Mrs Florence Monod

In 1939 Florence Monod offered to sew a tunic button. Her humble actions during the first night of the canteen service at the Army and RAAF Showground camp sparked what became the largest voluntarily operated canteen in the Commonwealth.

A former wartime nurse and later acting matron at St Kilda Base Hospital, Florence was Chief Stewardess of the Art, Craft and Cookery Competition for fifteen years from 1932 - 1947. Sadly, Florence passed away in 1948. 

Today her dedication is honoured in the Florence Monod Memorial Award for Best in Show Craft, the highest accolade for craft each year. The prestigious award is given to the work regarded as the best of the best from all craft classes. A visionary, Florence changed the title of Women’s Industries to Home Crafts, which allowed male participants to enter the competition. 

Florence was also renowned for her charitable and patriotic passions. Having nursed during two world wars she was often referred to as “Florence Nightingale”.