International stage, screen and Wahgunyah star, Maggie Fitzgibbon OAM, passed away on Monday last week, aged 91 years.
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Born Margaret Helen Fitzgibbon on January 30, 1929 and popularly known as ‘Maggie’, she was well known and highly respected in Melbourne, United Kingdom, Wahgunyah, Rutherglen and Corowa.
Growing up in a show business family, Maggie starred on the stage in Melbourne, headed overseas in 1952 to increased stardom in the United Kingdom and returned to Australia in 1978 to care for her older brother Smacka Fitzgibbon and settled on the farm property ‘Quondong’ Wahgunyah.
Maggie’s strong interest in and care for people and the community led to her being awarded, in 2002, an Order of Australia Medal for her community work which included helping to rehabilitate homeless youth by giving them the experience of living in a cottage on her property.
“My aunt was a powerhouse person with a very energetic serve for life,” niece Michaud Fitzgibbon of Melbourne told The Free Press.
“She threw herself into any situation and as a young girl, she’d say ‘I can do that’.
“She was a very hard worker, dedicated and ambitious, and had the ability to talk to people at any level.”
Maggie’s versatility was referred to by Nichaud. “Her career rose to great heights and she was a leading lady all the way, then she excelled in her new life at Wahgunyah. She loved the farm and helped so many people and was actively involved in community matters.”
Friend of Maggie’s Sandra Johnstone of Wahgunyah, served on Rutherglen Shire Council for the four years 1990 to 1994 before municipal amalgamations in Victorian leading to, in the local scene, formation of Indigo Shire; served simultaneously with Cr Margaret Fitzgibbon.
“When Maggie arrived in Wahgunyah, her ‘little village’ as she so fondly referred to it, it was like a soft summer breeze. Her presence was felt immediately by all the residents,” the only ever female shire president of Rutherglen Shire Council told The Free Press.
“With the purchase of the property of Quondong, local tradies were enlisted to make improvements to the estate.
“The setting of Quondong was tranquil and private enough for a wonderful sea change for Maggie, away from her glamorous and hectic show business lifestyle, but close enough to stay in touch with Melbournian friends and family.”
One of the major undertakings of Maggie’s on her arrival, Sandra said, was to put all her energy and determination into stopping the installation of the High Temperature Waste incinerator in Corowa.
“Maggie used her influence with the media to strongly object to it being placed in Corowa. Along with a staunch committee, the hard work paid off, as the decision was handed down for it not to be built in the region,” Sandra said.
“Over the many years Maggie was involved with many committees and was only too happy to assist with an official opening of functions throughout the shire. The amazing black vehicle was easily recognised as it would drive slowly around the countryside, until it was replaced by a more suitable and practical white Ute. This enabled Maggie to carry the required equipment around the farm and to mulch the large garden.
“Local children were encouraged to visit Maggie, who was ever the gracious host with cold cordials and treats after their long walk or bike ride from the ‘village’. Maggie moved into her village over 10 years ago, after the sale of the property.”
Ever competitive Maggie played tennis with several clubs over the years and loved to socialise after the game. With her long-time friend Kay Davidson, they played the mid-week tournament circuit and won more than they lost. They were a formidable team.
“In 1990 Maggie nominated for the Rutherglen Shire and was duly elected, where she was a strong advocate for all her constituents in the West Riding (Wahgunyah, Carlyle and Norong),” Sandra said.
“So, this was a changing of the guard on the council as previously, it was an all-male council, with Jenny Templeton being the first female to be elected to the Rutherglen Shire Council, then the following election came Maggie Fitzgibbon and myself.
“With the amalgamation of the shire, it was felt that the female contribution enhanced the on-going high standard of the previous governing years. At one special shire function Maggie would be encouraged to sing, reluctantly she did, with a rendition of ‘Danny Boy’ she received a standing ovation.”
Former Rutherglen Shire Mayor Peter Graham OAM joined Indigo Shire Council when Maggie stepped down. “She was strong on getting kids actively involved in activities including dancing and music,” he said.
“She was against councils incurring expense for councillors having a three-course lunch at their monthly meetings and used to bring her paper bag of sandwiches along.”
Much of Maggie’s professional entertainment career success as a singer and performer occurred in the UK, where the list of people she worked with reads like a Who’s Who of the period. The names include Noel Coward, Danny La Rue, Benny Hill, Morecombe and Wise, Ronnie Corbett, Tony Hancock, Max Bygraves and Stephen Sondheim.
Maggie came from a family of performers. Her mother Minnie Mitchell had been active in Vaudeville days and singing around the piano at their Aspendale home was a regular event.
Maggie attended Kilbreda in the late 30s and early 40s, while her brother Graeme, known as ‘Smacka’, was at St Bede’s.
Contessa Filipini took drama and music in those days and Maggie took part along with Anne Pell and Margaret Flynn in any sort of performance that she could. On leaving school, Maggie, who had trained as an operatic soprano under Signor Rebattaro, performed on the Tivoli Circuit from 1946, followed by experience on Sydney radio with Jack Davey.
After finding fame in J. C. Williamson’s production of Kiss Me Kate in 1952, Maggie headed for London, where she became a regular in pantomimes there. She later performed in a cabaret act at the Astor and in the 1960s was the female lead in a TV series The Newcomers for more than three years.
London Weekend Television even gave her a show of her own called Maggie’s Place, on which Smacka appeared on occasions. Maggie compered and sang, and at every opportunity introduced Australian acts such as The Seekers, Kevin Colson, and Rod Hull and Emu. Smacka himself had a jazz restaurant in Melbourne called ‘Smacka’s Place’ where Maggie had performed during trips back home in the 1970s.
In 1978 Maggie returned to Australia and purchased Quondong. She became very involved in the local community and found the plight of homeless and jobless young people a particular challenge that she wanted to solve. “I couldn’t go to sleep at night, knowing that kids were without a place to sleep,” she said at the time.
Maggie provided a cottage on her property for them to undergo rehabilitation including one night when they would come into her homestead and have dinner. Maggie was first female President of a branch of the Farmer’s Federation and was Secretary of the Save the Children Foundation.
Maggie Fitzgibbon enjoyed a remarkable career. Her entertainment career was outstanding.
As was her commitment to helping those less fortunate in the local community, as well as her heavy involvement in the betterment of Wahgunyah, Rutherglen and Corowa.
Nichaud, a wonderfully gifted jazz stylist in her own right, said her aunt often said: ‘I’ve had a great life’. “People adored her,” the 59-year-old niece said. “She was a grand lady.”
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