Ruby Litchfield Explained

Dame Ruby Litchfield
Birth Name:Ruby Beatrice Skinner
Birth Date:5 September 1912
Birth Place:Subiaco, Western Australia
Death Place:Adelaide, South Australia
Occupation:Theatre director, board member, and community worker

Dame Ruby Beatrice Litchfield DBE (Skinner; 5 September 1912 – 14 August 2001) was an Australian theatre director, board member and community worker.

Early life and education

Litchfield was born Ruby Beatrice Skinner in Subiaco, Western Australia on 5 September 1912. She moved to Adelaide, South Australia with her family where she was educated at North Adelaide Primary School and Presbyterian Girls' College (now Seymour College).[1] In the 1920s she was successful at dancing competitions[2] and was trained in elocution by Thelma Baulderstone.[3]

Career

As a young woman, Litchfield was a successful tennis player, winning a number of hard court championships in South Australia between 1932 and 1935.[4] [5] In 1936, she was "Miss Tennis" in the quest held in Adelaide for "Miss Centenary", chosen by popular vote.[6]

While teaching elocution, she also performed with the Adelaide Repertory Theatre from 1930.[7] She was a board member of the Repertory Theatre from the 1940s and in the 1940s and 50s raised funds for the Red Cross by organising tennis tournaments[8] and producing concerts and plays.[9]

On 27 August 1940, she married Kenneth Litchfield.[10] She continued playing competitive tennis[11] and performing in amateur dramatics.[12] In 1967 she was made a life member of the Adelaide Repertory Theatre.[13]

She was the first woman to be appointed to the board of both the South Australia Housing Trust and, in 1971, the Adelaide Festival and Centre Trust.[14]

Awards and recognition

Litchfield was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in the 1959 New Year Honours for her work in social welfare.[15] In the 1981 Queen's Birthday Honours she was promoted to Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire for "service to the performing arts and the community".[16]

In 1986 she was honoured with a plaque in the Adelaide's Jubilee 150 Walkway,[17] which was sponsored by two of her grandchildren.[18]

Death and legacy

Litchfield died in Adelaide, South Australia on 14 August 2001.[19]

In 1993, the Dame Ruby Litchfield Scholarship for Performing Arts[20] was inaugurated by the SA State Government. It was administered by Carclew and discontinued in 2016.[21] [22]

Since 2006, the Ruby Awards have been presented annually by the Government of South Australia to honour Litchfield and recognise achievement in arts and culture.[23]

In 2019, she was inducted onto the Suffrage 125 City of Adelaide Honour Roll in recognition of her life's work.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Dame Ruby Litchfield DBE – Suffrage 125 City of Adelaide Honour Roll. 2021-11-01. City of Adelaide. en-AU.
  2. News: 13 February 1924. Miss Larssen's Dancing Championship. LXXXIX. 13. The Register (Adelaide). 25,937. South Australia. National Library of Australia. 1 November 2021.
  3. News: 6 December 1926. Music and Art. XCI. 11. The Register (Adelaide). 26,615. South Australia. National Library of Australia. 1 November 2021.
  4. Web site: LITCHFIELD, Ruby Beatrice – 5/9/1912. 1 November 2021. Women's Museum of Australia.
  5. News: 15 September 1934. Prospect Girl Has Fine Tennis Record. 23. 11. The Mail (Adelaide). 1,164. South Australia. National Library of Australia. 1 November 2021.
  6. News: 27 February 1936. Now Ten Girls in Contest. XXVI. 17. News. 3,932. South Australia. National Library of Australia. 1 November 2021.
  7. News: 23 June 1932. Three Repertory Plays. 8. The Advertiser (Adelaide). South Australia. National Library of Australia. 1 November 2021.
  8. News: 29 May 1940. Adelaide's Sportgirls Do Share of War WorkK. XXXIV. 6. News. 5,255. South Australia. National Library of Australia. 1 November 2021.
  9. News: 15 January 1959. Mrs. Ruby Litchfield Honored. 7. 1. Northern Suburbs Weekly. 1. South Australia. National Library of Australia. 1 November 2021.
  10. News: 28 August 1940. Wedding At St. Cuthbert's Church. 7. The Advertiser (Adelaide). South Australia. National Library of Australia. 1 November 2021.
  11. News: 13 November 1940. Net Play's Sport Talk. XXXV. 6. News. 5,399. South Australia. National Library of Australia. 1 November 2021.
  12. News: 31 March 1941. Amateur Theatre. 12. The Advertiser (Adelaide). South Australia. National Library of Australia. 1 November 2021.
  13. Web site: Ruby Litchfield, of Ruby awards fame, brings her theatre passion to Adelaide Repertory, directing 35 of its plays. 2021-11-01. AdelaideAZ.
  14. Web site: A Proud History. 2021-11-01. The Adelaide Repertory Theatre. en-AU.
  15. Web site: Mrs Ruby Beatrice Litchfield. 2021-11-01. It's an Honour.
  16. Web site: Mrs Ruby Beatrice Litchfield. 2021-11-01. It's an Honour.
  17. Web site: Jubilee 150th Walk. 2021-11-01. Monument Australia.
  18. Web site: J150 Plaque, Dame Ruby Litchfield. 2021-11-01. Adelaidia.
  19. Web site: Peoples. Jo. Dame Ruby Litchfield, DBE. 1 November 2021. SA History Hub. en.
  20. Web site: Rodda . Paul . News: Carclew Scholarships 2015 . The Barefoot Review . 18 October 2024.
  21. Web site: Scholarships. 2 November 2021. Carclew. en.
  22. Web site: Part Recipients Full List: 2016 Scholarship Recipients. 2 November 2021. Carclew. en.
  23. Web site: Lenny. Barry. 12 September 2011. The Ruby Awards 2011. 1 November 2021. Glam Adelaide. en-AU.

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