Helen Handbury; Rupert Murdoch's sister
Hyfler/Rosner
november 24, 2004
HELEN Handbury, the much-loved wife of Geoff, daughter of
Dame Elisabeth Murdoch and the late Sir Keith Murdoch, and
eldest sister of Rupert Murdoch, Anne Kantor and Janet
Calvert-Jones, has died aged 75 after a short illness.
After living in Melbourne for many years, Mr and Mrs
Handbury moved 30 years ago to Kanagulk, a sheep property in
Victoria's Western District. They moved to Hamilton two
years ago.
They were great benefactors of many community causes in the
area.
They saw the damage done to the rural economy by Australia's
financial downturn in the 1970s and gave generously to many
causes such as the Hamilton and Horsham hospitals, local
sports teams and the Hamilton City Band.
They established the Helen and Geoff Handbury Fellowships,
which support innovative research projects through the RMIT
University Centre at Hamilton.
Mrs Handbury, OAM, had been a director of CARE Australia,
Southdown Press, Progress Press and Advertiser Newspapers
during her distinguished public life.
Mr and Mrs Handbury followed the Murdoch family's tradition
in media when they and their daughter Judy and son-in-law
Rowly Paterson bought Ace Radio Pty Ltd, Victoria's leading
regional radio broadcasting network.
Mrs Handbury was the first woman board member of Advertiser
Newspapers when she was appointed in 1987. She retired in
2001. Reg Cordina, chairman of Advertiser Newspapers Pty
Ltd, yesterday paid tribute to Mrs Handbury.
"Helen Handbury was a dedicated and a highly respected
director of The Advertiser for 14 years and her advice and
counsel to the board was invaluable," Mr Cordina said.
"Helen had a great empathy for everyone she came in contact
with and she will be sadly missed by all her friends in
Adelaide." Brian Sallis, who was managing director of
Advertiser Newspapers at the time of Mrs Handbury's
appointment, and subsequently chairman of the board, also
paid tribute to her yesterday.
"Helen Handbury was a director of Advertiser Newspapers over
the years when there were many changes in its operations -
becoming a member of News Corporation in 1987, the changes
in many of its methods for modern newspaper production and
in its continuing success in the newspaper industry," he
said.
"She had great interest in the company's activities and its
people and was a very good contributor on the board. I shall
always value her support and friendship."
Mrs Handbury is survived by her husband, children Matthew,
Paul, Paddy and Judy, 14 grandchildren and one
great-grandchild.