June Dally-Watkins

June Marie Dally-Watkins OAM (née Skewes; 13 June 1927 – 22 February 2020) was an Australian businesswoman and fashion model, recognised as an entrepreneur. 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.[1] She was later a public proponent of etiquette and elocution, and frequently commented on those topics in the media.[2][3]

June Dally-Watkins

OAM
Dally-Watkins modelling in 1952
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
Occupation
  • Model
  • businessperson
  • etiquette coach
Years active1950–2020
Height164 cm (5 ft 4 1⁄2 in)

In 1993, Dally-Watkins received an Order of Australia for her contribution to business.[4]

She was featured on the popular Australian television show Bogan Hunters on 7mate in 2014, where she provided information relating to etiquette to the winners of the series.[5]

In 2019, she was teaching etiquette to women in China.[6]

Early life

Dally-Watkins was born in Sydney in June 1927 with the birth name June Skewes.[7] 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,[6] 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.[6][8] 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.[8]

Career

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.[8] Acting on this advice, the pair moved back to Sydney, where Dally-Watkins was appointed to a modelling job at Farmers & Co Department Store,[9] (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.[10]

In 1950, after a visit to New York City to research the latest developments in fashion,[11] 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.[10]

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.[12]

Personal life

Dally-Watkins had a brief relationship with American actor Gregory Peck.[13] She married John Clifford, a naval officer, but they separated in 1968. The couple had four children; two sons and two daughters.[6]

She died on 22 February 2020, aged 92.[7][4]

References
  1. 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.
  2. Gerloff, Olga (29 December 2010). "An etiquette lesson from June Dally-Watkins". Parramatta Advertiser. Archived from the original on 6 March 2011.
  3. Georgiou, Andrew (25 March 2008). "June Dally-Watkins: Colourful Sydney Identity, The Bridge". Time Out Sydney. Archived from the original on 18 October 2013.
  4. Pitt, Helen (23 February 2020). "Etiquette queen who taught girls how to walk and talk". The Sydney Morning Herald.
  5. Stephenson, Alison (16 July 2014). "Nanna Shazza and Justin Gilbert from Bogan Hunters get a makeover". News Limited. Retrieved 9 November 2014.
  6. Lee, Betty (23 February 2019). "China's craze for etiquette queen June Dally-Watkins". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 23 February 2019.
  7. 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.
  8. Tabakoff, Jenny (23 February 2020). "Model and manners – Dally-Watkins dies". Blue Mountains Gazette.
  9. "Australian Biography: June Dally-Watkins". National Film and Sound Archive of Australia.
  10. "June Dally-Watkins". National Portrait Gallery (Australia).
  11. Margaret Maynard (2001). Out of Line: Australian Women and Style. UNSW Press. p. 128. ISBN 9780868405155.
  12. "Miss June Dally-Watkins Chinese Adventure". SBS TV. 11 July 2016.
  13. "Etiquette queen less than impressed". News.com.au. 17 March 2009.
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