Mary Josephine Bedford

Mary Josephine Bedford (1861 – 22 December 1955) was a philanthropist in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, who was involved in family welfare and children's development through her involvement with the Playground Association and the Crèche and Kindergarten Association. She was awarded the Order of St Sava for her services as an ambulance driver in World War I. Her first cousin was Frederick Bedford. In her student days, she shared accommodation in Chatham, Kent, with Lilian Cooper who became her lifelong friend and companion. They immigrated to Brisbane together in 1891.

Philanthropy The Playground Association in Queensland was formed with the practical intention of promoting the establishment of children's playgrounds and recreation centres in districts of poverty and high density. Also the Association worked towards assuming the administration of the parks and providing trained supervisors who were to direct play and, through this, to instil the values of courage, honesty and consideration in the children. The supervisors were also to look after the playground libraries, teach hand work and also to liaise with the children's homes. The Association was interested in the full social development of the child and saw the lessons learnt during play as an adjunct to the lessons the children studied in their classrooms. Like the Playground Association, the Crèche and Kindergarten Association were successful in achieving local and Queensland Government sponsorship and funding as well as funding from various national philanthropic trust funds. The success of these two organisations can be rightly said to be due to the tireless and strategic work of Mary Josephine Bedford. They were both awarded honours for their service, with Bedford receiving the 5th class Order of St Sava. Bedford remained an active participant of both the Crèche and Kindergarten Association and the Playground Association throughout her life. It is clearly through her extensive letter writing, evident in archival files on both organisations, that they achieved their successes.

Legacy To commemorate Bedford's instrumental role in the provision of playgrounds in Queensland a memorial tree was planted on 22 March 1956 at the Spring Hill Playground by Lady Lavarck, wife of Lieutenant-General Sir John Dudley Lavarack, Governor of Queensland. In 1959 the Brisbane City Council agreed to the suggestion of the Playground and Recreation Association to rename the park, the Bedford Playground. The Bedford Playground was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 9 May 1998.

In 2020 the State Library of Queensland produced their 'Dangerous Women' podcast series which features and episode on Dr Lilian Cooper and Josephine Bedford and their life achievements.