Mary Clare Avison Fitzgerald (

née A birth name is the name of a person given upon birth. The term may be applied to the surname, the given name, or the entire name. Where births are required to be officially registered, the entire name entered onto a birth certificate or birth re ...

Parker; 31 October 1930 – 13 May 2023) was an English-born actress and Australian television presenter, who started her career in her native country as a stage, screen and television actress. After emigrating to Australia, she became notable for being the first woman to appear on Melbourne television.

Early life and personal life

Parker was born on 31 October 1930 in

Keynsham Keynsham ( ) is a town and civil parish located between Bristol and Bath in Somerset, England. It has a population of 16,000. It was listed in the Domesday Book as ''Cainesham'' (as it is pronounced), which is believed to mean the home of Sai ...

, Somerset, and was a twin; her sister Sue was born two hours later. Her father, Charles Avison Parker, was a British native and high-ranking officer with the Royal Navy and later served with the Australian Navy; her mother was Australian. Parker's brother Michael served in the Royal Navy with Prince Philip and became his secretary and equerry-in-waiting to

Queen Elizabeth II Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary; 21 April 1926 – 8 September 2022) was Queen of the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth realms from 6 February 1952 until Death and state funeral of Elizabeth II, her death in 2022. She was queen ...

. Parker grew up in the Melbourne suburb of Kew and attended Genazzano Convent School. She was married to Australian portrait artist Paul Fitzgerald in 1957 until his death in 2017. They had seven children.

Career

In her early career in England, film studios likened her star quality to that of

Debbie Reynolds Mary Frances "Debbie" Reynolds (April 1, 1932 – December 28, 2016) was an American actress, singer, and businesswoman. Her career spanned almost 70 years. She was nominated for the Golden Globe Award for Most Promising Newcomer for her portra ...

. Fitzgerald stated that "everybody in England knew Mary Parker ..I've seen her name in lights on Shaftesbury Avenue and then she worked on TV as an announcer. They also brought her out to Australia in 1956 to open the (television coverage of the)

1956 Summer Olympic Games The 1956 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XVI Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event held in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, from 22 November to 8 December 1956, with the exception of the equestrian events, whi ...

alongside

Tony Charlton Antony Erling Charlton, Member of the Order of Australia, AM (28 March 1929 – 17 December 2012) was an Australian Sports commentator, sports broadcaster. Early life Charlton's parents were both from New Zealand. His father, Conrad Charlton, ...

– she was the first woman on television in (Melbourne).""Constant in Faith"
Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne bulletin, Vol. 24, Issue 8. In England, she worked on stage in West End Theatre productions, and in film and television dramas with the likes of

Douglas Fairbanks Jr. Douglas Elton Fairbanks Jr., (December 9, 1909 – May 7, 2000) was an American actor, producer and decorated naval officer of World War II. He is best known for starring in such films as ''The Prisoner of Zenda'' (1937), ''Gunga Din'' (1939) a ...

, Boris Karloff and Lloyd Bridges and had numerous experiences on live television broadcasting at the BBC alongside celebrities such as singer Petula Clark. In Australia, she was one of three people to host Channel Seven test broadcasts at their Melbourne station HSV7 prior to their official opening night; the other two test broadcasters were Eric Pearce and Danny Webb. On 4 November 1956, HSV-7's opening night, she became one the first female news anchors when she presented the news bulletin alongside Pearce.''Listener In-TV'', 1 November 1956.

Death

Parker died at a hospital in Melbourne, Victoria on the weekend of 13 May 2023. She was 92.

British film career

* '' The Vyse'' – "Gabriel's Choice" (1954) as Marianne Anderson; "The Deception" (1955) as Dorothy; "Kill Me My Love" (1957) as Irene * '' The Hostage'' (1956) as Rosa Gonzuelo * '' Colonel March of Scotland Yard'' – "Present Tense" (1957) as Emily * '' You Lucky People'' (1955) as Pvt. Sally Briggs * ''

Third Party Risk ''Third Party Risk'' is a 1954 British crime drama film directed by Daniel Birt and starring Lloyd Bridges, Simone Silva and Finlay Currie.Chibnall & McFarlane p.82 It is based on the 1953 novel of the same name by Nicholas Bentley. It was p ...

'' (1954) as Nancy * ''

Douglas Fairbanks Presents ''Douglas Fairbanks Presents'' is a 1953-1956 syndicated half-hour dramatic anthology series. Douglas Fairbanks Jr. was the host, and he sometimes starred in episodes. It was also known as ''Douglas Fairbanks Jr. Presents''. A total of 117 episod ...

'' – "The International Settlement" (1954) as Elizabeth; "The Trap" (1954) as Peggy

Australian television career

Parker top and tailed various programs in the early days of HSV-7. She also presented the following programs: * ''

Beauty Is My Business ''Beauty is My Business'' is an early Australian television series for which very little information is available, but which represents an early example of television content produced in that country. It was a weekly series which ran on Fridays, ...

'' * ''

Eric and Mary ''Eric and Mary'' was an Australian television programme which aired in 1956. It was one of the earliest Australian-produced television series. It was an "informal programme with guest artists", likely an interview show, hosted by Eric Pearce ( ...

'' (with Eric Pearce) * ''

Guest of the Week ''Guest of the Week'' (also listed in newspaper listings as ''Guest of Week'') was an early Australian television series which aired from 1956 to 1957 on Melbourne station HSV-7. Little information is available on the series. Hosted by Mary Park ...

'' * '' The Judy Jack Show'' (covered when the regular hostess was indisposed) Parker sometimes played piano as a prelude to her regular series of interviews. She started an interview with violinist Des Bradley by accompanying him in a rendition of Saint Saëns's ''

The Swan A swan is a bird of the genus ''Cygnus'' (true swans) or ''Coscoroba'' (coscoroba swans). Swan, swans, or The Swan may also refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Film and television * ''The Swan'' (1925 film), a 1925 silent film * ''The Swa ...

''. Parker once performed a live duet with pianist

Freddy Cole Lionel Frederick Cole (October 15, 1931 – June 27, 2020) was an American jazz singer and pianist whose recording career spanned almost 70 years. He was the brother of musicians Nat King Cole, Eddie Cole, and Ike Cole, father of Lionel Cole, a ...

. Parker shares the honour of being among the first women on Australian television, with , when TCN-9 was opened on 16 September 1956.

External links

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Parker, Mary 1930 births 2023 deaths British women television presenters English film actresses English television actresses Actresses from Melbourne English emigrants to Australia Australian television presenters Australian women television presenters Australian Roman Catholics People educated at Genazzano FCJ College