Elisabeth Kirkby

Elisabeth Wilma Burton Kirkby (26 January 1921 – 20 April 2026) was a British-born Australian politician, actress, radio broadcaster, producer, director and screenwriter, sheep and wheat farmer and theatre founder.

Kirkby entered politics in 1977 serving as state parliamentary leader with the Australian Democrats in the New South Wales Legislative Council from 1981 to 1998, after which she served a shorter tenure with the Australian Progressive Alliance party with a seat on local government, as a councillor for Temora from 1999 and 2004. After working for some years in England starting her career, she relocated to British Malaya in 1950 after her husband was offered a medical position there, and noting the lack of theatre, served instead as a radio broadcaster, producer, director and screenwriter. She emigrated to Australia in 1965, where she continued her acting career and became known for her small screen role as Lucy Sutcliffe in the serial Number 96.

Early life Kirkby was born in Welbeck Road in Bolton, Lancashire, (now part of Greater Manchester) north-west England on 26 January 1921, to James Burton Kirkby and Frances Robinson. Kirkby's family moved to Turton before she was one. She grew up during the dark years of the Great Depression and noted the closure of numerous cotton mills, native to the area during this period. Kirkby was an original cast member of Number 96 which premiered March 1972. Unsure of how long the series would last, the producers offered the original cast contracts lasting just six weeks. The show became Australia's 10th highest-rated television program in 1972, was the number 1 highest rating program in 1973 and 1974, and the 6th highest rated program for 1975. The episode in which it was revealed that Lucy's tumour was benign proved to be Number 96'''s highest-ever rated episode. In late 1973 the show had a feature film spin-off featuring much of the show's current cast, including Kirkby, reprising their television roles. Kirkby provided a commentary for the DVD release of the series alongside co-star Carol Raye and Michael Kirby. Kirkby subsequently made guest appearances on Australian drama series such as The Outsiders.

Political career Kirkby entered politics joining the Australian Democrats in 1979. At that time she was residing in Martinsville in the Hunter Valley region of New South Wales, after purchasing a property there on the recommendation of Sheila Kennelly, a friend and longtime resident who had a farm in that area. After relocating there she ran for the local parliament seat for the Hunter Valley, with a publicity campaign using her Number 96 role as the basis, stating there are "96's reasons to vote for Liz". She was not elected, attaining 13% of votes, but was subsequently elected to the New South Wales Legislative Council in 1981, as the party's state leader. Upon retiring in June 1998, she became the longest-serving Australian Democrat member of parliament. She remained in politics at a local government level, serving as a councillor in Temora Shire from 1999 to 2004, with the Democrats spin-off party the Australian Progressive Alliance founded by Meg Lees.

Personal life and death Kirkby was married to Australian gynaecologist Derek Llewellyn-Jones and had three children, a daughter and two sons, four grandchildren and a great-granddaughter. Her son Tony Llewellyn-Jones is an Australian actor and producer. Debbie Baile, her daughter, became an actress and also appeared in Number 96 in 1975. Baile also acted in The Young Doctors and the film Undercover. Kirkby died on 20 April 2026, at the age of 105.

Honours In 2006 Kirkby earned an Arts Degree and in 2014 a PhD from the University of Sydney at the age of 93, becoming Australia's oldest university graduate. Her thesis was on unemployment during the Great Depression, and she became an advocate for older people to learn and study. In 2012 she was awarded the national Medal of the Order of Australia, for "service to the Parliament of New South Wales, to the community of Temora, and to the performing arts".

Filmography

Film

Television

Thesis Will We Ever Learn From History? The Impact of Economic Orthodoxy on Unemployment during the Great Depression in Australia'' – doctorate thesis (University of Sydney)