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Pamela Ruskin
Pamela Ruskin (1966)
Pamela Ruskin (1966)
BornPamela June Zimbler
(1920-06-08)June 8, 1920
Hampstead, England
DiedMay 20, 2010(2010-05-20) (aged 89)
Melbourne, Australia
Resting placeMelbourne Chevra kadisha
Occupationjournalist, author
EducationUniversity of Melbourne
Years active1945–2000
Notable worksRuskin, Pamela (1989). Invitation to the dance: the story of the Australian Ballet School. Sydney: Collins. ISBN 9780732200794. OCLC 1190872721.
Notable awards1968 Walkley Award (Print) - Best Story Published in an Australian Magazine; 1969 Walkley Award (Print) Best Story Published in an Australian Magazine
SpouseAlfred Ruskin
Children4

Pamela Ruskin (8 June 1920 – 20 May 2010) was an Australian freelance journalist with a special interest in the arts.[1]

Early life and education

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Born Pamela June Zimbler at Hampstead in London,[2] she was the only daughter of Dolly (née Goldhill) and Samuel. Her mother Dolly died 11 June 1979.[3] Her father was a furrier who had migrated with his family to Melbourne when she was a child of six, and conducted business until the mid-1950s in Flinders Lane, the centre of Melbourne's 'rag trade'.[4] Educated at the non-denominational St Catherine's School, Toorak, she completed an Arts degree at the University of Melbourne. During World War II and living at 45 Bruce Street, Toorak, she served in the Royal Australian Navy decoding section, and in 1940 met Jewish refugee from Berlin, Alfred Ruskin[5] who had been studying medicine at Berlin University, but was forced to leave during Nazi purges.[6] He had migrated in 1938 and joined the Army to become a naturalised Australian.[7] They were married in St Kilda at the Temple Beth Israel on 27 July 1944,[8][9] and Alfred went on to become a printer, publisher and patron of the arts for which he received the Order of Australia in 1986.[6][10]

Journalist

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The couple had four children, but motherhood did not prevent Pamela flourishing in journalism.[11] In 1946 her story The Man on the Mast was broadcast on radio by the Australian Broadcasting Commission.[12] In 1951 for The Argus she wrote an exposé of the state-run children's hostels.[13][14] From 1952 until 1984 she wrote on various subjects for Melbourne's The Age,[15][16] contributed a regular stamp column to The Argus newspaper,[17] and collaborated on radio plays with Morris West before he became a best-selling author.

During 1954 she and Caroline Isaacson partnered in a writers' agency 'Features,' from 11 Monomeath Ave., Toorak, advertising in The Journalist.[18] She was a freelance contributor to magazines including Walkabout,[19][20] for which she wrote over 30 articles between 1963 and 1978; Dance Australia Magazine;[21] Theatre Australia;[22] and 24 Hours.[23]

For 25 years she wrote a weekly column 'Roundabout' in The Australian Jewish News,[24] which was frequently controversial,[25][26] and also a column 'Stairway To The Stars.' Her articles included frequent book reviews[27] including a series of them that were an advertising feature in The Age for Margareta Webber[28] Booksellers,[29] and for the same newspaper she penned a series of articles on South African authors, incorporating interviews.[30]

Interviewees

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The depth of Ruskin's research for her articles is notable; her Walkabout magazine tribute to Arthur Upfield for example, is the first in a 2012 collection of essays on the Australian author.[31] According to Ken Scarlett, her 1966 book on Karl Duldig, for which Eric Westbrook wrote the introduction was at the time and until the 1980s one of very few monographs devoted to Australian sculptors.[32]

She interviewed at length a number of significant figures for her writings including Zelman Cowan,[33] poet Dimitris Tsaloumas,[34] book designer and illustrator Alison Forbes,[35] actor Barry Humphries,[36][37] TV presenter Don Lane,[38] production designer John Truscott,[39] authors June Drummond[40] and Ruth Rendell,[41] young artist and curator-to-be Ron Radford,[42] dancers Garth Welch[43] and Robert Helpmann,[44] conductor Helen Quach,[45] and soprano Joan Carden.[46]

She received Walkley Awards; one in 1968 for her story in Walkabout on the anthropologist Baldwin Spencer and his adoption as one of their people by the Arrernte,[47][48] and in 1969 for another Walkabout article, on the Victorian ballet school.[49] Ruskin was a guest lecturer at the January 1975 Journalism Summer School conducted by Patrick Tennison at the YMCA National College in Albert Road, South Melbourne.[50]

Personality

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A poem ‘Blue Stocking Blues’ that she wrote aged 26 for Pertinent magazine on the romantic fate of bright women typifies Ruskin's strong personality, sharp intelligence and strong views,[51] among which were to be a distaste for judges who gave light sentences, and football,[4] a love of dogs,[52] an interest in stamps,[53] and a belief that euthanasia should be legalised. Samuel Abrahams describes her as 'indefatigable.'[25]

When the Freedom to Read Association held its first meeting in the Melbourne Town Hall in 1964 she was one of five speakers giving a critical appraisal of books which were banned in Australia; The Bulletin reported that "Mrs Ruskin is a mother of four who combines housekeeping with an active career in journalism. She considered Lolita as a genuine love story, despite the hero's unpleasant form of sexual deviation."[11]

In 1979 she defended against objections by Morris Lurie of her choice, as one of two judges, of Sir John Kerr as joint winner of the Fellowship of Australian Writers of the A$500 Con Weickhardt Award for biography, autobiography or memoir; she called Lurie's protest "an outrageous attitude taking his political views where they have no place," stressing that though she couldn't abide Kerr as a public figure and voted for Gough Whitlam in 1975, they had unanimously awarded the book the prize on its literary merit.[54]

Later career and legacy

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As a regular reviewer of ballet,[43] opera[55] and theatre[56] Ruskin consequently became a judge of the Green Room Awards that recognise and reward talent in the various sectors of the arts. She held that position well into her eighties and was made a Life Member in 1996. Ruskin continued to practise her profession into the new century.[57]

She died of heart failure on 20 May 2010, aged 89, at her home in Toorak, survived by her children, Sally, Jeremy, Richard and Nick, nine grandchildren and one great-granddaughter. She is buried at Melbourne Chevra Kadisha.

Pamela and her husband Alfred were supporters of the Melba Opera Trust where he served as Chairman of Council from 1972-1996, the perpetual Alfred Ruskin Memorial Award being established in his name.[58] He was also a member of the Australian Ballet Foundation Board.[10]

Book publications

[edit]

Awards

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  • 1968 Walkley Award (Print) - Best Story Published in an Australian Magazine, 'Baldwin Spencer: Arunta Tribesman', Walkabout[19][47]
  • 1969 Walkley Award (Print) Best Story Published in an Australian Magazine, 'School for Ballet', Walkabout[20][49]

References

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  1. ^ Ruskin, Pamela; Duldig, Karl (1966). Sculpture; Vienna, Singapore, Melbourne. Melbourne: Cheshire. OCLC 9695188.
  2. ^ General Register Office; United Kingdom; Reference: Volume 1a, Page 1060
  3. ^ "Family notices". The Age. 12 June 1979. p. 35.
  4. ^ a b Ruskin, Jeremy (18 June 2010). "Award-winning scribe who held strong views". The Age. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
  5. ^ "Alfred.Ruskin". www.apersonalhistory.com. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
  6. ^ a b "Alfred.Ruskin". www.apersonalhistory.com. Retrieved 25 October 2022.
  7. ^ "Interview with Alfred Ruskin (When the war came to Australia)". Australian War Memorial. 6 March 1991. Retrieved 25 October 2022.
  8. ^ "Ruskin–Zimbler". The Age. 28 July 1944. p. 5.
  9. ^ "Ruskin-Zimbler Wedding". The Herald. 27 July 1944. p. 11. Retrieved 25 October 2022.
  10. ^ a b "Arts patron Alfred Ruskin dies". Australian Jewish News. 10 May 1996. p. 7. Retrieved 25 October 2022.
  11. ^ a b A Melbourne Correspondent (30 May 1964). "CENSORSHIP: The Ladies Are Not for Burning: The Lady Chatterley word in the Lower Town Hall". The Bulletin. 86 (4397): 13. {{cite journal}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  12. ^ Australian Broadcasting Commission (16 March 1946). "Programmes: Monday March 18". ABC Weekly. 8 (9): 15.
  13. ^ Ruskin, Pamela (8 February 1951). "State's neglected children: Danger abounds in crowded depot". The Argus. p. 2. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
  14. ^ O'Neill, Cate (2015). "'She had always been a difficult case...': Jill's short, tragic life in Victoria's institutions, 1952-1955". Provenance: The Journal of Public Record Office Victoria (14): 48–68. ISSN 1832-2522.
  15. ^ Ruskin, Pamela (6 June 1952). "Health Stamps to Aid Charity Finances". The Age. p. 2.
  16. ^ Ruskin, Pamela (31 October 1981). "The noble profession of Michael Jeffery". The Age. p. 20.
  17. ^ Ruskin, Pamela (1973). Golden stamp book of Australian postage stamps. Golden Press. OCLC 223168149.
  18. ^ "Advertisement". The Journalist: 4. April 1954.
  19. ^ a b "Walkley Winners Archive". The Walkley Foundation. Retrieved 23 October 2022.
  20. ^ a b Melbourne, National Foundation for Australian Women and The University of. "Ruskin, Pamela - Woman - The Australian Women's Register". www.womenaustralia.info. Retrieved 29 May 2022.
  21. ^ Dance Australia, "Tribute to Founder-Editor", Yaffa Publishing, August–September 1997)
  22. ^ Ruskin, Pamela (February 1978). "Pamela Ruskin interviews Richard Divall of the Victoria State Opera". Theatre Australia. New Lambton Heights: Theatre Publications Ltd. (published 1 February 1978): 13. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
  23. ^ Ruskin, Pamela (September 1985). "Regarding Faustus and Helen Gifford". 24 Hours: ABC FM Stereo (10): 16–18.
  24. ^ "ROUNDABOUT WITH PAMELA BUSKIN. THE STAIRWAY TO THE STARS". Australian Jewish News. 14 March 1958. Retrieved 23 October 2022.
  25. ^ a b Abrahams, Samuel (Winter 1969). "With The Jews Of Australia And New Zealand". The Chicago Jewish Forum. 27 (2). Benjamin Weintroub: 107.
  26. ^ Cooke, Steven (6 May 2018). "'A modern chamber of horrors'? Temporary Holocaust exhibitions as sites of memory: the 1961 Warsaw Ghetto commemoration exhibition, Melbourne". Holocaust Studies. 24 (4): 445–465. doi:10.1080/17504902.2018.1468666. ISSN 1750-4902. S2CID 194974973.
  27. ^ Ruskin, Pamela (10 February 1979). "Bogarde: from matinee idol to actor". The Age. p. 23.
  28. ^ Clark, Laurel, "Webber, Margareta Louise (1891–1983)", Australian Dictionary of Biography, Canberra: National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, retrieved 24 October 2022
  29. ^ Ruskin, Pamela (19 July 1980). "Advertisement This Week at Webbers with Pamela Ruskin". The Age. p. 23.
  30. ^ Stotesbury, John A. (1996). Apartheid, liberalism, and romance: a critical investigation of the writing of Joy Packer (Doctoral Dissertation ed.). Sweden: Umeå universitet.
  31. ^ a b Carr, Richard (2012). "Review: Investigating Arthur Upfield: A Centenary Collection of Essays". Journal of the Association for the Study of Australian Literature. 12 (3): 1–7. ISSN 1447-8986. OCLC 5943277545.
  32. ^ Scarlett., Kenneth William (1980). Australian sculptors, 1830-1977 (1st ed.). Australia: Thomas Nelson. p. 181. ISBN 9780170052924. OCLC 6943806.
  33. ^ Pamela, Ruskin (November 1969). "Walkabout Profile". Walkabout. 35 (11): 9. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
  34. ^ Ruskin, Pamela (22 July 1978). "He has the heart of an exile". The Age. p. 22.
  35. ^ Ruskin, Pamela (26 June 1976). "She makes sure her book world is good looking". The Age. p. 16.
  36. ^ Ruskin, Pamela (December 1968). "The Compleat Humphries". Walkabout. Melbourne. p. 44.
  37. ^ Britain, Ian (1998). Once an Australian. Melbourne: Oxford University Press. p. 257. ISBN 9780195508048. OCLC 221961226.
  38. ^ Ruskin, Pamela (August 1978). "Walkabout People: Quiet Flows The Don These Days". Walkabout. 41 (1). Melbourne: Australian National Travel Association. ISSN 0043-0064. Retrieved 25 October 2022.
  39. ^ Ruskin, Pamela (May 1981). "Spotlight: The Victorian Arts Centre: How will it look?: Designer, John Truscott interviewed by Pamela Ruskin". Theatre Australia. 5 (9): 10–12.
  40. ^ Ruskin, Pamela (6 March 1976). "She creates thrillers of all types". The Age. p. 20.
  41. ^ Ruskin, Pamela (7 September 1974). "Ruth Rendell creates real people". The Age. p. 18.
  42. ^ Pamela, Ruskin (7 October 1966). "Busy week end at Scotch". The Age. p. 18.
  43. ^ a b Ruskin, Pamela (12 September 1980). "Stage: Ballet on the move". The Age. p. 10.
  44. ^ Ruskin, Pamela (July 1969). "Walkabout Profile". Walkabout. 35 (7). Melbourne: Australian National Travel Association: 11. Retrieved 25 October 2022.
  45. ^ Ruskin, Pamela (August 1969). "Walkabout Profile". Walkabout. 35 (8). Melbourne: Australian National Travel Association: 11. ISSN 0043-0064. Retrieved 25 October 2022.
  46. ^ Ruskin, Pamela (5 April 1975). "A soprano heading towards the top". The Age. p. 21.
  47. ^ a b Ruskin, Pamela (August 1968). "Baldwin Spencer: Arunta Tribesman". Walkabout. 34 (8). Melbourne: Australian National Travel Association: 32–35. ISSN 0043-0064.
  48. ^ Rolls, Mitchell; Johnston, Anna (2019). Travelling home, Walkabout magazine and mid-twentieth-century Australia. London: Anthem Press. pp. 70 n.10. ISBN 978-1-78308-537-8. OCLC 1111974877.
  49. ^ a b Ruskin, Pamela (May 1969). "School for Ballet". Walkabout. 35 (5). Melbourne: Australian National Travel Association: 23–26. ISSN 0043-0064.
  50. ^ Sayers, Stuart (15 November 1975). "Writers & Readers". The Age. p. 14.
  51. ^ Ruskin, Pamela (December 1946). "Blue Stocking Blues". Pertinent. 4 (9): 12–13. Retrieved 23 October 2022.
  52. ^ Ruskin, Pamela (29 September 1984). "Pink mottles cost a lot". The Age. p. 4.
  53. ^ Ruskin, Pamela (11 May 1982). "Stamps of ownership". The Age. p. 11.
  54. ^ "Kerr's prize: humorist not amused". The Age. 20 March 1979. p. 4.
  55. ^ Ruskin, Pamela (18 March 1978). "Wagnerian struggle for Ocker star". The Age. p. 23.
  56. ^ Ruskin, Pamela (July 1964). "Spotlight on the Theatre". Walkabout. 30 (7): 20–25.
  57. ^ Ruskin, Pamela (1989). Invitation to the dance: the story of the Australian Ballet School. Sydney: Collins. ISBN 9780732200794. OCLC 1190872721.
  58. ^ "2012". Melba Opera Trust. 30 November 2019. Retrieved 25 October 2022.
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