Phyllis Papps the librarian, 1976. There is little in the mild demeanour to suggest the courageous feminist who faced down homophobia and discrimination, By Jan Bourne
MIRANDA Phyllis Dimitra Papaioannou was born on Saturday 15th April 1944, in Cairo, Egypt, the only daughter and second child to her Greek parents Dimitri and Marguerite (Rita). She joined her brother three-year-old Apollo in completing the family.
Both Dimitri (known as Jim) and Rita were college educated, spoke five languages each and Jim, a trained accountant, worked for the British Army as a staff sergeant. The family enjoyed an affluent lifestyle in Cairo until the late 1940s when the political situation became unstable and Jim decided to take his family to Australia as unassisted migrants.
Arriving in 1950, Jim and Rita had to work hard in factory jobs to be able to save and build their own home in Ringwood. Later, Jim’s credentials were acknowledged and the ensuing professional work enabled Rita to stay home and look after their children.
MIRANDA Phyllis Dimitra Papaioannou was born on Saturday 15th April 1944, in Cairo, Egypt, the only daughter and second child to her Greek parents Dimitri and Marguerite (Rita). She joined her brother three-year-old Apollo in completing the family.
Both Dimitri (known as Jim) and Rita were college educated, spoke five languages each and Jim, a trained accountant, worked for the British Army as a staff sergeant. The family enjoyed an affluent lifestyle in Cairo until the late 1940s when the political situation became unstable and Jim decided to take his family to Australia as unassisted migrants.
Arriving in 1950, Jim and Rita had to work hard in factory jobs to be able to save and build their own home in Ringwood. Later, Jim’s credentials were acknowledged and the ensuing professional work enabled Rita to stay home and look after their children.
Few Greek families lived in Ringwood so it was isolating culturally for the family. In 1960 recognizing that their surname was difficult for English speaking people, Jim changed all their names by deed poll and little Miranda Phyllis Dimitra Papaioannou became Phyllis Miranda Papps.
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In primary school there were taunts of “Abo!” as their skin was dark and ridicule at their “ethnic” lunches of salami, mortadella and olives – often those lunches were thrown away in embarrassment.
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Phyllis Papps died on January 17 and was buried alongside Francesca Curtis at the Cowes Cemetery on February 6. This is an edited extract of Jan Bourne’s eulogy for her. |
During her secondary schooling years Phyllis worked hard and excelled in her studies. She was a house captain and prefect. As early as form three onwards ‘librarian’ was listed as her future occupation. She flourished at school, had loads of friends, played basketball, hockey and even set up the first female cricket team.
Phyllis was close to both her grandmothers, whom she described as strong women. She quietly took her cue from their strength.
On leaving high school she took on a job with Melbourne City Libraries and undertook a three-year librarianship course. This was the beginning of a very successful and impressive 37-year career in what she sometimes called ‘Library Land’. Over the course of her working life Phyllis, a self-described workaholic, accomplished significant and important achievements with far reaching results.
With her meticulous eye for detail and analytical approach to systems development, together with her passion for knowledge and information sharing, Phyllis ensured that public libraries in Victoria were able to move forward in the new computer age and remained accessible to all.
When Phyllis was 12 years old, she recognized that she was ‘different’. She tried to talk to Rita about it but her mother was unable to hear or understand and only wailed ‘What have I done wrong?’. The conversation was dropped.
In her private life throughout her late teens and early 20s she dated a couple of “nice boys” because it was expected of her, even becoming very briefly engaged to a “kind young man”.
On leaving high school she took on a job with Melbourne City Libraries and undertook a three-year librarianship course. This was the beginning of a very successful and impressive 37-year career in what she sometimes called ‘Library Land’. Over the course of her working life Phyllis, a self-described workaholic, accomplished significant and important achievements with far reaching results.
With her meticulous eye for detail and analytical approach to systems development, together with her passion for knowledge and information sharing, Phyllis ensured that public libraries in Victoria were able to move forward in the new computer age and remained accessible to all.
When Phyllis was 12 years old, she recognized that she was ‘different’. She tried to talk to Rita about it but her mother was unable to hear or understand and only wailed ‘What have I done wrong?’. The conversation was dropped.
In her private life throughout her late teens and early 20s she dated a couple of “nice boys” because it was expected of her, even becoming very briefly engaged to a “kind young man”.
“Phyllis dedicated decades of her life to the advancement of lesbian rights in Australia. She laid the foundation for the queer culture we have in 2026, and will be treasured for a long time to come.” |
All that changed in 1970 when late one night Phyllis saw Francesca Curtis being interviewed on a television program called The Bailey File. Francesca was proudly talking about ‘Daughters of Bilitis’, the first lesbian group and gay rights organisation in Australia, and openly declaring herself gay – the first woman to do so in a public way in this country. For Phyllis this was a revelation - more women like her!
Soon after, Phyllis attended a ‘Daughters of Bilitis’ (later the Australasian Lesbian Movement) social event and met Francesca. The attraction was instant and dynamic for both of them.
Soon after, Phyllis attended a ‘Daughters of Bilitis’ (later the Australasian Lesbian Movement) social event and met Francesca. The attraction was instant and dynamic for both of them.
Francesca and Phyllis at a social gathering of the Australian Lesbian Movement, 1975
On 11th July, 1970 Francesca and Phyllis exchanged gold rings and as Phyllis recorded, considered themselves “married despite the reaction of society, family, neighbours and work colleagues”. This act of love and defiance, which was to last more than half a century, was a pivotal moment in the life of both woman and the start of their lifelong journey together as partners and activists for same sex acceptance, equality, respect and justice.
Francesca and Phyllis went on to appear together on This Day Tonight and their lives were never the same again. Speaking out, attending meetings, writing papers - it was an exciting and heady time. For a while their flat in St Kilda became the headquarters of the Australasian Lesbian Movement, now documented as the first homosexual political group in Australia.
Francesca and Phyllis went on to appear together on This Day Tonight and their lives were never the same again. Speaking out, attending meetings, writing papers - it was an exciting and heady time. For a while their flat in St Kilda became the headquarters of the Australasian Lesbian Movement, now documented as the first homosexual political group in Australia.
Phyllis Papps and Francesca Curtis discuss their life as a lesbian couple on This Day Tonight, 1970. Photo: ABC
Across decades, both Phyllis and Francesca patiently bore the scrutiny and media invasion of their lives as they became the focal point and spokespeople for the gay women’s movement. Over the years they became icons within the LGBTIQ+ community.
There is a direct link between Phyllis’s and Francesca’s actions in 1970, the work they did over the following decades and the passing 47 years later on 7th December 2017 of the Same Sex Marriage Act. They were true trailblazers and history makers.
In 2019, Phyllis and Francesca received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Australian LGBTI Awards in Sydney – receiving not one but two standing ovations. They also featured in AP Pobjoy’s & Bonnie Scott’s award winning 2020 documentary Why Did She Have To Tell The World?
Following Phyllis’s retirement in 1999, she and Francesca discussed a sea change. Phyllis had holidayed on Phillip Island as a child and they had enjoyed regular stays at the Gatehouse, a guesthouse in Rhyll. Just after the sale of their house in Balwyn, they heard that a small property in Rhyll, the log house in Walton St was for sale – and took the leap.
The transition was physically and emotionally challenging, but they worked hard to find a place within and contribute to their new community.
Phyllis resumed academic studies, completing a Bachelor of Arts majoring in literary studies and journalism in 2005 followed by a Post Graduate in Professional Writing in 2010.
In the 20 years following her retirement she completed over 20 book projects including biographies of renowned local artist John Adam, much respected past Bass Coast Shire Mayor and long-standing councillor Clare le Serve and her mother Rita. She was assisted in these literary adventures by her work colleague and good friend Sally Whitehouse.
She served as a judge in the Waterline Writing Competition Residents Short Story section for six years, judged the Glen Miles Award in 2016 and in 2019 was a sponsor and judge of the Bass Coast Prize for Non-Fiction.
In 2019, Phyllis and Francesca received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Australian LGBTI Awards in Sydney – receiving not one but two standing ovations. They also featured in AP Pobjoy’s & Bonnie Scott’s award winning 2020 documentary Why Did She Have To Tell The World?
Following Phyllis’s retirement in 1999, she and Francesca discussed a sea change. Phyllis had holidayed on Phillip Island as a child and they had enjoyed regular stays at the Gatehouse, a guesthouse in Rhyll. Just after the sale of their house in Balwyn, they heard that a small property in Rhyll, the log house in Walton St was for sale – and took the leap.
The transition was physically and emotionally challenging, but they worked hard to find a place within and contribute to their new community.
Phyllis resumed academic studies, completing a Bachelor of Arts majoring in literary studies and journalism in 2005 followed by a Post Graduate in Professional Writing in 2010.
In the 20 years following her retirement she completed over 20 book projects including biographies of renowned local artist John Adam, much respected past Bass Coast Shire Mayor and long-standing councillor Clare le Serve and her mother Rita. She was assisted in these literary adventures by her work colleague and good friend Sally Whitehouse.
She served as a judge in the Waterline Writing Competition Residents Short Story section for six years, judged the Glen Miles Award in 2016 and in 2019 was a sponsor and judge of the Bass Coast Prize for Non-Fiction.
From left, Malcom Brodie (third prize winner), Don Watson (author and guest speaker), Julie Constable (second prize winner), Christine Grayden (first prize winner) and Phyllis Papps (prize sponsor) at The Gurdies winery following the announcement of the Bass Coast Prize for Non-Fiction.
She spent seven years as a board member of the Bass Coast Community Health Service including time as president and secretary. She joined the Rhyll Association and Rhyll RAID – Residents Against Inappropriate Development and assisted with two submissions to the State Government for the Preserve Western Port action group.
In retirement Phyllis rediscovered her love of drawing and became interested in botanical illustration, photography and listening to Baroque music – always better with a glass of fine wine.
Throughout her long and eventful life, the touchstone for Phyllis was always Francesca. Their union of over 51 years could have been viewed as unlikely. They were so different in many ways. Phyllis an organiser, Francesca a dreamer. Phyllis liked order, Francesca could live with chaos.
After Francesca died in 2021 Phyllis’ health issues escalated. in true Phyllis style as she recognised her decline, she organised and made arrangements for her own care at home, so she could remain there for as long as possible with her beloved little dog Suzie Q.
Although her physical energy waned, Phyllis’ commitment and dedication to women’s issues, the arts and her community never did.
She was a brave and courageous feminist who owned her life and faced down the homophobia and discrimination that resulted from her decision to be true to herself. She became, as her cousin Marilyn told me, a Greek Warrior Woman.
Her legacy is huge. It resides in the many thousands of people who have benefitted from her wonderful work in the public library sector, the lives of those she touched and encouraged through her literary work and it lives on within the hearts and minds of all who seek a better and more just society.
In retirement Phyllis rediscovered her love of drawing and became interested in botanical illustration, photography and listening to Baroque music – always better with a glass of fine wine.
Throughout her long and eventful life, the touchstone for Phyllis was always Francesca. Their union of over 51 years could have been viewed as unlikely. They were so different in many ways. Phyllis an organiser, Francesca a dreamer. Phyllis liked order, Francesca could live with chaos.
After Francesca died in 2021 Phyllis’ health issues escalated. in true Phyllis style as she recognised her decline, she organised and made arrangements for her own care at home, so she could remain there for as long as possible with her beloved little dog Suzie Q.
Although her physical energy waned, Phyllis’ commitment and dedication to women’s issues, the arts and her community never did.
She was a brave and courageous feminist who owned her life and faced down the homophobia and discrimination that resulted from her decision to be true to herself. She became, as her cousin Marilyn told me, a Greek Warrior Woman.
Her legacy is huge. It resides in the many thousands of people who have benefitted from her wonderful work in the public library sector, the lives of those she touched and encouraged through her literary work and it lives on within the hearts and minds of all who seek a better and more just society.
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Phyllis Papps, left, and Francesca Curtis photographed on the day they received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Australian LGBTI Awards, 2019. Photos: Gary Jaynes