Elisabeth Kirkby

The Honourable
Elisabeth Kirkby
OAM
Member of the New South Wales Legislative Council
In office
27 October 1981 – 25 June 1998
Succeeded byArthur Chesterfield-Evans
Councillor for Temora, New South Wales
In office
1999–2004
Personal details
Born
Elisabeth Wilma Burton Kirkby

(1921-01-26) 26 January 1921 (age 103)
Bolton, Lancashire, England
CitizenshipAustralian
Political partyAustralian Democrats (1981-1998)
Other political
affiliations		Australian Progressive Alliance (2003-2004)
Children3
ResidenceMorning Bay
Alma materUniversity of Sydney
Occupation
  • Politician
  • actress
  • radio broadcaster
  • stage manager
  • writer
  • commentator
  • producer
  • director
  • sheep and wheat farmer
Known forNumber 96 (TV series as "Lucy Sutcliffe")
Military career
AllegianceUnited Kingdom United Kingdom
Service / branchAuxiliary Territorial Service
RankStars in Battledress
Battles / warsWorld War II

Elisabeth Wilma Burton Kirkby OAM (born 26 January 1921),[1][2] alternatively Elizabeth Kirkby, is a British-born Australian retired politician, actress, radio broadcaster, producer, director and screenwriter.[3]

Kirkby entered politics serving as State Parliamentary Leader with the Australian Democrats in the New South Wales Legislative Council from 1981 to 1998, after which she served a shorter tenure with a seat on local government, as a councillor for Temora from 1999 and 2004.

Prior to her political career Kirkby worked in the entertainment arts, having started as an Assistant stage manager in her native England in 1938 before becoming an actress in theatre, radio, television and film productions.[3] after working for some years in England, she relocated to British Malaya in 1950 and served as a radio broadcaster, producer, director and screenwriter.

She emigrated to Australia in 1965, where she continued her acting career and became known for her small screen role as Lucy Sutcliffe in the serial Number 96.[4]

  1. ^ Akerman, Tessa (25 January 2021). "Centenarian Elisabeth Kirkby's world war warning". The Australian. Retrieved 25 April 2021.
  2. ^ "The Hon. Elisabeth Kirkby, OAM, Former Member of the Legislative Council". Legislative Council Hansard. Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 25 April 2021.
  3. ^ a b "50 Years On: How Number 96 changed Aussie TV forever". New Idea. 14 March 2022.
  4. ^ "The Real Liz Kirkby". The Sydney Morning Herald. 25 June 1973. p. 13.