Doris Alice Lucy Walkden (Fitton) Mason DBE (1897 - 1985)

Born 3 Nov 1897 in Santa Ana, Manila, Philippines

Ancestors

Wife of Norbert Keck Mason — married 22 Apr 1922 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Descendants

Died 2 Apr 1985 at age 87 in North Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Roberta Ferguson [send private message]

Biography

Doris (Fitton) Mason DBE is Notable.

Dame Doris Fitton DBE was an Australian actress of stage and film and theatrical director and producer who founded and for 35 years headed The Independent Theatre Ltd in Sydney, New South Wales.

Doris Alice Lucy Walkden Fitton was born on 3rd November 1897 in Santa Ana, Manila, Philippines. She was the daughter of English-born broker Walter Fitton and Victoria-born Janet Cameron. ^[1] Her father died when she was young and in 1902, aged five, she relocated to Victoria with her mother and elder sister, Ethel. She was educated at Loreto Convent, Ballarat and took acting classes with Gregan McMahon.

By 1911 she was studying music at Loreto Abbey, Ballarat. ^[2] She attended the Mayoral Ball at St Kilda, Victoria in 1914 ^[3] and by 1915 was appearing in the Repertory Theatre in Melbourne. ^[4]

Doris married Norbert Keck 'Tug' Mason, a solicitor and (First World) War veteran, in Sydney in 1922. ^[5] The couple subsequently lived in Chatswood, in Sydney's northern suburbs and Potts Point, before moving to Berry Street, North Sydney in 1953 and, later, to Ridge Street, North Sydney, around the corner from The Independent Theatre. There were two sons - Ewen Richard Cameron (1925-) and Malcolm John (1933-).

She was heavily involved in theatre before and after her marriage and continued to use her maiden name in the theatre. ^[6][7]

By 1949 she had produced 176 plays and acted in more than 100. ^[8]

In May 1949 she embarked on an extended holiday to England. ^[9] Norbert stayed in Australia and welcomed her home after 10 months. ^[10]

In the New Year Honours 1955 she was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in recognition of her service to the theatre and dramatic art. ^[11] She was upgraded to Commander of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the New Year Honours 1975. ^[12] In the New Year Honours 1982 Doris was created Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) in recognition of her service to the theatre. ^[13]

Aged 87 years and having been widowed for thirteen years, Doris passed away on 2nd April 1985 in North Sydney. ^[14][15]

A commemorative plaque was unveiled on 17th December 1986 on the footpath in front of the Independent Theatre in her honour.

Doris Fitton Park at 1 Little Walker Street, North Sydney, is named after her.

Sources

1. ↑ ascertained from death record
2. ↑ Advertising (1911, January 28). Advocate (Melbourne, Vic. : 1868 - 1954), p. 12. Retrieved August 27, 2023, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article170922886
3. ↑ WINTER SEASON. (1914, June 6). The Prahran Telegraph (Vic. : 1889 - 1930), p. 8. Retrieved August 27, 2023, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article75068791
4. ↑ REPERTORY THEATRE. (1915, November 29). The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), p. 9. Retrieved August 27, 2023, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article1582288
5. ↑ Marriage - NSW BDM Marriage index - 4618/1922; MASON NORBERT K; FITTON DORIS A C; SYDNEY
6. ↑ The World Behind the Footlights (1927, September 11). The Daily Telegraph (Sydney, NSW : 1883 - 1930), p. 32. Retrieved August 27, 2023, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article247931540
7. ↑ Welcome home for Doris Fitton (1950, March 22). The Sun (Sydney, NSW : 1910 - 1954), p. 28 (LATE FINAL EXTRA). Retrieved August 27, 2023, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article230172417
8. ↑ MUSIC AND THE THEATRE Little Theatre Mainspring (1949, June 5). The Sunday Herald (Sydney, NSW : 1949 - 1953), p. 7 (Features). Retrieved August 27, 2023, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article18468278
9. ↑ Magazine for Women (1949, May 15). The Daily Telegraph (Sydney, NSW : 1931 - 1954), p. 37. Retrieved August 27, 2023, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article248249039
10. ↑ Welcome home for Doris Fitton (1950, March 22). The Sun (Sydney, NSW : 1910 - 1954), p. 28 (LATE FINAL EXTRA). Retrieved August 27, 2023, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article230172417
11. ↑ Australian Honours: OBE; accessed 15 Dec 2023
12. ↑ Australian Honours: CBE; accessed 15 Dec 2023
13. ↑ Australian Honours: DBE; accessed 15 Dec 2023
14. ↑ Death - NSW BDM Death index -MASON DORIS ALICE; 9538/1985; HEARLY; JANET; 001
15. ↑ Unsourced family tree handed down to Roberta (Mason) Ferguson.

See also:

• Fitton, Doris. Not Without Dust and Heat: My Life in Theatre. Harper & Row, Sydney, 1981. ISBN 0-06-312035-6.
• IMDb: Doris Fitton; accessed 15 Dec 2023.
• Wikipedia: Doris Fitton; accessed 15 Dec 2023.