Pat Evison

Dame Helen June Patricia Evison (née Blamires; 2 June 1924 – 30 May 2010), known professionally as Pat Evison, was a New Zealand-born actress.

Early life and education Evison was born in Dunedin, New Zealand, on 2 June 1924, the daughter of first-class cricketer and clergyman Ernest Oswald Blamires and Annie Blamires (née Anderson). She was educated at Solway College in Masterton. She attended Victoria University College, Auckland University College and the Auckland Teachers' Training College. In the 1940s, she became one of the first New Zealand students to be awarded a scholarship to the Old Vic Theatre Centre in London, where she studied directing. She then worked as an assistant director at the Young Vic, before returning to New Zealand where she worked as a freelance director and actor at the Downstage Theatre in Wellington.

Acting career Evison first began acting while studying an arts degree at Victoria University, performing in radio plays recorded onto acetate discs. Following her return to New Zealand from London, she began acting in television roles, with a small role in the television play All Earth to Love, and guest appearances and a regular role on the sketch comedy series In View of the Circumstances.

In 1971, Evison starred in the television drama serial Pukemanu as storekeeper Phyllis Telford, a role written specially for her by series creator Julian Dickon. In her 1998 autobiography Happy Days in Muckle Flugga, Evison stated that the role as Mrs Telford changed her life, and she was thereafter recognised throughout New Zealand as "Mrs Pukemanu". Evison also starred in the first production at Palmerston North's Centrepoint Theatre in 1973, An Evening With Katherine Mansfield.

She is likely best known for her roles in Australian television, such as Jessie Windom in Prisoner and Violet Carnegie in The Flying Doctors.

Honours and awards In 1979, Evison won the Australian Film Institute Award for Best Supporting Actress, for her role as Mel Gibson's character's mother in the film Tim. Her co-stars also won AFI Awards for their roles: Gibson winning Best Lead Actor for the title role, and Alwyn Kurts winning Best Supporting Actor for his role as Tim's father.

In the 1980 Queen's Birthday Honours, Evison was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire, for services to the theatre. She was promoted to Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire in the 1993 New Year Honours, for services to theatre, television and the community.

Personal life She married Roger Douglas Evison in 1948, and the couple went on to have three children.

Evison suffered from numerous health problems in her later years including cancer, diabetes, several minor strokes and arthritis.

Pat Evison died in Wellington, New Zealand, on 30 May 2010, aged 85.

Filmography

Film Year Title Role Notes 1975 Landfall Visitor Feature film 1976 Caddie Mrs. Norris Feature film 1979 Tim Em Melville Feature film 1979 The Old Man's Story Aunt Short 1975 They Don't Clap Losers Granny TV movie 1980 The Earthling Meg Neilson Feature film 1981 Bad Blood Dulcie Lindsay Feature film 1982 Starstruck Nana Feature film 1982 The Clinic Alda Feature film 1984 The Silent One Luisa 1985 A Street to Die Sister Sweet Feature film 1985 Hanging Together Jean TV movie 1987 Emma's War Miss Arnott Feature film 1990 What the Moon Saw Gran Feature film 1992 Grampire Leah

Television Year Title Role Notes 1971–72 Pukemanu Phyllis Telford 8 episodes1974Percy the Policeman Washer Woman Episode: "Percy Meets Burglar Bill" Mrs. Jones Episode: "Percy and the Burglaries" 1975 Division 4 Agnes Episode: "Agnes Triumphant" 1976 Matlock Police Chrissy Wilson Episode: "Just Like the Old Days" 1976 Solo One Mrs. Birch Episode: "Little Joe" 1976 The Emigrants Josie TV series; 1 episode: "13,000 Miles Away" 1977 Pig in a Poke TV series 1978–1980 Close to Home Faith Wilson 3 episodes 1979 The Mike Walsh Show Guest - Herself with Alwyn Kurts TV series, 1 episode 1981 A Town Like Alice Mrs. Collard Miniseries; 1 episode 1983 Carson's Law Mrs. Amelia Henty Episode: "Teapots and Tears" 1985–88 The Flying Doctors Violet Carnegie 3 episodes (miniseries), 53 episodes (regular series) 1986 Prisoner Jessie Windom 28 episodes 1990 The Ray Bradbury Theatre Mrs. Foley Episode: "The Black Ferris" 1990 Shark in the Park Vi Scudmore Episode: "Double or Quits"