No Job for a Woman
Page 26
Writing a memoir involves a lot of remembering and sometimes I have remembered too late things which I had forgotten about and so are not in the book. I hope anyone who feels neglected will forgive me.
I have a lot of people to thank. First of all my children, for being such wonderful people and also for trusting me – they never asked to know what I was writing. And thanks to my sisters, who have not checked up on my family memories.
Many friends have given me support, especially in moments of panic: Marina Hamilton Craig, Susan Johnson, Margot Anthony, Robert Allan, Dan Wood and Carmen Findlay.
Rachel Dixon, who doubles as my personal trainer and personal assistant, gets a special thank you for typing the manuscript and offering comments and feedback, and laughing a lot.
I am absolutely blessed to have UQP as my publishers because they have been such good friends through the process. Madonna Duffy went beyond her role as Publisher, from persuading me to write in the first place to visiting me often at home to give me encouragement and support. The two Jacquelines, Kent and Blanchard, did more than I assume editors do, and listened to my moans of despair when I thought I could not go on. Jacquie K was the objective observer from Sydney and Jacq B followed on with Brisbane scrutiny and a lot of hand-holding. I had no idea the process of publication was so complex and I am filled with admiration for all those who go through it regularly and by choice.
By one of those coincidences with which my life seems to be filled, I started this book on the veranda of the North Gregory Hotel in Winton and I am finishing it on the veranda of the North Gregory at the Outback Film Festival. So thank you also to the NGH, for being part of my childhood and my life thereafter.
A colonial couple, circa 1939 – Mum (Ruth Kerr) serving afternoon tea in the garden in Colombo, Ceylon, and Dad (Terry Kerr) relaxing with a smoke.
Mum, just 23, with me aged four months, Sydney.
My sister Louella and me enjoying the sunshine in our garden in Vijaya Road, Colombo.
The rollers that carried boxes of tea in the factories ‘up-country’ made great slides at children’s parties. Dad’s firm, Davidson & Co, made the Sirocco brand in Belfast and shipped the machinery to Ceylon.
While most of the women were evacuated, Dad and his friends joined the Ceylon Planters Rifle Corps to defend the island from the Japanese, circa 1942.
Posing for a family portrait in Sligo, Ireland, 1946. Mum with Louella (left), Jill (middle) and me sitting on Dad’s lap.
At 11, I regarded younger sister Holly as my own and a replacement for the dolls I had left behind in Ceylon. I’m playing Mother here in the garden at ‘Hazeldene’ in Southport.
Snapped by a street photographer in Surfers Paradise, January 1957. I’m reluctant to be part of the family and Dad is lingering behind. Baby Charles is in the stroller.
Holidaying with my Sydney grandparents, Will and Helen Helmore.
I was the only girl in my Senior class whose mother had given birth that year. My one-year-old sister, Kim, sits on my lap. Louella (right) is 15 and Holly (left) is seven.
Enjoying a day at the beach in Surfers Paradise, 1962. On my first date with my future husband, Leigh Atkinson, we joined a group of friends including Bill Everingham (pictured) who would later become Liberal Party president.
The College Players were students from the University of Queensland’s Women’s College and St John’s College. I was a fairy in the chorus of Gilbert and Sullivan’s Iolanthe, 1960.
Training as a cadet journalist included evening classes to learn shorthand. Seated third from left, I am beside fellow cadet and good friend, Hugh Lunn.
Leigh Atkinson and I were engaged on 12 December 1963, which happened to be his birthday. We were married the following year on 1 May. Leigh’s grandmother, Nora Keane, made my wedding dress.
With my mother-in-law, Edna Atkinson, at my eldest daughter Nicola’s christening on 28 March 1965. Babies were baptised very young, a legacy from the days when infant mortality was high. I am wearing my going-away outfit from my wedding day the year before.
Looking my best, with my hair and make-up professionally styled, for for an episode of Channel Seven’s Beauty and the Beast. The panel were tasked with answering viewer questions. I was pregnant with my second child, Damien, at the time.
Raising a young family in Edinburgh, Scotland, was a challenge. Eloise was born not long after we arrived. We travelled many miles in our little van.
Nicola and Damien travelled on my passport. It was only when I was issued with my first passport that I discovered my name on my birth certificate had been misspelled; my grandfather was obviously flustered when he registered me in 1942.
I love this photograph – Nicola, Damien and Eloise are wearing outfits I made myself. I knitted the navy blue jumpers to match their tartan skirts and shorts.
These brochures were used in my 1979 bid to become Alderman for Indooroopilly. We handed them out, stuffed them into letterboxes and gave bundles to willing taxi drivers to help promote my campaign.
As alderman I was often in the media spotlight. This promotional shot was a bit deceptive. The happy children are authentic, but that saucepan looks rather empty. From left to right: Genevieve, Nicola, me, Damien, Eloise and Stephanie.
Premier Joh Bjelke-Petersen and I helping to celebrate the first five years in business of good friend and ‘Jobs Queen’ Sarina Russo in the mid-1980s. Three decades later the Sarina Russo Group is a global leader in education, employment and training.
Local government minister Russ Hinze and I make a toast with tea cups on top of the Gateway Bridge as construction is finalised in 1986.
Courtesy News Ltd/Newspix
As Brisbane Lord Mayor I helped promote the Olympics. Pictured here with Simon, a koala from Lone Pine, launching a book about the city.
All of my children and their grandmother lined up to meet Pope John Paul II in the foyer of City Hall during his visit to Brisbane in 1986.
Courtesy Vogue Australia
Vogue Australia did my hair, clothes and make-up for a shoot with photographer Richard Bailey in 1982. I was featured as a woman of achievement in an article by Marion von Alderstein. My advice: ‘Keep your options open. If you want to be a housewife, be one. But make sure it’s what you want and not something that’s been thrust upon you.’
Holidaying on the Gold Coast with the kids at Northcliffe beach. From left to right: Eloise, Genevieve, Damien, Stephanie (front), Nicola and me.
Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, came to Brisbane and City Hall in 1990 as President of the Word Wide Fund for Nature.
The interior of City Hall was restored to its former glory in 1986. Always willing to pitch in, I got up on the scaffolding to help paint the final gilded rosettes.
The Lord Mayors from each of the Australian capital cities, gathered in Melbourne in 1985 for their annual conference. From left to right: Doug Sutherland (Sydney), Mick Michael (Perth), me (Brisbane), Brian Broadby (Hobart), Ed Beacham (Melbourne), Jim Jarvis (Adelaide), and Alec Fong Lim (Darwin).
Courtesy News Ltd/Newspix
Designer Keri Craig made this evening dress for a formal mayoral function. I was proud of the dress, but always felt this front-page contributed to the party girl image that the Labor party used so successfully in my defeat.
Farewell from City Hall, taken following my final press conference as mayor, 1991.
In 1993 I headed up the Drought Funds Co-ordinating Committee, which brought together various organisations to assist farmers struggling in rural communities. I travelled around Queensland to see the work in action.
The proud family of the bride celebrated my daughter Nicola’s wedding to Ted at St Patrick’s in Fortitude Valley, 1992. Pictured from left to right: Genevieve, Leigh, Nicola, Ted, me, Eloise, Damien and Stephanie.
Paris was the perfect place to explore my newfound status as a single woman. The Australian Embassy where I lived and worked was on Rue Jean Rey and within waving distance of the Eiffel Tower.
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The Brisbane Broncos established a team in Northern England and came to play a team in Paris. As Number One jersey holder I hosted an official reception for them.
Joined by members of both political persuasions the morning after Sydney won its bid to host the Olympics in 2000.
I first got to know Gough Whitlam through notes he and Jim Killen wrote each other in Parliament. We later became friends on the Olympic trail.
Nelson Mandela visited the South African team at the athlete’s village during the Sydney Olympic Games. As deputy mayor of the village I acted as escort. He asked if he could put his arm around me so it wouldn’t look as though he needed support.
Courtesy Philip Norrish/Newspix
In 2004 ABC Learning was growing at a fast rate. An agreement was signed for a new facility in the presence of Maha Sinnathamby (left), chairman of Springfield and developer of Australia’s fastest growing city, and CEO Eddy Groves (behind). I was acting in my role as Chairman of the Board.
With girls from my old school, St Hilda’s, at Women’s College where I am now President as well as alumna. This was at our annual Academic Dinner where we recognise the extraordinary achievements of young women.
Courtesy Australian Border Force
In 2015 I was Ceremonial Naming Lady for the Australian Border Force cutter Cape York, which was launched near Freemantle, WA. Pictured here with Richie Ah Mat, Chairperson of the Cape York Land Council.
The growing Atkinson family gathered for Christmas in 2010 at the Vaucluse home of my daughter Stephanie. I am the proud grandmother of 14 grandchildren.
Courtesy Lyndon Mechielsen/Newspix
In 2015 the Museum of Brisbane hosted an exhibition to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Expo 88. Pictured here, in my role as Chairman member, with Major Mitchell Cockatoo. This was a brief grey hair phase for me.
INDEX
The page numbers in this index refer to the page numbers of the printed book and are reproduced here for reference only. Please use the search facility of your device to find the relevant entry.
ABC 72–3, 94, 95, 204, 205, 235
ABC Learning 205, 251–5
Abigroup 205, 237
Aceh 250
Ackerie, Stefan 158, 171
Adam, Helen 54
Adam, James 168
Adam, Robert 168
Africa 248
Ahern, Bill 52
Ahern, Mike 163, 176, 248, 249
Albertville 193, 195, 208
Algeria 226
Allan, Robert 55
Allen, Geoff 203
Allison, Annette 52
Alzheimers disease 257
Andrew, Neil 263
Andrew, Prince 175
Andrews, Dana 22
Andrews, John 113
Angelina Lauro 88, 90
Anthony, Doug 213
APN News and Media 205, 237
Ardill, Len 113
Armstrong, Neil 66
Around Brisbane 98, 121–3
Ascot 231
Aspley 126
Athens 193
Atkinson, Abraham 240
Atkinson, Damien 65, 74–5, 76, 79–80, 82, 87, 91, 93, 95, 130, 140, 175, 191, 193, 204, 209, 222, 230, 233, 240, 260
Atkinson, Edna 159
Atkinson, Edwina 86
Atkinson, Elizabeth 68
Atkinson, Eloise 75, 80, 81, 84, 87, 90, 91, 95, 130, 216, 229, 230, 231, 239
Atkinson, Genevieve 75, 91, 92, 95, 130, 180, 198, 230, 235, 240
Atkinson, Leigh 68–77, 88, 88, 90–1, 93, 95, 96, 112, 130, 185, 234, 275
annulment 240–2
Genoa 88–9
husband of Lord Mayor, as 159, 175
politics 93, 100–1, 106–7, 208
Scotland 75, 78–87
separation 179–80, 183, 217–18
travels 86–9, 97, 203–4, 215
Atkinson, Leila 240
Atkinson, Miriam 240, 260
Atkinson, Nicola 49, 50, 73–4, 82, 87, 90, 91, 93, 95, 96, 130, 208, 229, 235, 239
Atkinson, Sallyanne (nee Kerr)
ageing 257–8, 273
alcohol, first taste of 38
Alumnus of the Year (2014) 261
annulment 240–2
Austrade 216–30
awards 261–2
babysitting club 84
birth 7
boyfriends 36, 42, 46, 54
Brazil 266–7, 269
campaigning 132–40, 197, 199–202, 209–13
chairmanship, company 250–1, 254, 265–6
childhood in Colombo 12–15, 20–3, 26
community organisations 262–4
death of baby brother 40–1
depression 258–9
Deputy Mayor of the Athletes’ Village 195, 246
doorknocking 107–8
driving 57, 222–3, 233
Economic Blueprint 133
education 22–3, 24, 27, 28–30, 33–4, 41–4
Europe, travels in 86–9, 121, 188–94, 201, 203–4, 236
federal politics 182, 199, 201, 208–13
foster child 95–6
France 216–30, 232–3, 244, 259, 261, 276
Genoa 88–9
grandchildren 229–30, 231, 239–40, 258, 260
grief 259–60
holidays 26–7, 36–8
honorary doctorates 261–2
housewife, as 92, 218
illness 25–6
journalism 49–65, 67, 85–6, 92–3, 110, 118, 120, 161–2, 173, 203, 235
Killen, working for 101–4
Leader of the Opposition 115–16, 118–19, 124, 125–6, 130, 184
leadership, on 274–5
Liberal Party 93–4
life lessons 273–6
local government 1–3, 104–13, 129, 182
Lord Mayor, as see Lord Mayor of Brisbane
marriage 68–72, 179–80, 183, 217–18, 240–2
non-executive director, as 204–8, 236–8
Order of Australia 261
policies 133–4, 137
politics, early 99–101, 120–1, 129
pregnancy and birth 72–6, 91, 92
public performance 23, 24–5, 35, 36, 48–9, 204
radio career 204
real estate, buying 245, 251
religion 69–70, 83, 186, 190–1, 240–2, 260
renovations 97
Republican movement 242–4
Scotland 75, 78–87, 97, 99, 276
separation 179–80, 183, 217–18
sexual abuse 15–16
single life 232, 233–5, 246
South East Asia trade commissioner 248–50
sport 34–5, 42, 184–95, 229, 262
state politics 181–2, 238–9
stutter 28, 35, 49
success, on 274
television 64–5, 115
university 45–9, 50–1, 53–4, 65, 77
US study tour 124, 138
Atkinson, Stephanie 75, 91, 123, 130, 140, 180, 198, 229, 230, 235, 240, 263
Atkinson, Tony 57
Atlanta 124, 125, 193
Attwell, Mabel Lucy 22–3
Auckland 226
Austa Energy 238
Austin, Brian 126
Austrade 216–30
Australian 92, 103, 162, 224, 238
Australian Ballet 236
Australian Catholic University (ACU) 261–2
Australian Consolidated Press 58
Australian Elizabethan Theatre Trust 205, 262
Australian Ireland Fund 263
Australian Liberal 93, 101, 173, 265
Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) 186–94
Australian Story 235–6
Australians for Constitutional Monarchy 243
Babcock, Betty 119
Babcock, Richard 119
‘Back the Suburbs’ 137
Baden-Powell, Lady 17
Bailey, Earle 36
Balkin, Gary 171
Bandaranaike, Prime Minister 39
Barcelona 191, 194, 195
Barclay Mowlem 205
Barker, Wilf 189, 192
Barton Deakin 94, 265
Baume, Eric 64, 65
Beanland, Denver 153
Beatles 66
Beattie, Peter 178, 239, 247–8
Beaudesert 210, 212, 213
Beauty and the Beast 64, 74
Beddall, David 210, 212
Beirne, Julien 93, 121, 241
Belfast 5, 6, 9, 10, 17, 39, 173, 185, 276
Belgium 226
Belgrade 192
Bellevue Hotel 122–3
Benaud, Richie 186
Besley, Robyn 55
Binna Burra Mountain Lodge 238
Bishop, Julie 255
Bishop’s College 28
Bjelke-Petersen, Lady Florence (Flo), 161–2
Bjelke-Petersen, Sir Joh 122, 124, 145, 152, 159, 161–3, 165, 170, 176, 181
Blackwood, Angus 264
Blake, Suzanne 54
Blamey, General Sir Thomas 48
Bligh, Anna 132
Blocksidge, Margaret 241
Bogle, Dr Gilbert 61–2
Bollon 213, 214
Bonner, Neville 243
Boonah 210
Boondall Wetlands 196
Bordeaux 228
Boulia 36, 37
Bowen, Governor George 42
Boyan, Bill 52
Bradfield, John 158
Brady, Karen 65
Bray, Ted 72
Brazil 267, 269
First Fleet, and 266
Honorary Consul to 266–7, 269
Brisbane 26, 34, 67, 128–9, 131, 135–6, 169–70, 193, 231, 233, 276–7
exploring 98