Maie Casey, Baroness Casey

Ethel Marian Sumner Casey, Baroness Casey, (; 13 March 1892 – 20 January 1983), commonly known as Maie Casey, was an Australian pioneer aviator, poet, librettist, biographer, memoirist and artist. She was married to Lord Casey, who was Governor-General of Australia from 1965 to 1969.

Early life Ethel Marian Sumner Ryan was born in 1892, younger child of Victorian-born parents, Sir Charles Snodgrass Ryan, a prominent Melbourne surgeon, and his wife, Alice (née Sumner) Lady Ryan. She is also the granddaughter of Charles Ryan and Marian Cotton (John Cotton's daughter).

Casey grew up on Collins Street, Melbourne. Her father had his residence and surgery on the same street. during her time at Cambridge in the 1890s. His career saw them live successively in Canberra, Washington, Cairo, and India, where, during the last years of the Raj, she was Vicereine of Bengal. In Washington, D.C. she was an eloquent advocate of the United States joining the Allied cause.

Associates During a journey in 1939 to join her husband who was leading a legation to Washington. she re-met Pat Jarrett. Jarrett was a journalist known for her coverage of women's sport and they became firm friends. Casey employed Jarrett as her secretary and in 1941 she became her husband's press liaison officer.

In Egypt, she was a confidante of wartime leaders Winston Churchill, Field-Marshal Lord Montgomery and Harold Macmillan as well as an indefatigable war worker; in Bengal she fought to raise the status of Indian women, discussed political affairs with Jawaharlal Nehru. Pat Jarrett helped her and her husband entertain Mahatma Gandhi and Louis

When in London in 1942, Caroline Haslett threw a lunch for her at the Forum Club with distinguished guests including Lady Cripps and Margaret, Lady Moir. They maintained contact via airmail correspondence and gifts, gave letters of recommendation for international visitors to each other and met up during her visits to the UK. In 1943 she wrote to Haslett "I have a great belief in women, and I believe we should play an increasing part in world affairs. Not only directly; as much by persuasion and influence and by influence as through direct action ... You particularly can and I am sure will influence the women you come into contact with towards active participation in the future, not only in practical deeds but in thought and interest." Tides and Eddies was published in 1966 and an account of her early married life.

She illustrated Ellis Rowan's 1961's Wild flower Hunter and her own book, An Australian Story. and in October 1953 flew her Miles Messenger plane in Australia's first all-woman air race. In 1954 Casey became of member of the Ninety-Nines, an American women pilots organisation founded by Amelia Earhart and continued to fly a Cessna well into retirement. and died in January 1983, aged 90.