The Hallowian - Volume I 2021 - Flipbook - Page 32
During this period, she also undertook
a course in mime under the tutelage
of Charles Antonetti at the famous
Antonetti School of Mime in Paris.
Antonetti’s most well-known student
just before this time was Marcel
Marceau who popularised mime
around the world over the next few
decades.
Vale
A return to Brisbane saw her continue
her teaching career. Nuala married
Colin Mylne in December 1956. Colin
died on 5 February 1979, just as he
had retired when he and Nuala were
looking forward to enjoying life with
travel on their agenda.
Nuala only deteriorated in about the
last 10 days of her life. She passed
away peacefully and painlessly.
Nuala Mylne (Shannon)
A life of significant
achievement
Bert Facey’s wonderfully self-effacing
autobiography, written in the
understated style of that generation,
was titled A Fortunate Life. She
herself would be happy with those
few words as a summary of her time.
However, that would be inexact;
it was also a life characterised by
application, excellence and significant
achievement.
All Hallows’ School lost its oldest surviving past student
with the death of Nuala Bernardine Mylne (née
Shannon) earlier this year. Born on 7 June 1918, Nuala
passed away on 29 January 2021 in her 103rd year.
Nuala’s passing provides a marker in a number of
respects. Insofar as the history of All Hallows’ is
concerned, Nuala was in the senior class of 1937,
whilst her mother, Annie Catherine Shannon (née
Heckelmann) was the President of the Past Pupils’
Association in 1933. Nuala was the last surviving child
of Annie and Patrick William Shannon, a first-generation
Australian of Irish descent. PW, as he was known both
socially and professionally, was a member of the Land
Court of Queensland and played a prominent role in
Church and State for over half a century. He was and
remained James Duhig’s closest friend for over 70
years.
During her education at All Hallows’, Nuala
demonstrated an interest in and aptitude for dramatic
art. In Brisbane, she obtained her licentiate in speech
and drama from Trinity College London and taught
throughout Brisbane at Gregory Terrace; Nudgee
College; Stuartholme; St Vincent’s, Nudgee and other
colleges. She kept studios in the city and performed
in numerous plays, poetry readings and radio
performances during the 1940s.
In 1950, Nuala, her sister, Moira, and brother, Fr Neal
Shannon, sailed together with their parents on the
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The Hallowian | 2021
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The Courier-Mail, 22 November 1951
This tribute was contributed by Nuala’s
son, Peter Mylne.
Otranto for the United Kingdom and the newly declared
Republic of Ireland.
After sightseeing, PW and the rest of the family
returned to Australia and Nuala stayed in London to
continue her studies.
Out of the 12 candidates enrolled at the Royal Academy
of Music, Nuala achieved first place in examinations for
mime. That result entitled her to a Licentiate Diploma
Royal Academy of Music in Mime. She became the
first Australian to achieve that qualification1. More
importantly, she also became a Fellow of the Trinity
College of Music as a result of passing examinations in
the theory and practice of speech. Nuala was also one
of the dwindling number of Australians who attended
the coronation.
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