Lady Black (BA 1976) 1918 — 2009

Edith Joyce Ritchie – Lady Black – was born at Oak-Dene in Hurlstone Park (now South Ashfield) in Sydney on 24 October 1918. Although she was named for a heroine of WW1, Edith Cavell, she was not fond of the name and adopted her second, despite liking it only marginally more.

She was the second daughter of Sophia Lockhart Hair and Herbert Alexander Ritchie; her sister Margaret was a year older and "delicate". This meant the girls were educated at home until they were nine and eight, when they were finally permitted to attend Eastwood Public School.

Joyce was musically gifted and at school began a lifetime's love of the piano and organ. In her third year at Hornsby Girls High she qualified AMusA, with seven other A's in the Intermediate Certificate; she became a prefect and won an Exhibition to the University.

She began an arts degree and also became a part-time student at the Conservatorium, studying piano and organ. She gave her first organ recital in the Great Hall in 1938 and went on to broadcast regularly on the ABC.

She became assistant carillonist and was awarded the Busby Musical Scholarship for organ and carillon. Her busy musical schedule meant the rest of her work suffered and, to her later chagrin, she graduated with a Pass only to become a full-time student at the Conservatorium. There, as well as piano and organ, she became an accomplished cellist.

WW2 prevented her taking up a scholarship to study in London and although she was busy with work and study, and highly regarded, over the years her mother's recurring ill health inhibited her from taking up many opportunities to travel and study. In 1941, after a doomed attempt to teach maths at St Catherine's College, Waverley, became an assistant secretary in the Department of Economics under Professor RC Mills, where she remained for four happy years. During this period she met Hermann Black for the first time.

In 1945 she became a visiting piano teacher at Annesley College, Bowral and in 1946, having returned home to care for her mother, she was invited to PLC Pymble to teach piano and take the orchestra. It was another happy time and the girls flourished under Joyce’s tutelage, performing publicly around Sydney, including concerts at the Conservatorium.

In the late 1940s Joyce's career took a different turn when she went to work at the Premier's Department, editing a journal for country people. In 1950 she took up her first full time job: as secretary of the NSW branch of the Institute of International Affairs. She organised conferences including the Commonwealth Relations Conference, monthly meetings, discussion groups and the Dynason Lecture series which brought to the city such speakers as Sir Julian Huxley, Bertrand Russell, Salvador de Madariaga and Arnold Toynbee.

In 1966 Joyce married Hermann Black, then senior lecturer in the Department of Economics. Seven years later he was appointed Chancellor of the University, a post he held until his death in 1990. It was a time of social upheaval and change; and personal change for Joyce Black who suddenly became a public figure and spent two to three nights a week on official duties.

She also attended every graduation ceremony for the 20 years of her husband's chancellorship and applauded every graduate. In her view, the University performed its task with courtesy and academic competence, integrity and grace and she felt her husband had much to do with that.

The Blacks travelled together to Edinburgh, Canada and Perth on University business as well as working together on symposia in Japan, the USA and London. She also found time to work for 17 years for Meals on Wheels, to be a member of the Women's Group, assist at the annual Arts and Crafts Show.

In 1974 she accompanied her husband to London where he was invested, by the Queen, as a Knight of the Bath for services to education. Later Sir Ninian Stephen made him a Companion of the Order of Australia.

In 1977 the Blacks set in train what would become the Chancellor's Committee, which over the years has raised money and granted finance for scholarships to students and various projects around the University such as repairs and refurbishments to historic buildings around the Camperdown grounds.

As well as her degrees: AMusA 1933, BA 1939, Joyce Black was also awarded LRSM Lic Royal Schools of Music 1941; in 1988 the Lady Black Walkway was named in her honour, she was made an Honorary Fellow of the University in 1986 and an Honorary Fellow of Sancta Sophia in 1990. In 1999 a Convocation Dinner was given in her honour.

She died on February 19.