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June Dally-Watkins

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June Dally-Watkins
OAM
Portrait of June Dally-Watkins, Sydney, December 1950
Born
June Marie Skewes

(1927-06-13)13 June 1927
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Died22 February 2020(2020-02-22) (aged 92)
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
NationalityAustralian
Occupations
  • Model
  • businessperson
  • etiquette coach
Years active1950–2020
Height164 cm (5 ft 4+1⁄2 in)
Political partyChristian Democrats

June Marie Dally-Watkins OAM (née Skewes; 13 June 1927 – 22 February 2020) was an Australian businesswoman and fashion model, recognised by the Australian honours system as an entrepreneur.[1] In 1950 she started a personal-development school in Sydney to train young women in etiquette and deportment. A year later, she started Australia's first model agency and modelling school, and later established a Business Finishing College.[2] She later became a public proponent of etiquette and elocution, and frequently commented on those topics in the media.[3][4]

In 1993, Dally-Watkins received an Order of Australia Medal for her contribution to business.[1][5]

In 2014 she featured on the popular Australian television show Bogan Hunters on the 7mate channel, where she provided information relating to etiquette to series winners.[6]

In 2019 she taught etiquette to women in China.[7]

Early life

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Dally-Watkins was born in Sydney in June 1927 with the birth name June Skewes.[8] Her mother, Caroline May Skewes, came from a family of farmers in the village of Watsons Creek, close to Tamworth, New South Wales. Her father, whom she did not meet until later in life, was a businessman named Bob Monkton,[7] who had met Skewes while on a rabbit-hunting expedition in Watsons Creek. Former army captain and wine salesman David Dally-Watkins married her mother and adopted her in 1940, after which she assumed his name, becoming June Dally-Watkins.[7][9] The family moved to Sydney in 1940, where Dally-Watkins attended the Willoughby Girls High School, but Caroline's marriage to David was short-lived, and she and Dally-Watkins returned to live in Tamworth in 1942 amidst threat of a Japanese invasion of Australia.[9]

Career

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Portrait of June Dally-Watkins, Sydney, March 1949

In 1944 Tamworth-based photographer Jan Solomons performed a photoshoot with Dally-Watkins, after which he suggested to her mother that her appearance could lead her to a career in modelling.[9] Acting on this advice, the pair moved back to Sydney, where Dally-Watkins was appointed to a modelling job at Farmers & Co Department Store,[10] (acquired by Myer in 1961). Dally-Watkins later described her appearance in the 1940s as resembling that of a milkmaid, but her success grew through the decade and in 1949 she won the Australian Model of the Year award.[11]

In 1950, after a visit to New York City to research the latest developments in fashion,[12] Dally-Watkins founded a school of deportment and etiquette. She then went on to start her own modelling agency, as well as a business college.[11]

In later life, Dally-Watkins expanded her etiquette coaching to China, establishing a programme called Look of Success in collaboration with a Chinese partner. The programme ran a series of courses, using venues such as luxury hotels.[13]

Personal life

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Dally-Watkins had a brief relationship with American actor Gregory Peck.[14] In 1953, she married John Clifford, a naval officer, but they separated in 1968, finalizing in 1969.[15] The couple had four children; two sons and two daughters.[7]

She died on 22 February 2020, aged 92.[8][1]

References

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  1. ^ a b c Pitt, Helen (23 February 2020). "Etiquette queen who taught girls how to walk and talk". The Sydney Morning Herald. She was recognised as a trailblazing entrepreneur, receiving an Order of Australia for her contribution to business in 1993.
  2. ^ Newton, Gloria (5 March 1975). "When Models were Feted Like Film Stars". The Australian Women's Weekly. National Library of Australia. p. 4. Retrieved 21 March 2012.
  3. ^ Gerloff, Olga (29 December 2010). "An etiquette lesson from June Dally-Watkins". Parramatta Advertiser. Archived from the original on 6 March 2011.
  4. ^ Georgiou, Andrew (25 March 2008). "June Dally-Watkins: Colourful Sydney Identity, The Bridge". Time Out Sydney. Archived from the original on 18 October 2013.
  5. ^ "Miss June Marie Dally-Watkins". It's An Honour. Retrieved 19 May 2021.
  6. ^ Stephenson, Alison (16 July 2014). "Nanna Shazza and Justin Gilbert from Bogan Hunters get a makeover". News Limited. Archived from the original on 9 November 2014. Retrieved 9 November 2014.
  7. ^ a b c d Lee, Betty (23 February 2019). "China's craze for etiquette queen June Dally-Watkins". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 23 February 2019.
  8. ^ a b Guinness, Daphne (23 February 2020). "'Every woman has a right to be beautiful': Dally-Watkins dead at 92". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 23 February 2020.
  9. ^ a b c Tabakoff, Jenny (23 February 2020). "Model and manners – Dally-Watkins dies". Blue Mountains Gazette.
  10. ^ "Australian Biography: June Dally-Watkins". National Film and Sound Archive of Australia.
  11. ^ a b "June Dally-Watkins". National Portrait Gallery (Australia).
  12. ^ Margaret Maynard (2001). Out of Line: Australian Women and Style. UNSW Press. p. 128. ISBN 9780868405155.
  13. ^ "Miss June Dally-Watkins Chinese Adventure". SBS. 11 July 2016.
  14. ^ "Etiquette queen less than impressed". News.com.au. 17 March 2009.
  15. ^ "June Dally-Watkins Australia's queen of deportment and etiquette dies at 92". The Guardian. 23 February 2020.
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