Mary Reibey was transported from her home in England to the penal colony in Australia in 1792, having been convicted for horse theft. After her release in Sydney, she became through marriage a successful business woman and dedicated her later life to charitable works.
According to the Reibey Institute website (see related link below), her appearance on the Australian $20 note honours her contribution to Australia as one of the country's pioneer entrepreneurs.
Other works for which she was noted included owning farms, the family sealing operation at Bass Strait, and being involved in overseas commerce, which included expanding her shipping fleet. Reibey was a founding member of the Bank of New South Wales, which is now known as Westpac. She was also appointed governor of the Free Grammar School in 1825.
There was no Australian Dollar until 1966, long after the "early settlement". At the time of currency changeover from Pounds to Dollars, the Australian One Pound note converted to the Australian Two Dollar note.
Mary Reibey was transported to the colony of New South Wales for horse-stealing. Horses were a very valuable commodity, so the crime was considered serious, even though it is likely that she just borrowed the horse to run away. She was thirteen when she was convicted, and her parents had both died, so her circumstances were poor and uncertain.
The Australian Five Dollar note was first issued on the 29th of May, 1967, over 15 months after the introduction of decimal currency on the 14th of February, 1966. Although it was seen as an error of omission by many that it was not included in the original release of decimal banknotes, it was deliberately released later to allow a smooth transition from existing Pound notes to their equivalent Dollar notes. The Five Dollar note was the equivalent of Two Pounds, Ten Shillings in the old currency.
Mary Reibey (1777-1855) (also spelled 'Reiby', 'Raby', and 'Raiby'[1]) was born Mary Haydock in England. At the age of fourteen, she was arrested and convicted of horse stealing. She was transported to the Colony of New South Wales as a Convict to serve out her sentence in 1791. Landing in Sydney in 1792 she was assigned to a Major and given the duties of nursemaid in his household. In 1794, she married Thomas Reiby, formerly of the East India Company. Thomas soon branched out on his own as Entally House. At the beginning of 1803, Thomas owned three boats and traded coals and wheat up the Hawkesbury and Hunter rivers. By 1807, Thomas had bought a schooner for trading with the Pacific Islands. He fell ill after a voyage to India in 1809; his health never completely recovered. After his death in 1811, Mary was left with seven children and control of Entally House which by then included rural properties, sealing operations in Bass Strait, as well as overseas trading. Thanks to enterprise and hard work, Mary Reibey became one of the most successful businesswomen in the Colony. With her new affluence came the hard-earned reward of respectability: Mary was now part of Governor Macquarie's social set. Mary opened a new warehouse in 1812, enlarging her fleet with the purchase of two more ships by 1817. In 1820, Mary returned to England with her daughters. On returning to Sydney she began buying property, starting several building projects in the center of town. Mary was quickly able to retire and live on her investments. In 1825, in recognition of her interest in church, education and charity, Mary was appointed one of the governors of the Free Grammar School. Her later years were spent in Newtown, where she lived the remainder of her life until her death in 1855. Mary Reibey on the $20 note. Enlarge Mary Reibey on the $20 note. In recognition of her philanthropy Mary Reibey is put on the front of Australian 20 dollar banknote.
She's not, Dame Nellie Melba is on the 100 dollar note not the 20 dollar note. She is on there as she is considered one of the worlds most important opera singers, and as a result was honoured by being put onto our dollar notes.
Mary Reibey on the front and Jhon Flynn
Mary Reibey and John Flynn.
Mary Reibey on the front and Jhon Flynn
Front: Mary Reibey Back: Reverend John Flynn
Mary Reibey and John flynn, if you look at the bottom of any note in little black writting it says there name, hope this helped :)
Australia puts famous or historically significant Australian identities on its banknotes. The original paper Australian Twenty Dollar note (1966-1993) had Sir Charles Kingsford Smith (aviator) on the front and Lawrence Hargrave (aeronautical pioneer) is on the reverse. The current polymer Australian Twenty Dollar note (1994-present) has Mary Reibey (ex-convict & pioneer business woman) on the front and Rev John Flynn (pioneer of world's first aerial medical service) is on the reverse.
John Flynn and Mary Reibey
Queen Mary II died in 1694, before Australia was discovered and has never been on any Australian coin or bank note.
A sailing ship appears on the polymer Australian Twenty Dollar note on the side featuring Mary Reiby. Mary Reiby was transported to Australia as a convict and, after her release, married and became a pioneer business woman.
There is no bird on the Australian Ten Dollar note.
The people on the Australian Twenty Dollar notes are as follows - Sir Charles Kingsford Smith (aviator) (1897-1935). Lawrence Hargrave (aeronatical pioneer) (1850-1915). Mary Reibey (ex-convict & pioneer business woman) (1777-1855). Rev John Flynn (pioneer of world's first aerial medical service) (1880-1951).
Mary Reibey and John Flynn. http://cafe.naver.com/aussieschool