23/3/1925 - 17/4/2008

ST ALBANS identity Joan Carstairs dedicated the past 35 years to documenting the history of the suburb.

Described by her son, Tony Smith, as a woman before her time, Ms Carstairs, 83, lived her early years in Essendon and Pascoe Vale.

She established an independent school in Perth before moving to Eastern Europe.

Returning to Australia in 1973, she settled in St Albans and made it her home.

However, it was in Perth that she became interested in the plight of Aborigines and fostered a child, Ricci Vicenti, who later died while in custody. She wrote and had a hand in many publications. Her son Tony believes she died satisfied that her latest book about the stolen generations, titled Too Many Tears, was in print.

"She was also determined to wait until John Howard got kicked out [of government],'' he said.

Her first book, St Albans: the first hundred years, printed in 1986, is still sought after.

St Albans History Society president Ron Dorre said: "People still ask about that book. I had a person just a few weeks ago phone to ask for a copy.

"Joan did an incredible amount of work for St Albans; she was famous.''

She also features on a mural, Visions of St Albans, painted by Thea Dulcic, at the St Albans Community Youth Club.

Another project she was very proud of was the Pioneers Women's Shelter, which is located on the west bank of the Maribyrnong River and commemorates Irish pioneer women. Ms Carstairs helped design and raise funds for the project.

She was a teacher at Christ the King Catholic School in Braybrook until she retired in 1982.

Mr Smith said he had "plenty of stories'' about his mother, but one of his favourites concerns restaurant chain McDonald's, which was looking to build in StAlbans. The fast food giant was considering building on land near Errington Reserve, which would have further eroded the area's dwindling stocks of open space.

"My mother was very politically active and took it upon herself to find McDonald's a more suitable spot [on St Albans Road], which they were happy with and ended up building there.''