ÒNurungiÓRemembered OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF THE CONCORD HERITAGE SOCIETY email:
[email protected] www.concordheritage.asn.au EDITOR LOIS MICHEL No.181 September 2011 9744-8528 PRESIDENT The McDonagh Sisters MARK DURANCE Three Young Ladies Ahead of Their Time 9743-0583 Isobel (1899-1982), Phyllis (1900-1978) and known that the palatial Drummoyne House, PUBLIC RELATIONS Paulette (1901-1978) McDonagh were the which provided the lavish interiors, was the Vacant eldest of seven children of John and Anita McDonagh family home. Paulette was the SECRETARY/TREASURER McDonagh of Drummoyne. Their father was principal writer and director, Phyllis was the LOIS MICHEL the honorary doctor to the J. C. Williamson business manager, publicist and art direc- 3 Flavelle Street theatrical empire so the girls grew up in the tor and Isobel, known professionally as Marie (P.O. Box 152) world of show business. Lorraine, was the principal actress. Concord 2137 Phone: 9744-8528 The McDonagh sisters eventually decided Fax: 9744-7591 to try their luck in film production and went ----------------- on to become an influential artistic force in MEETINGS the Australian film industry in the late 1920s. General Meetings With their independent spirit, they were 1st Saturday of month undaunted by a film industry dominated by (except January) men and by American interests. at 2:00 pm in the City of Canada Bay The sisters made four films together: Those Museum Who Love (1926), The Far Paradise (1928), 1 Bent Street, Concord The Cheaters (1930) which were all silent 9743-3034 feature films, while their final film, Two Minutes Silence (1932-1934), a strong anti- Executive Meetings war drama, included some sound.