ÚÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ¿
             ³Who was Australia's most famous Buddhist woman ? ³
             ÀÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÙ
   Marie Beuzeville Byles (1900 - 1979). She was one of the first women to
graduate in Law from the University of Sydney and, certainly the first to set
up private practice after her graduation. The 'Sydney Morning Herald', of
November 24th, 1979, in her obituary observed that:

           She became a legendary figure, winning achievement
           as a mountaineer, explorer and author.

She wrote at least six books, four of which were about Buddhist topics. Marie
gave many talks to the Theosophical Society in Sydney, as well as broadcasting
on their regular Sunday night programme on Radio Station, 2GB.   She also
preached Dhamma at the Unitarian Church in Sydney.   Marie disliked
participation in organised groups, prefering to study and meditate in a hut in
the garden of her Cheltenham (a Sydney suburb) home. She was a pacifist, naming
her home 'Ahimsa'(harmlessness) and the meditation hut, 'The Hut of the Happy
Omen'. Since her death the home and garden have been given to the people of
Sydney as a quiet retreat. It is administered by the National Trust. Her vast
collection of Buddhist books are now in the Fisher Library at the University
of Sydney.