Nobody's Valentine
Letters in the Life of Valentine Alexa Leeper, 1900-2001
The Miegunyah Press and Trinity College, $59.95 HB 488pp
Publication Date: November 2008
Marion Poynter
This book is far from being the localised Melbourne title it appears. It is the life story of Melbourne-born Valentine Leeper, fifth child of Irish-born Alexander Leeper, the brilliant but argumentative first warden of Trinity College at the University of Melbourne. Though Valentine lived in Melbourne all her life, and never left Australia, she possessed an impressive world view.
Her collected letters, upon which this life is based, number in the thousands and span most of the twentieth century. They probe deeply into a range of issues and events—local, national and of the world at large—viewed through the eyes of a clear-minded observer.
Born into Melbourne’s social and intellectual elite establishment, she received a classically-based education and Christian upbringing, and was encouraged always to express opinions. She continued for most of her life to speak out frankly on matters of the state, Church, and social justice, seeking always truth and fairness. Morally heroic, and, completely independent in her views, she was, Thoreau-like, often out of kilter – sometimes ahead, sometimes behind – with those around her. Following her father, all her life she encouraged the improvement of education for women, and female ordination. She condemned racism and the curtailment of freedom of speech, and extensively supported refugees and Aborigines.
Her correspondents ranged from prominent politicians, including John Cain, Harold Holt, and Dr. Evatt, religious leaders, including Australian Archbishops and the Archbishop of Canterbury, the League of Nations Union and the United Nations Association, newspapers editors, heads of college, and influential members of the ABC. Among her letters are many personal letters, including a good number to, and (mostly) from, her half-brothers Allen and Rex Leeper who lived in Europe, and were senior members of the British Foreign Office. Through them she kept her finger on the pulse of what was happening before, during and after the Second World War. In conducting campaigns on the immorality of bombing civilians and on preserving the rights of Poland, Valentine was at her most eloquent and formidable.
Her letters are feisty, at times witty, and generally provocative. Though she could not be labelled either a typical feminist or activist, she was, in her own unique way, both. A most remarkable woman.
Marion Poynter attended the same school, university and college as Valentine Leeper, and was born in the same inner suburb of Melbourne that Valentine spent most of her life. Like her she is a worshipping Anglican. She met Valentine in 1994 when helping her husband, Professor John Poynter, with research for his biography of Valentine’s father (MUP 1997). Following Valentine’s death in 2001 she was commissioned by Trinity College to edit Valentine’s letters for a book. The edited letters developed into a life and letters. This is her first book.
For more information and ordering, please contact Veronica Fahmy,
Advancement Office, Trinity College,
Royal Parade Parkville 3052 Australia
Fax: 9348 7139, Tel: (03) 9348 7122 , Em: advancement@trinity.unimelb.edu.au