Eleanor Witcombe

Eleanor Katrine Witcombe (20 September 1923 – 21 October 2018) was an Australian screenwriter and playwright who worked extensively in radio, film and television.

Early life and education Witcombe was born in Yorketown, South Australia to Bertha Eriksen, who was of Danish and Prussian descent, and Noel Whitcombe. Her father ran a farm there, and later a grocery store. In 1939, the family drove to Queensland, intending to move to Cooktown, but ending up in Brisbane where Eleanor and her sister Aileen attended Brisbane Girls Grammar School. In 1941, Witcombe left school due to chronic asthma, and the family relocated to Sydney, where she attended the National Art School. She worked as a governess at a New South Wales property during World War II, but was unhappy in the role and dreamt of becoming a writer.

Writing career In 1947, Witcombe was awarded a scholarship at the Mercury Theatre founded by Peter Finch. The following year, the Mosman Theatre Club commissioned her to write three plays for children, which received national acclaim and began her writing career.

Awards and honours Witcombe won the AFI Award for Best Adapted Screenplay in 1978 for The Getting of Wisdom and in 1979 for My Brilliant Career.

In the 2014 Queen's Birthday Honours, Witcombe was made a Member of the Order of Australia for significant service to the arts as a writer for radio, film, television and theatre.