| June Dally-Watkins | |
| Birth Name: | June Marie Skewes |
| Birth Date: | 1927 6, df=yes |
| Birth Place: | Sydney, New South Wales, Australia |
| Death Place: | Sydney, New South Wales, Australia |
| Years Active: | 1950–2020 |
| Nationality: | Australian |
| Party: | Christian Democrats |
June Marie Dally-Watkins (; 13 June 1927 – 22 February 2020) was an Australian businesswoman and fashion model, recognised by the Australian honours system as an entrepreneur. In 1950 she started a personal-development school in Sydney to train young women in etiquette and deportment. A year later, she started Australia's first model agency and modelling school, and later established a Business Finishing College.[1] She later became a public proponent of etiquette and elocution, and frequently commented on those topics in the media.[2] [3]
In 1993, Dally-Watkins received an Order of Australia Medal for her contribution to business.[4] [5]
In 2014 she featured on the popular Australian television show Bogan Hunters on the 7mate channel, where she provided information relating to etiquette to series winners.[6]
In 2019 she taught etiquette to women in China.[7]
Dally-Watkins was born in Sydney in June 1927 with the birth name June Skewes. Her mother, Caroline May Skewes, came from a family of farmers in the village of Watsons Creek, close to Tamworth, New South Wales. Her father, whom she did not meet until later in life, was a businessman named Bob Monkton,[7] who had met Skewes while on a rabbit-hunting expedition in Watsons Creek. Former army captain and wine salesman David Dally-Watkins married her mother and adopted her in 1940, after which she assumed his name, becoming June Dally-Watkins.[7] [8] The family moved to Sydney in 1940, where Dally-Watkins attended the Willoughby Girls High School, but Caroline's marriage to David was short-lived, and she and Dally-Watkins returned to live in Tamworth in 1942 amidst threat of a Japanese invasion of Australia.[8]
In 1944 Tamworth-based photographer Jan Solomons performed a photoshoot with Dally-Watkins, after which he suggested to her mother that her appearance could lead her to a career in modelling.[8] Acting on this advice, the pair moved back to Sydney, where Dally-Watkins was appointed to a modelling job at Farmers & Co Department Store,[9] (acquired by Myer in 1961). Dally-Watkins later described her appearance in the 1940s as resembling that of a milkmaid, but her success grew through the decade and in 1949 she won the Australian Model of the Year award.[10]
In 1950, after a visit to New York City to research the latest developments in fashion,[11] Dally-Watkins founded a school of deportment and etiquette. She then went on to start her own modelling agency, as well as a business college.[10]
In later life, Dally-Watkins expanded her etiquette coaching to China, establishing a programme called Look of Success in collaboration with a Chinese partner. The programme ran a series of courses, using venues such as luxury hotels.[12]
Dally-Watkins had a brief relationship with American actor Gregory Peck.[13] In 1953, she married John Clifford, a naval officer, but they separated in 1968, finalizing in 1969.[14] The couple had four children; two sons and two daughters.[7]
She died on 22 February 2020, aged 92.[15]