Esmé Fenston
Esmé Fenston | |
|---|---|
 Fenston in 1947 | |
| Born | Esmé Woolacott 29 July 1908 Annandale, New South Wales, Australia |
| Died | 16 April 1972 (aged 63) North Sydney, New South Wales, Australia |
| Occupation | Journalist, editor |
Esmé "Ezzie" Fenston OBE (29 July 1908 – 16 April 1972) was an Australian journalist. She was editor of The Australian Women's Weekly for 22 years.
Early life and education[edit]
Fenston was born Esmé Woolacott on 29 July 1908 in Annandale, New South Wales. She was the youngest child of furniture salesman Henry Lovell Woolacott and Jane Kate (née Wilmot).[1] She completed her secondary education at Sydney Girls High School.[1]
Career[edit]
She was employed by The Land to write "The Countrywoman" and the "Beehive" supplements for the paper,[2] following her marriage in 1930 to Jack Fenston.[3]
Fenston joined The Australian Women's Weekly in 1938, where she wrote book reviews[4] before becoming a sub-editor soon afterwards.[5] She took over as editor in 1950 when Alice Mabel Jackson moved to The Weekly's main rival, Woman's Day.[1]
Fenston remained editor of The Weekly until her death on 16 April 1972, following a short illness.[5]
Awards and recognition[edit]
In the 1967 Queen's Birthday Honours Fenston was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire for "service to journalism".[6]
Fenston Place, in the Canberra suburb of Gilmore, is named in her honour.[7] In 2023 the Esme Fenston Fellowship was inaugurated to celebrate the 90th anniversary of The Women's Weekly and in recognition of her contribution to it.[8]
References[edit]
- ^ a b c Lawson, Valerie, "Fenston, Esmé (Ezzie) (1908–1972)", Australian Dictionary of Biography, Canberra: National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, retrieved 14 August 2021
- ^ ""The Land" Has a Birthday". The Land. Vol. XXII, no. 1075. New South Wales, Australia. 29 January 1932. p. 16. Retrieved 14 August 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "Family Notices". The Sydney Morning Herald. No. 28, 753. New South Wales, Australia. 1 March 1930. p. 16. Retrieved 14 August 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "Books". The Australian Women's Weekly. Vol. 6, no. 8. 30 July 1938. p. 31. Retrieved 14 August 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ a b "Death of Esme Fenston – A Great Editor". The Australian Women's Weekly. Vol. 39, no. 49. 3 May 1972. p. 3. Retrieved 14 August 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "Mrs Esme Fenston". It's An Honour. Retrieved 14 August 2021.
- ^ "Australian Capital Territory National Memorials Ordinance 1928 Determination". Commonwealth of Australia Gazette. No. P11. 15 May 1987. p. 18. Retrieved 14 August 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "The Esme Fenston Fellowship". The Walkley Foundation. Retrieved 27 April 2023.
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