AUSTRALIAN DICTIONARY OF BIOGRAPHY VOLUME 19: 1991–1995 A–Z GENERAL EDITOR Melanie Nolan MANAGING EDITOR Malcolm Allbrook Published by ANU Press The Australian National University Acton ACT 2601, Australia Email: [email protected] Available to download for free at press.anu.edu.au ISBN (print): 9781760464127 ISBN (online): 9781760464134 WorldCat (print): 1232019838 WorldCat (online): 1232019992 DOI: 10.22459/ADB19 This title is published under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0). The full licence terms are available at creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/legalcode Cover design and layout by ANU Press Cover artwork: Dora Chapman, Australia, 1911–1995, Self portrait, c.1940, Adelaide, oil on canvas, 74.0 x 62.5 cm (sight), Bequest of the artist 1995, Art Gallery of South Australia, Adelaide, © Art Gallery of South Australia, 957P71 This edition © 2021 ANU Press Rankin A. D. B. that had presented in his horses. Urged by (175 cm) tall and weighing 162 pounds his partner, Lisa Symons, he sought medical (73.5 kg), he was known for his toughness, treatment. He was admitted to hospital in displaying ‘prodigious stamina and capacity for South Brisbane and died there a week later, hard play, both in attack and defence’ (Sydney on 27 September 1994. Following a Catholic Morning Herald 1945, 6). He captained the funeral, he was cremated. His partner survived State team and twice scored more than 100 him, as did the two sons of his former points in a season. Rankin represented New marriage. This was the first time in the world South Wales (capped twenty-two times) that the disease, identified as an acute equine against Queensland (1935–38), Victoria respiratory syndrome, had been detected; it (1936), South Africa (1937), and New Zealand was named Hendra virus. Researchers found (1938), and played for Australia (capped seven that the virus’s natural host is the flying fox. times) against New Zealand (1936, 1938) and The horses initially infected had probably South Africa (1937). In 1939 he was en route sniffed or eaten vegetation contaminated to Britain with a Wallabies team when World with flying fox droppings. Rail’s last winner War II was declared. The tour was cancelled had been Shampan, in a Maiden Handicap at and he returned to Australia. Toowoomba. It was ridden by his son Troy. On 19 September 1940 Rankin enlisted in the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). After Carlyon, Les. True Grit: Tales from 40 Years on the Turf. North Sydney: Random House Australia flying training in Australia and Canada, he was Pty Ltd, 2013; Clark, Bruce. ‘Reverse Way of Going presented with his wings and commissioned Was No Problem for Larrikin Vic.’ Courier Mail in April 1941. He completed further training (Brisbane), 28 September 1994, 57; Cormick, in Britain and played for England in the Brendan. ‘Chatty Trainer a Breath of Fresh Air combined services rugby XV. In February 1942 in Racing.’ Australian, 30 September 1994, 12; he joined No. 236 Squadron, Royal Air Force, Dawson, Graham. ‘Is Queensland Champ Racing’s flying Blenheims on shipping reconnaissance New Superstar?’ Turf Monthly 36, no. 9 (1988): and escort missions. Four months later he 18–21; McKinnon, Michael. ‘Why Vic Lost the Big Race.’ Sunday Mail (Brisbane), 2 October was posted to No. 227 Squadron, RAF, 1994, 7; Personal knowledge of ADB subject; which was absorbed that month into No. 272 Sinclair, Bart. Personal communication; Sinclair, Squadron, stationed in Egypt. He flew Bart. ‘Unforgettable Larrikin Honoured.’ Courier Beaufighters over Egypt and Libya and, when Mail (Brisbane), 5 October 1994, 5; Walker, Malta-based from November, Tunisia and Jamie. ‘Mystery Illness Claims Vic Rail.’ Australian, Sicily. In November he led a flight in an attack 28 September 1994, 1–2. on El Aouina aerodrome in Tunisia, shooting Peter Howard down one aircraft and braving enemy fighters and fire from the ground to strafe the airfield. RANKIN, RONALD (RON) (1914– For his determination in this and other 1991), teacher, rugby player, air force officer, operations, he was awarded the Distinguished and farmer, was born on 3 November 1914 Flying Cross. He completed his tour in at Majors Creek, New South Wales, second January 1943 as an ace, having shot down at of four children of New South Wales–born least five aircraft and shared two other aerial parents James Daniel Rankin, butcher, and victories. His promotion to substantive flight his wife Louisa May, née Keyte. Educated lieutenant followed in April. at Hurlstone Agricultural High School, Ron After serving in Britain as an instructor excelled academically and represented his on rocket firing from Beaufighters, Rankin school in swimming, boxing, athletics, cricket, returned to Australia in October. He was and rugby union. He captained his school and awarded Belgium’s Croix de Guerre on the Combined High Schools rugby teams. 1 February 1944. In April he was posted to After studying at Sydney Teachers’ College, No. 30 Squadron, RAAF, with which he flew where he won Blues for cricket, athletics, and Beaufighters on bombing and strafing missions rugby, he taught at Burnside Public School, over New Guinea and the Netherlands East Parramatta, and Sydney Grammar School. Indies. Promoted to acting squadron leader A fine full-back, Rankin played first-grade on 1 August, he commanded a flight, and rugby for Drummoyne from 1934; later he the squadron for a month, and was awarded joined Randwick. Standing 5 feet 9 inches a Bar to his DFC for his outstanding courage, 700 1991–1995 Rankine ability, and skilful leadership. His final sortie, Having been brought up under the on 12 December, ended with a crash landing. Aborigines Protection Board (1939–62), From February 1945 he instructed at No. 5 which exercised supreme authority over Operational Training Unit, Williamtown, Aboriginal people in the State, Rankine was New South Wales, until demobilised on determined to contribute to improvements 20 December. in the lives and circumstances of her people. Rankin briefly resumed teaching and In 1966 she was a founding member of the playing rugby in Sydney, again leading the Council of Aboriginal Women of South State team. On 25 October 1946 at St Jude’s Australia, and, along with other influential Church, Brighton, Adelaide, he married Ellen women including Ruby Hammond [q.v.] and Betty Bown, an ex-servicewoman. He took up Gladys Elphick [q.v.17], worked to promote farming at Braidwood, New South Wales; he Aboriginal education and advancement. later returned to teaching in Canberra, where With her younger sister Veronica Brodie, he also bred horses and farmed. While feeding also an activist and community leader, in 1972 his horses he died suddenly on 7 August 1991, Rankine was an inaugural member of the and was cremated. A generous and gregarious Adelaide Aboriginal Orchestra. Three years man, he was survived by his wife and two sons; later, the orchestra was one of the founding another son had predeceased him. initiatives in the establishment of the Centre for Aboriginal Studies in Music (CASM) at Braidwood Review and District Advocate. ‘Ron Rankin. Famous Flyer’s Amazing Career.’ 17 April the University of Adelaide. The orchestra 1945, 1; Canberra Times. ‘Rugby Union Star to sought to benefit children living with family, Play in Canberra.’ 16 May 1947, 2; Canberra Times. with foster families, or in hostels, and gave ‘WWII Pilot Had Love of Horses.’ 15 August 1991, 4; them the opportunity to receive training and Garrison, A. D. Australian Fighter Aces. Canberra: Air perform on a variety of instruments. ‘Auntie Power Studies Centre, 1999; National Archives of Leila’, as she was respectfully and fondly Australia. A9300, Rankin, Ronald; National Archives known to the many CASM students who of Australia. A705, Rankin, Ronald; Sydney Morning benefited from her wisdom and firm but kind Herald. ‘Sporting Personalities – Ron Rankin.’ 10 April 1945, 6; Sydney Morning Herald. ‘Sport support, was the chairperson of the urban Biography of the Week.’ 31 July 1946, 1. committee of CASM and editor of the centre’s John Moremon journal Tjungaringanyi from 1976 until her retirement in 1986. During this period she also participated in the development of the RANKINE, DOROTHY LEILA (1932 Radio University 5UV multimedia resource –1993), Aboriginal musician and community Music, Music, Music (1978). CASM yielded worker, was born on 31 December 1932 at a number of ground-breaking musical groups Rose Park, Adelaide, seventh of eight children including Us Mob and No Fixed Address. of Daniel Wilson, of Ngarrindjeri descent, and Rankine was involved in numerous his wife Rebecca Kumi Wilson, née Harris, organisations, including the Aboriginal who was of Kaurna descent on her mother’s Community College, Aboriginal Community side and Ngarrindjeri on her father’s side. Leila Centre, and the Aboriginal Sobriety Group attended school and spent her early adult life in of South Australia Inc. She was a member of the small community at Point McLeay Mission the Aborigines Advancement League of South Station (later Raukkan) on the southern Australia, the Aboriginal Arts Board of the shore of Mungkuli (Lake Alexandrina), in the Australia Council of the Arts (1974–77), and Coorong region of South Australia. Under the the Sydney-based Aboriginal Artists Agency influence of the Salvation Army, music played (1978–93). She also worked with Aboriginal a significant role in the social and religious life students at Warriappendi Alternative School, of the mission, shaping her later involvement in contributed to the educational resources music and the arts. She married James William The Kaurna People (1989) and The Ngarrindjeri Rankine (d. 1969) at Point McLeay on 22 April People (1990) for South Australian secondary 1954, and together they had five children.