Fanny Sarah Breckler (1877 – 9 December 1946)[1] was a philanthropist and founder of the Western Australian shoe retailer Betts & Betts.[2]

Early life

Breckler was the daughter of Joseph and Bella Masel. She was born in Minsk, Russian Empire,[3] in 1877.[2] She came to Western Australia in 1889,[3] and married Yoel Breckler in 1897.[4] Yoel, also a Russian immigrant, ran a shoe repair business in Fremantle.[2] They had four children[4] before Breckler was widowed in 1912.[2]

Business

Breckler and her sons, Cecil and Alec,[5] took over Yoel's business,[2] Breckler Brothers.[6] They decided to expand into retailing, and opened a store, The Dainty Walk, on Hay Street in the Perth central business district.[2]

Breckler was successful in business, developing a chain of stores that became one of the largest in Australia by the 1940s.[3] The business has been known by the names Cecil Brothers, Betts & Betts, and most recently Betts.[6]

Personal life and other roles

Breckler was a long-time president of the National Council of Jewish Women in Western Australia, and involved with Jewish and patriotic charities.[3]

The Brecklers became one of the richest families in Australia, and one of the few wealthy Jewish families not from Melbourne or Sydney.[2]

Breckler had a mansion built in 1935.[7][8] It included a ballroom with a stage,[7] and was listed on the City of Stirling's Municipal Inventory on 11 June 1997.[9][8]

Breckler died on 9 December 1946. A memorial service was held the next day at the Perth Hebrew Congregation synagogue, attended by approximately 600 people. That was followed by a funeral at the Jewish section of Karrakatta Cemetery – one of the largest ever held there at the time – where Breckler was buried.[3][10]

Legacy

Breckler's estate was valued at over £44,600. While most was left to her family and friends, bequests of £100 were made to the W.A. Jewish Philanthropic Society and the Children's Hospital, and the W.A. Institute for the Blind, W.A. Adult Deaf and Dumb Society, Parkerville Children's Home, Children's Protection Society, and Home of Peace each received £50.[1]

Breckler was recognised as one of the most influential Western Australian businesspeople in The West Australian's 2013 list of the 100 most influential.[2]

References

  1. 1 2 "MRS. BRECKLER LEAVES £44.648". The Daily News (Home ed.). Western Australia. 28 February 1947. p. 10. Retrieved 1 February 2020 – via Trove.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Harvey, Ben; Hatch, Daniel (29 November 2013). 100 most influential: The business leaders who shaped WA – 1829-2013 (PDF). The West Australian. p. 26. Archived (PDF) from the original on 27 January 2020.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 "DEATH OF MRS. BRECKLER". The West Australian (Second ed.). Western Australia. 11 December 1946. p. 10. Retrieved 1 February 2020 – via Trove.
  4. 1 2 Hills, Heather (Spring 2008). "The Breckler house". Spirit of Progress. 9 (4): 8–9. ISSN 1443-7554.
  5. ↑ Heritage Council of Western Australia (23 November 2001). "Register of Heritage Places - Assessment Documentation: Savoy Hotel" (PDF). Government of Western Australia. p. 5. Archived (PDF) from the original on 5 July 2009. Retrieved 1 February 2020.
  6. 1 2 "Betts Turns 125". The Journal. Betts. 2018. Archived from the original on 15 March 2019. Retrieved 1 February 2020.
  7. 1 2 "Two grand, historic Perth homes hit the market". The West Australian. 16 May 2017. Archived from the original on 1 February 2020. Retrieved 1 February 2020.
  8. 1 2 "City of Stirling Municipal Inventory". City of Stirling. 17 June 1997. pp. 29, 69. Archived from the original on 1 February 2020. Retrieved 1 February 2020.
  9. ↑ City of Stirling (1 January 2017). "Breckler Residence". inHerit. Government of Western Australia. Retrieved 1 February 2020.
  10. ↑ "Mrs. F. Breckler Dies". The Daily News. Western Australia. 10 December 1946. p. 9 (CITY FINAL). Retrieved 1 February 2020 – via Trove.
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