alfred Hospital.
She married Doug Cowles in 1959. The couple spent their married life living in Ballarat.
Mrs Cowles maintained a connection to her childhood roots in St Arnaud, running the family fine wool sheep farm and fundraising for community organisations.
Her passion for gardening, bridge, reading and family filled her time in more recent years.
The keen gardener was one of the early members of the Friends of the Ballarat Botanical Gardens. She enjoyed caring for her own garden at her farm’s St Arnaud historic house and Ballarat home.
Friends of the Ballarat Botanical Gardens committee member Elizabeth Gilfillan described Mrs Cowles was ‘warm’, ‘friendly’ and ‘loving’.
“She was supportive in every way and always advocated for the gardens,” she said.
A memorial service for Janet Cowles OAM will be held at the Doveton Park Funeral Centre on Tuesday May 29 at 10.30am. A private committal will precede the service.
Rochelle Kirkham
Rochelle covers court and has a particular interest in social issues including homelessness, food security and family violence.
Rochelle covers court and has a particular interest in social issues including homelessness, food security and family violence.
