Leonie Judith (Gibson) Kramer AC DBE PhD (1924 - 2016)

Born 1 Oct 1924 in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Ancestors

Wife of Harold Kramer — married 1952 in Abingdon, Oxfordshire, England, United Kingdom

Died 20 Apr 2016 at age 91 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

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Biography

Leonie (Gibson) Kramer AC DBE PhD is Notable.

Emeritus Professor Dame Leonie Kramer AC DBE PhD LLD (Hon) BA was an Australian academic, educator, critic, editor and administrator. She authored several works and edited quite a few others. She is notable as the first female professor of English in Australia, the first woman to chair the Australian Broadcasting Corporation and the first female chancellor of the University of Sydney.

Leonie (Gibson) Kramer AC DBE PhD was born in Victoria, Australia

Leonie Judith Gibson was born on 1st October 1924 in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. She was the daughter of Alfred Gibson and Gertrude Walker. After graduating from Presbyterian Ladies' College, Melbourne, she entered the University of Melbourne in 1942, where she was a resident in the women's section of Trinity College, known as Janet Clarke Hall. ^[1]

Leonie graduated with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in 1945, and later attended the University of Oxford, where she graduated Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in 1953.

Whilst in England, Leonie married Doctor Harry Kramer, a South African pathologist, in late 1952 in Abingdon, Oxfordshire. ^[2] The couple subsequently had two daughters, Hillary and Jocelyn.

Back home in Australia, the University of New South Wales (UNSW) appointed Leonie a lecturer in English in 1958, then senior lecturer and finally an associate professor in English. She remained at UNSW until 1968, when she was appointed Professor of Australian Literature at the University of Sydney, the first female professor of English in Australia. ^[1]

Leonie also served on numerous public bodies during her career. She was the first woman to be appointed to the chair of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) in 1982-83,  having served as a member of the ABC Board since 1977. Other appointments include the Secondary Schools Board (1976-82), the Council of the National Library (1975-81), NAATI (1977-81) and the Universities Council (1977-86). In the New Year Honours 1976 Leonie was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for her work as Professor of Australian Literature at Sydney University. ^[3] She served as a senior fellow of the Institute of Public Affairs (1988-96), a commissioner of the NSW Electricity Commission (1988-95) and chairman of the board of directors of the National Institute of Dramatic Art (1987-92), as well as serving on the boards of large corporations including Western Mining Corporation and ANZ Banking Group.

She was deputy chancellor of the University of Sydney from 1989 to 1991 and chancellor from 1991 to 2001, becoming the first woman to hold the position. ^[1] The Kramers made their home in Vaucluse.

The University of Tasmania, the University of Melbourne and the Australian National University each honoured Leonie with honorary LLDs. ^[1]

In the New Year Honours 1983, Leonie was created Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) for 'services to literature and the public'. ^[4]

She was appointed Companion of the Order of Australia (AC) in the Australia Day Honours 1993 for 'service to Australian literature, to education and to the community'. ^[5]

Leonie was a leading player in maintaining the status quo of the constitutional monarchy in Australia, stating that she "... believed Australia was already a republic, in all things but name, and that the existing constitutional arrangements were a 'strong system of checks and balances'." ^[1]

When Australia turned 100 in January 2001, Leonie was amongst those who were awarded the Centenary Medal, for 'service to Australian society through the study of English literature'. ^[6]

Her memoir, Broomstick: Personal Reflections of Leonie Kramer, was published in 2012 by Australian Scholarly Publishing; ISBN 978-19218-75847.

In 2011, following worsening health associated with advanced Alzheimer's disease, her daughters admitted her to Lulworth House for full-time residential care. Aged 91 years, she passed away on 20th April 2016 in Sydney. ^[1]

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5} Cunningham, James and Murphy, Damien. 'Obituary: Dame Leonie Kramer a celebrated academic and a potent conservative voice'. Sydney Morning Herald, 21 Apr 2016; accessed 28 Nov 2023
2. ↑ UK FreeBMD Marriage Index Dec qtr 1952, vol 6a, page 22
3. ↑ Australian Honours: OBE; accessed 28 Nov 2023
4. ↑ Australian Honours: DBE; accessed 28 Nov 2023
5. ↑ Australian Honours: AC; accessed 28 Nov 2023
6. ↑ Australian Honours: Centenary Medal; accessed 28 Nov 2023

See also

• Wikipedia: Leonie Kramer; accessed 28 Nov 2023.