Kerry's Biography

Kerry Richard Wright was born on 10 November 1949 at Fairlight on Sydney's Northern Beaches in Australia. [click on images to enlarge them]

Kerry in 1953

Kerry's father, Raymond Harry Wright, was born on 24 November 1907 at the Royal Hospital for Women at Paddington in Sydney and died on 26 May 1977 at 14 Pacific Parade, Dee Why, Sydney (his residence), aged 69.

Ray Wright - 1920s

Kerry's mother, Emily Flora Wright nee Glover, was born on 16 July 1911 at Royal North Shore Hospital at St Leonards in Sydney and died on 19 November 1991 at Delmar Private Hospital at Dee Why in Sydney, aged 80.

Flora & Robert Wright - 1930s 

Kerry was the youngest of his parent's four sons.

Kerry in 1962

Because Kerry was so much younger than his three brothers, who soon flew the nest, he was virtually raised as an only child by his beloved, loving parents, whom he adored.

Ray & Flora Wright, 1970

Kerry was raised on Sydney's picturesque Northern Beaches, where he lived for the first 43 years of his life, with a couple of diversions along the way. He relocated to Annandale in Sydney's leafy, harbourside Inner-West in 1993, and retired to the seaside village of Nambucca Heads on the up-state Pacific east coast of New South Wales in 2015.

Kerry mowing the lawn at Nambucca Heads in 2017

Kerry was introduced to the Nambucca Valley in the early 2000s by dear friend, Kevin Hewgill, after Kevin had relocated there from Sydney. Many happy holiday visits followed over the years and it was thanks to Kevin that Kerry ultimately came to retire to that beautiful region of New South Wales, renowned for its spectacular waterfalls, rainforest, wild rivers and pristine beaches.

"Study for Portrait of Kevin Hewgill" by Kerry Wright - 2023

In his youth, Kerry entered the cloister of the Carmelite Monastery at Winston Hills. The monastery has since fallen victim to the wrecking ball's might and the once sylvan, hilltop site has been reduced to a sad suburban blight of McMansions.

Kerry at Mount Carmel Monastery in 1970

After leaving the monastery, Kerry initially found employment in banking and was later employed for 30 years at Royal North Shore Hospital, St Leonards, where he worked closely with the esteemed Professor Kathleen Evelyn (Kathy) Baker for much of that time. Through his maternal family, he had a long, pre-existing association with Royal North Shore Hospital. His mother was born there in 1911 and family members were part of a committee consisting of local citizens in the 1920/30s involved in volunteering and fundraising.

Kerry at Royal North Shore Hospital in 2003

Kerry's maternal, male line can be traced back to his Great-Grandfather and Great-Great-Grandfather, Henry Heath Snr and Henry Heath Jnr, who were London artists and lithographers. They migrated to Adelaide, South Australia, in 1849, where they added Glover to their surname, becoming Henry Heath Glover Snr and Henry Heath Glover Jnr. It is not known why they changed their name. 

"Mercury Island" by Henry Heath Glover Jnr, c.1864 

Henry Heath Glover Snr and Jnr are represented in various collections throughout Australia, including the National Portrait Gallery in Canberra, the National Library of Australia in Canberra, the Art Gallery of South Australia and the State (Mitchell) Library of New South Wales. They are also represented in various collections throughout the world (conduct Google search for latest listings), including the National Portrait Gallery in London, where there are 29 works by Henry Heath Snr, the bequest of Sir Edward Dillon Lott du Cann.

"To Be Or Not To Be, That Is The Question" by Henry Heath (Glover) Snr, 1827 - National Portrait Gallery, London

Kerry's maternal, female line can be traced back to his Great-Great-Grandfather, David Senior, a Yorkshire lad from Dewsbury in England, who was arrested for stealing food to feed his family. He was transported to Australia on the convict ship "Theresa" in 1839. 

Kerry's paternal genealogy can be traced back to his Wright, Mansfield and Mullens ancestors, who migrated to Australia from Leicestershire and Cambridgeshire in England in the early 1800s. Further particulars continue to be researched and are incomplete at this time.

John Francis Mullens - 1905

Kerry followed in the footsteps of his maternal artist ancestors throughout his life. His preferred artistic medium is oil on canvas, portraiture being his primary passion. 

"Self Portrait in Carmelite Habit" by Kerry Wright - 1970

Abstraction is another significant interest. 

"In the Midnight Brightly" by Kerry Wright - 2001

During the 1980s/90s, Kerry calligraphically inscribed the names of graduands onto professional certificates in various disciplines within the nursing profession at Royal North Shore Hospital and for the Institute of Nursing Administrators of NSW & ACT, amongst others. 

He produced an extensive portfolio of satirical cartoons during the early 2000s. 

"A Baloney of Celebrity Chefs" by Kerry Wright - 2009

Kerry entered paintings in the Archibald Prize, Sulman Prize and Blake Prize without success, and contributed paintings to the Out Art exhibition as part of the Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras Festival each year during the 1990s - with success!

"The Ecstasy of Saint Teresa of Avila" by Kerry Wright - 1984

Kerry’s godmother, Dorothy Cynthia Shiels nee Murrell (b. 2 Nov 1923), is his cousin. Their mothers, Flora and Gladys, were sisters. A much loved Aunty Mame figure in Kerry's life, Dorothy introduced him to the wonderful world of theatre and the arts from an early age, and often referred to him as the son she never had. 

Dorothy Shiels - 1940s

A constant throughout Kerry’s life has been his cherished, beloved friend, George John Chamberlain. George was born Gerhardus Johannes Van Rooyen at Geita in Tanzania, East Africa, on 28 May 1950, and attended the Hill School at Eldoret in Kenya, before migrating to Australia with his family in 1963 aboard the S S Galileo Galilei from Aden. After serving in the Royal Australian Navy, George moved to Sydney, where he and Kerry met one bright, sunny, Saturday afternoon in February 1973, in the home of mutual friends at 37 Lancaster Crescent, Long Reef, on Sydney’s Northern Beaches.

"Portrait of George Chamberlain" by Kerry Wright - 1980

In 2012 Kerry was honoured to be made a Governor of the Art Gallery of New South Wales Foundation.

Art Gallery of New South Wales

Dorothy Shiels with John, Robert & Alan Wright - ca.1945

L-R: John Wright, Dorothy Shiels, Alan Wright (front) & Robert Wright - ca.1945

This sweet photo of my three older brothers L-R John, Alan and Robert Wright with our cousin, Dorothy Shiels nee Murrell, who is also my Godmother, was taken some five years before I was born. I can has it a guess, however, as to the story behind it. 

When I was a child, Dorothy would take me for excursions to the City (we lived at Narrabeen on Sydney's Northern Beaches, some 23km [14 miles] from the City) to attend live theatre (children's matinees and pantomimes) and visit galleries and museums. And I'm guessing that's what she is doing with my brothers here. 

Such outings in Dorothy's company had a profound influence on my cultural awakening and upbringing and I will always be grateful to her for that. And they were exciting too, because they involved either a trip on the top-deck of the double-decker 190 Wynyard bus or a ferry trip across the Harbour from Manly. 

Alas, however, from what I remember of my brothers, their primary interests were in football and surfing, so I'm not sure that Dorothy's cultural expeditions had the same impact on them, as they did on me. 

My three older brothers had largely grown out of such things by the time I was old enough to join Dorothy on her outings and I had her all to myself. I was like an eager sponge, soaking-up everything she had to impart. I was a delicate, effete child, who was destined to grow-up gay, and had a natural, inherent interest in the arts. 

That's not to say my brothers didn't enjoy their outings with Dorothy. I'm sure they did. I can't help but think, however, that they may have been just as happy kicking a football around the back-yard at home. 

This was an era when people "dressed" to go to the City, even if it was just a mundane shopping trip. My mother has clearly spiffed-up my brothers in their Sunday best here and Dorothy looks resplendent in her 1940s ensemble and hairstyle.  

Dorothy Shiels with John & Alan Wright - ca.1942

L-R: Dorothy Shiels, Alan Wright, John Wright - ca.1942

My cousin, Dorothy Shiels nee Murrell, with my brothers, L-R, Alan and John Wright. Dorothy is the daughter of my mother's sister, my Aunty Glad (Gladys Ann Murrell nee Glover). Both Aunty Glad and Dorothy played prominent roles in the lives of my three brothers and myself. They lived nearby, in the same street, and we saw much of them. Aunty Glad's husband, Uncle Eric (Eric Murrell) was somewhat reclusive. He rarely came to family functions and we saw little of him. John is my eldest brother, my parent's first-born, and Alan is the brother closest in age to me (almost 10 years older than me). Because my brothers were all so much older than me (John is old enough to be my father), I virtually grew-up as an only child and was very much doted upon by my loving parents. This photograph was taken where my family then lived, at 10 Mactier Street, Narrabeen, in Sydney.

Flora & John Wright - ca.1934

Flora & John Wright - ca.1934

This lovely picture of Mum (Emily Flora Wright nee Glover) with her first-born son, John, is reminiscent of the picture of  Mum and I taken in 1954, located at the top of this blog. Separated by some 20 years, Mum stands protectively behind her sons in both pictures. This photo was taken in my maternal grandparent's back yard, at 8 Mactier Street, Narrabeen, in Sydney. In the middle distance, with his back to the camera, is my Papa, my maternal grandfather (George Henry Glover), tending his garden. Beyond that can be seen a house, which is where my parents lived at No.10, next door. In the far distance can be seen the escarpment of Collaroy Plateau, rising up from the coastal plain.