Maie Casey

Writer, Artist, Aviator, Patron of Women Pilots, Cultural Leader

Maie Casey was a writer, artist, aviator and cultural patron who lived a remarkable life across art, aviation, diplomacy and public life. Through her creative work, international experiences and support for Australian artists, she made a lasting contribution to Australia’s cultural history.

Born Ethel Marian Sumner Ryan in Brunswick, Melbourne, in 1891, Maie grew up in a family with strong connections to medicine, science and the arts. Her relatives included botanical artist Ellis Rowan, while the wider family was connected to prominent Australian scientific and cultural families.

She was educated in England and France before studying at the Westminster School of Art in London. Although she had hoped to attend university, this pathway was not available to her. Instead, she developed her education through art, travel and engagement with cultural communities.

During the First World War, Maie volunteered at the Hospital for Wounded Officers and later worked with Vera Deakin’s Australian Wounded and Missing Inquiry Bureau. These experiences established a lifelong commitment to public and community service.

In 1926, Maie married Richard Gavin Gardiner Casey, who would become a senior Australian politician, diplomat and Governor-General of Australia. While supporting his public career, Maie developed an extensive body of work and relationships of her own across Australian cultural life.²

Writing was an important part of Maie’s identity. She published poetry, memoir, biography and family history, including An Australian Story, 1837–1907 (1962), which traced four generations of her family and reflected her enduring interest in Australian people, landscapes and history.³

Maie’s passion for art extended beyond her own practice. She studied with Arnold Shore and George Bell and formed friendships with artists including Margaret Preston, Russell Drysdale, Sidney Nolan, Constance Stokes, Dorrit Black, Margaret Preston and Elaine Haxton. She supported and promoted Australian artists through her cultural networks, including during the Caseys’ diplomatic postings overseas.⁴

Maie’s connection to the region now known as Casey is particularly significant through Edrington, the Casey family property near Berwick. Flying became a shared passion for Maie and Richard after they took flying lessons in England in the late 1930s. They purchased a Percival Vega Gull aircraft and established an airstrip at Edrington, where Maie developed her skills as a pilot.¹

Her enthusiasm for aviation extended beyond personal achievement. In 1950, Maie became the inaugural patron of the Australian Women Pilots’ Association. The organisation aimed to support women pilots and encourage women’s participation and advancement within aviation.⁵

In October 1953, Maie participated in Australia’s first all-woman air race, flying her Miles Messenger aircraft. She continued flying throughout her later life and maintained her connection with aviation communities.⁵

In 1972, Maie Casey provided financial support to Victorian members of AWPA, creating the foundation for the Lady Casey Scholarship. The scholarship continues to assist AWPA members undertaking advanced aviation qualifications, including instructor ratings and command instrument ratings.⁶

Maie also brought her passion for culture into public life. When Richard Casey became Governor-General in 1965, she embraced the responsibilities of vice-regal life while continuing to support Australian artists, writers and musicians. Government House, Yarralumla, became a place where cultural figures could meet alongside official guests and visitors.¹

Her contribution to Australian cultural and community life was formally recognised with her appointment as a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts in 1979 and as a Companion of the Order of Australia in 1982.⁷

Maie Casey passed away at Edrington, Berwick, in 1983, aged 91.⁸ Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser reflected:

“Maie Casey was an extraordinarily versatile and talented woman. As the wife of Lord Casey, whom she married in 1926, she was of tremendous assistance during his distinguished career. But in her own right she was a woman of great achievement. She was an accomplished writer, an artist of note, a pilot and patron of the Australian Women Pilots Association, and a distinguished member of the Australian community.”⁹