Ann Fawcett Story

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Ann Fawcett Story, born Ann Morris on 25 September 1846 in Hastings, England, was a pioneer cookery teacher who helped make cookery a subject in New South Wales and Victoria schools in Australia. She trained at the National Training School of Cookery in South Kensington and began her career with a London catering company. In 1867 she married Wilson Fawcett Story and they had seven children. They sailed from Plymouth on 22 October, arriving in Sydney on 22 January 1882.

In Australia she worked for the Board of Technical Education from 1883 teaching cookery. When funding ended in 1886 she moved to Hurlstone Training College. In 1889 she was hired to introduce cookery at Fort Street Public School in Sydney. She was promoted each year and by 1891 she supervised the cookery program. In 1892 the school bought portable cooking facilities and began training new teachers, following her plan. She resigned in 1896 after a dispute, having taught in twelve locations. She later helped establish Victoria’s school cookery centres, believing women should know how to cook for themselves, not just train domestic servants, and she lectured at the Victorian Teachers' Training College. She died on 11 February 1911 in Sea Point, aged 64.