Introduction
Life
Resources
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Thomas
Sidey (1863 - 1933) and Helena Sidey (c1865
-1966)
Caversham's
leading citizens, the man responsible for
Daylight Saving
Thomas
Kay Sidey was born in a humble farm cottage
at Corstorphine in 1863. But he grew up
in 'Corstorphine House' the mansion built
in 1864 after his father made a fortune
carting supplies to the goldfields. He enjoyed
the best education Dunedin could offer and
began practising as a lawyer in the early
1890s. Despite his wealthy upbringing he
was deeply involved in the community affairs
of Caversham. He served as a councillor
and mayor, was superintendent of the Presbyterian
Sunday School for forty years, and involved
with lodges, sporting and gardening clubs.In
1901 working class Caversham elected him
to Parliament. Sidey was a slight man with
a quiet manner. He was frequently lampooned,
particularly for his 1909 proposal to introduce
daylight saving over the summer months.
It took him until 1927 to have this passed
into law. He survived all the changing fortunes
of his electorate for 27 years. His constituents
knew they could rely on him to champion
their causes, large and small. In 1903 he
married Helena Baxter, an accomplished singer
and artist who had won prizes for chemistry
at Otago University. She had spent five
years at the Otago Medical School, before
catching scarlet fever from a patient decided
her against becoming a doctor. After her
marriage Helena Sidey was active in Plunket
and the Kindergarten Association. Together
the Sideys were Caversham's leading citizens.
Thomas was knighted in 1930 and died three
years later. Lady Sidey survived until 1956.
(Photographs,
Sidey Family History, Otago Setters Museum
Collection)
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