Neilma Gantner

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Neilma Gantner
File:Neilma Gantner c1953.png
Born
Neilma Baillieu Myer

(1922-11-07)7 November 1922
San Francisco, California
Died15 June 2015(2015-06-15) (aged 92)
Bermagui, New South Wales, Australia
Other namesNeilma Sidney
OccupationsWriter and philanthropist
ChildrenVallejo and Carrillo Gantner
FamilySidney Myer (father) Merlyn Myer (mother)

Neilma Bailieu Gantner (7 November 1922 – 15 June 2015) was an Australian philanthropist and author who wrote as Neilma Sidney.

Early life and education

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Born in San Francisco, California on 7 November 1922, Neilma Baillieu Myer was the elder daughter of Merlyn (née Baillieu) and Sidney Myer.[1] The family moved back to Melbourne, Australia in 1929.[2] In 1952, following her divorce, she studied for a Bachelor of Arts in English literature[3] and creative writing at Stanford University.[2][4]

Career

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Gantner returned to Melbourne with her two sons in 1954.[2] In 1955 she was a member of the Victorian board of the International Social Service.[5] In mid-1955 she was responsible for signing up hundreds of subscribers to Meanjin, prior to its 15th anniversary.[6] In the same year she self-published her first collection of short stories. Twelve more books followed.

Her elder son, Vallejo, aged 19, was killed in a shooting accident. Gantner subsequently was granted permission to build a hut for bushwalkers in his memory. The Vallejo Gantner Hut is in the Alpine National Park.[2]

In 1991 she founded the biennial Four Winds Festival at Bermagui, bringing classical music performers to the far south coast of New South Wales.[7]

Gantner was a member of The Myer Foundation and other Myer family philanthropic funds.[8]

Works

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Legacy

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Two awards have been established and named in her honour, the Neilma Sidney Short Story Prize[9] and the Neilma Sidney Literary Travel Fund, supported by The Myer Foundation.[10][11]

Personal

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At 18 Gantner married Vallejo Gantner, an apparel manufacturer in San Francisco on 8 August 1941 at St John's Church, Toorak. Her younger sister, Marigold Myer (later Lady Southey) was bridesmaid.[12]

The couple made their home in San Francisco, where Gantner gave birth to two sons, Vallejo junior in 1942 and Carrillo in 1944. In July 1949 she was granted a divorce from her husband on the grounds of cruelty and, although given physical custody of her sons, was prevented from bringing them to Australia for their education.[13]

Gantner died on 15 June 2015 in Bermagui, New South Wales. She was survived by her son, Carrillo, five grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.[8][2]

References

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