s e l i f o r P i n lA um By Ian Robertson, Alumni Manager
Wendy Scarfe (Roper, Class of 1950) Author, Social Activist After matriculating, Wendy graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Melbourne and gained secondary teaching qualifications. In 1955, she married Allan Scarfe and they taught in Australia, England and India. Their experiences in India changed their lives. In 1960, they were invited by venerated political leader and social activist Jayaprakash Narayan (known as JP) to set up an experimental school in a remote Indian village. Inspired by the United Nation’s designation of the 1960s as the decade of development, they set off for a three-year posting. The poverty shocked them. As well as writing syllabuses and preparing plans for the new school, they began a night literacy class for adults. The children were so poorly nourished that twice weekly they boiled up a cauldron of powdered milk to distribute to the children. Wendy set up a kindergarten. After three years, the Scarfes returned to live in Warrnambool, but memories of India haunted them, and they finally decided to write about their experiences. A Mouthful of Petals was published in London. The Scarfes continued to correspond with JP and in 1967, he wrote that the monsoon had failed and famine threatened. With the support of Warrnambool’s Mayor, the Scarfes raised money and Wendy set off for India, recording the inspiring work of aid workers who saved the lives of almost 30 million people. In 1969, JP visited Australia as a guest of the government and the Scarfes gained his permission to write his biography. In 1975, JP, His Biography was published to critical acclaim. Allan died in 2016, but Wendy continues to write. She is the author and co-author of 20 books as well as three anthologies of poetry. Her novels show her interest in political conflict and social injustice.
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