Elisabeth Kirkby
Elisabeth Wilma Kirkby OAM (born 26 January 1921), alternatively Elizabeth Kirkby, is a retired English Australian politician, theatre, television and film actress, radio broadcaster, writer, public affairs commentator, producer, director and grazier.
Dr Elisabeth Kirkby | |
|---|---|
| Member of the New South Wales Legislative Council | |
| In office 27 October 1981 – 25 June 1998 | |
| Succeeded by | Arthur Chesterfield-Evans |
| Councillor for Temora, New South Wales | |
| In office 1999–2004 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 26 January 1921 Bolton, Lancashire (now Greater Manchester) England |
| Citizenship | Australian |
| Nationality | British |
| Political party | Australian Democrats |
| Residence | Morning Bay |
| Alma mater | University of Sydney |
| Occupation |
|
| Known for | Number 96 (TV series as "Lucy Sutcliffe") |
Kirkby served with the Australian Democrats as State Parliamentary Leader as a member of the New South Wales Legislative Council from 1981 to 1998, after which she served a seat on local government, as a councillor for Temora from 1999 and 2004. Kirkby, a former actress started her performance career in her native England, before becoming a radio broadcaster, producer, director and screenwriter in Malaysia, subsequently she emigrated to Australia, where she became best known for her small screen role as Lucy Sutcliffe starring opposite James Elliott in serial Number 96.[1]
Early life and career
Born in Bolton, Lancashire, (now Greater Manchester) north-west England to James Burton Kirkby and Frances Robinson[2] Kirkby's acting career began in the United Kingdom during the second world war, where she spent three years working for the war effort with the Auxiliary Territorial Service, and as an entertainer, writer and producer for Stars in Battledress. She appeared in telemovies including Mr. Bolfrey and the televised play Love from a Stranger, based on a stage production written by Frank Vosper, itself based on the a novel by Agatha Christie[1] Kirkby then emigrated to Malaya, where she spent 15 years writing, producing and directing for radio and the arts. Then she moved to Australia, where she wrote and produced documentaries and education programs for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
Entertainment career
After Kirkby's stint at the ABC, she moved to commercial television in guest starring drama roles. These included Rip Tide, The Rovers, in Crawford Productions' espionage drama Hunter and their police drama Homicide and in the serial The Group.
Her next role was that of Lucy Sutcliffe in the soap opera Number 96. The character of Lucy was devised by writer David Sale, who had previously cast her in The Group. He based her and her husband Alf Sutcliffe (played by James Elliott) after his own parents from Lancashire, England, even naming the character of Lucy after his mother. "The only difference," said Sale, "was my parents from native England loved Australia, so to make it a little interesting we would have the character of Alf, as the typical whinging Pommy, who was also longing to return to the United Kingdom, despite Lucy's disapproval."[1]
Kirkby was an original cast member of Number 96 which premiered March 1972. Unsure of how long the series would last, the producers offered the original cast contracts lasting just six weeks.[3] The show became Australia's 10th highest-rated television program in 1972, was the number 1 highest rating program in 1973 and 1974, and the 6th highest rated program for 1975.[4] The episode in which it was revealed that Lucy's tumour was benign proved to be Number 96's highest-ever rated episode. In late 1973 the show had a feature film spin-off featuring much of the show's current cast, including Kirkby, reprising their television roles. Kirby provided a commentary for the DVD release of the series alongside co-star Carol Raye and Michael Kirby[1]
After Number 96 Kirkby went into a theatre run in Melbourne, appearing in The Jockey Club Stakes alongside Robert Coote and Wilfrid Hyde White in late 1975. Kirkby and White had previously met 30 years previously in the entertainment division of the army during World War II.[5] Kirkby subsequently made guest appearances on Australian drama series such as The Outsiders and Glenview High and again appeared in Homicide.
Political career
Kirkby became a politician and was elected to the New South Wales legislative council in 1981. She was the Australian Democrats' New South Wales state leader for many years, and became the longest-serving Australian Democrat member of parliament before retiring in June 1998. She remained in politics, at a local government level, serving as a councillor in Temora Shire from 1999 to 2004. In November 2010 she sold her sheep and wheat farm in Temora, New South Wales and moved to Morning Bay on Pittwater's western foreshore, accessible only by boat.
Personal life and honours
Kirkby is divorced and has one daughter and two sons, Debbie Baile, her daughter became an actress and appeared in Number 96 in 1975.[6] Baile also acted in The Young Doctors and the film Undercover.
In 2006 Kirk earned an Arts Degree and in 2014 a PhD from the University of Sydney at the age of 93, becoming Australia's oldest university graduate. Her thesis was on unemployment during the Great Depression, hence she is an activist for older people to learn and study.[7][lower-alpha 1] In 2012 she was awarded the national Medal of the Order of Australia, for "...service to the Parliament of New South Wales, to the community of Temora, and to the performing arts".[9]
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role |
| 1946 | Mr. Bolfrey (TV movie) | Jean |
| 1947 | Love from a Stranger (TV movie) (credited as Elizabeth Kirkby) | Mavis Wilson |
| 1968 | Hunter (TV series) | Claire Mathison |
| 1969 | Rip Tide (TV series) | Joyce Todd |
| 1969 | The Rovers (TV series) | Miss Constable |
| 1971 | The Group (TV series) | |
| 1968-1975 | Homicide (TV series) | 2 roles -Mrs. Turnbull (credited as Elizabeth Kirkby) -Ruth Mason |
| 1977 | The Outsiders (TV series) | Pat Ryder |
| 1977 | Glenview High (TV series) | Mrs. Mackay |
| 1979 | Challenging Years (film short) | Jenny Walker |
Regular TV role
| Year | Title | Role |
| 1972-1975 | Number 96 (TV series) | Lucy Sutcliffe |
| 1974 | Number 96 (film release) | Lucy Sutcliffe |
| 1976 | Number 96 ... And they said it wouldn't last (Number 96 feature documentary film) | Herself |
Thesis
- Will We Ever Learn From History? The Impact of Economic Orthodoxy on Unemployment during the Great Depression in Australia – doctorate thesis (University of Sydney)
Notes
- Although she is the oldest such recipient in Australia, the world record is held by 102 year old German Jewish woman Ingeborg Syllm-Rapoport, who was awarded a doctorate from the University of Hamburg, after originally being denied by the Nazis Government, some 77 year's earlier.[8]
References
- "Giles, Nigel "NUMBER 96" published by Melbourne Books (2007) ISBN 978-1-925556-00-1
- "The Hon Elisabeth Kirkby OAM (1921- )". Former Members of the Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 5 May 2019.
- Schembri, Jim (9 March 2000). "How a classic still shows the way". The Age Green Guide. Australia. p. 10.
- Beilby, Peter (1981). Australian TV: The First 25 Years. Melbourne: Cinema Papers. pp. 40–47. ISBN 978-0-17-005998-5.
- Scott, Eric (22 November 1975). "96 Star's Sentimental Reunion!". TV Week. Australia. pp. 20, 34.
- "A No.96 Family Affair". TV Week. Australia. 5 July 1975. p. 15.
- "From Number 96 to Australia's oldest PhD at 93". ABC News. 23 April 2014.
- "German Woman, 102, gets doctorate - 77 years after Nazis stopped her first attempt".
- KIRKBY, Elisabeth Wilma – OAM, It's an Honour (Australian Government), 11 June 2012.
External links
| Party political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| First parliamentary leader | Leader of the Australian Democrats in New South Wales 1981–1998 |
Succeeded by Arthur Chesterfield-Evans |
