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

Ray & Flora Wright - 27 January 1969

Ray & Flora Wright 

27 January 1969

Two photos of my mother and father, Ray and Flora Wright, taken on the same day – 27 January 1969. We were off for a day out in the city. The first photo shows Mum and Dad leaving their home at Dee Why on Sydney’s Northern Beaches. We took a bus to the city, where I was scheduled to serve the 8 a.m. Mass at St Patrick’s Church in Grosvenor Street. During 1969, I served the 8 a.m. Mass every weekday morning at St Patrick’s and also the Benediction on Wednesday and Friday evenings. I worked at nearby Circular Quay at the time. The second photo shows Mum and Dad in the garden courtyard below St Patrick’s. That's a garden bed full of  petunias surrounding the statue of St Joseph in the foreground - very colourful in real life. We took the stairs seen here in the background, which led to the sacristy, where a nun can be seen peeking around the corner. Mum and Dad sat in the private pews to the side of the altar, adjoining the sacristy, unseen from the main body of the church. Following Mass we saw the Peter Cook and Dudley Moore comedy movie “Bedazzled” at the Town Cinema in Pitt Street near Town Hall and then had lunch. It was a lovely day.

Ray, Flora & Kerry Wright - 1960

Mum, Dad and me on holiday in Queensland, 1960.

Gladys Murrell & Flora Wright - Late-1950s

L-R: Gladys Murrell & Flora Wright

Late-1950s

My mother, Flora Wright (R), with her sister, Gladys Murrell (both nee Glover), taken some time in the late-1950s. I seem to remember Mum’s stylish, double-breasted suit was a pretty shade of green. Mum was very fond of the colour green, as am I. 

Aunty Glad was born on 26 July 1906 and Mum was born on 16 July 1911.They remained very close throughout their lives. They grew-up at Crows Nest on Sydney’s Lower North Shore. Mum was the youngest of five and Aunty Glad was the middle child. Their mother, Louisa Mary (known as May) Glover was an asthmatic. Being the youngest, Mum lost a great deal of school in staying home to look after her infirm mother. After just three years at Willoughby Girls’ High School, she was sent out to work. 

Probably the most memorable of Mum’s early jobs was as a doll-stuffer in a doll factory in Sailors Bay Road at nearby Northbridge, where Aunty Glad also worked, sewing the eyes on the dolls. Sounds positively Dickensian, but at least it wasn’t heavy work and they were indoors, out of the elements. 

In the 1920s, the family relocated permanently to Narrabeen, on Sydney’s Northern Beaches, where they had holidayed for many years previously. It was there that Mum and Aunty Glad were to meet their respective husbands to be, Ray Wright and Eric Murrell, and live out the remainder of their days. Mum died on 19 November 1991 at age 80, followed just 15 days later by Aunty Glad on 4 December 1991, aged 85. Close even in death.

Ray, Robert, Alan & Kerry Wright - 1950

L-R: Alan Wright, Kerry Wright (front), Ray Wright, Robert Wright

1950

My father, Ray Wright, with his sons Robert (R), Alan (L) and me, Kerry, in the middle. My eldest brother, John, who would have then been 18, is absent. The photo was probably taken by my mother, Flora Wright, and it's likely location is the garden of our family home at 10 Mactier Street, Narrabeen, on Sydney's Northern Beaches. Even though I had three older brothers, I virtually grew-up as an only child, having no recollection of John living at home, and only fleeting memories of Robert's presence. Alan, the brother nearest in age to me, married when I was 12 but was little seen in the years leading up to his departure, being of an age when the nearby surf club and its inherent sporting and social distractions occupied much of his attention.

Ray & Kerry Wright - 1950

L-R: Ray Wright & Kerry Wright

1950

My father, Ray Wright, cradling me in his arms. I'm looking somewhat sooky, probably because I wasn't getting my own way at that exact moment. Being the youngest, I was spoilt and could be a little terror. My brother, Alan, gave me the nickname, "Wild Bill", which he continued to use way into our adult years, abbreviated to "Wild", even though I had, by then, ceased throwing the tantrums of my infancy. From a very early age, in fact, I soon moved away from the attention-seeking, spoilt brat stage, and came to display the delicate, sensitive, effete characteristics that would come to dominate my reticent, introspective childhood personality and ultimately progress to my gay adult self of today. This photo was taken at 10 Mactier Street, Narrabeen, on Sydney's Northern Beaches, where we lived.

Ray, Flora, Robert & Alan Wright - ca.1945

L-R: Ray, Robert, Flora & Alan Wright - ca.1945

This lovely family snap of my mother and father, Ray & Flora Wright, with my bothers Robert (L) and Alan (R), was taken in Martin Place, Sydney. The famous northern colonnade of the GPO (now Westin Hotel) can be seen in the left background. 

As for estimating the date, some amateur sleuthing will be necessary. I am guessing it was taken in 1945 for a number of reasons, not least of all  being Robert's (b.1937) and Alan's (b.1940) ages. From the way everyone is dressed, particularly the boys' sandals, it is clearly summertime. Dad is in Australian Army uniform, though there would appear to be an absence of formal insignia thereon. Following service in the Pacific during World War 2, Dad was discharged from the Army on 14 December 1945. 

For all these reasons and also because of the way Robert and Alan are positively beaming, perhaps because their Dad has just returned safely from the War, I am going to venture a guess that this photo may have been taken on 14 December 1945, the day of Dad's discharge. Mid-Summer in Australia.

Ray Wright - 1942

Private Raymond Harry Wright

AIF Service Number NX92796
World War II: Pacific Theatre

Enlisted: 17 March 1942

Discharged: 14 December 1945

My Dad is so handsome here in his Australian Army uniform. His cheery, carefree smile betrays no indication that he is headed off to war in the Pacific, leaving a young wife at home with three small children aged 9, 5 and 2. Mum once told me that Dad felt honour bound to join up. She said that he could not allow his mates to go off and risk their lives for their country, while he sat safely at home. Like many young men of his generation, Dad never spoke about his experiences during the War. And he was not one to attend Army reunions or march on Anzac Day. After returning from the War, he seemed to want to put that entire part of his life completely behind him. On a personal note, I am very grateful he returned safely, because less than 4 years later I was born.  

Ray & Flora Wright - 1930s

Ray & Flora Wright - 1930s

I love the way Mum and Dad are leaning close together here. It's a picture of a young couple in love. I estimate (in the absence of a date) that it was probably taken some time in the early/mid-1930s, during the early years of their marriage, yet they have already formed the inseparable Darby & Joan bond which so characterised their loving relationship together.  

Ray Wright - 1930s

Ray Wright - 1930s

During the Great Depression, Dad found work delivering bread. He had grown-up on a rural property, so knew how to handle a horse and dray. He also found work at nearby Elanora Country Club at Ingleside. Though the Great Depression was raging throughout the land at the time, there were still a lot of rich people in Sydney, who would come to the Northern Beaches for the day and play a round of golf at the posh Elanora Country Club. Dad would return to his family with a few shillings at the end of a long day caddying for these rich city-slickers, while they adjourned to the bar at the clubhouse for whiskey and cigars.

Ray & Flora Wright - Early-1930s

Ray & Flora Wright - Early-1930s

Mum and Dad (Ray & Flora Wright) during the early years of their marriage in the early 1930s, at 10 Mactier Street, Narrabeen, in Sydney. They were destined to live there for over 30 years, moving to Dee Why in 1967, following the death of Mum's parents. No.10 Mactier Street was a humble little house, it's main feature being that it was next door to the home of my maternal grandparents at No.8. Another important attraction was that it was very close to nearby South Narrabeen beach (the beach is not far behind where my parents are standing in this photo, near the pine tree in the background). Though humble, Mum always kept the little house immaculately clean (something I've inherited from her) and Dad kept the lawn to an impeccably maintained green-keeper's standard. In the flower beds, Mum grew carnations, snapdragons, sweet-pea and fuschia. To this day, when I smell the perfume of carnation, I am jettisoned back to Mactier Street. Not long after moving in, Dad planted 4 coral trees, which soon grew very large and provided wonderful shade for family functions, including many happy alfresco Christmas lunches. 

Ray & Kathy Wright - ca.1928

Ray & Kathy Wright - ca.1928

My father, Ray Wright, was married before he married my mother. His first wife was Gwen Hunt, who died giving birth to their only child, Kathleen (Kathy), in 1927. Kathy herself died in a tragic accident in 1936, when she was aged 8. She had taken a bus to visit her maternal grandparents at Collaroy. When she got off the bus, she ran behind it to cross the road and was hit by a car travelling along Pittwater Road. She is buried at Manly Cemetery, in the same grave as her mother. My father was to go on and have four sons with my mother, Flora. I am the youngest of those four sons.

Pittwater - 1920s

Taken the same day as the previously posted image, Dad (Ray Wright) can be seen here in the centre-right of this picture, to the right of the pointing man and behind the standing man in the bow-tie. Dad's hat is jauntily tilted. Looks like everyone was having a jolly day!

Dad told me the photo was taken at The Basin on Pittwater in Sydney, a picnic/recreation area which is only accessible via water, even to this day. I don't know the reason for the gathering, but I'm guessing that because several of the men are wearing Rugby jerseys, it may have been to play football. Some of the men are also wearing paper party hats, traditionally worn at Christmas time in Australia, which may be another clue.

Pittwater - 1920s

My Dad, Ray Wright, is in the second row, 3rd from the right, immediately behind the feet of the reclining man. Dad told me the photo was taken at The Basin on Pittwater in Sydney, a picnic/recreation area which is only accessible via water, even to this day. I don't know the reason for the gathering, but I'm guessing that because several of the men are wearing Rugby jerseys, it may have been to play football.

Raymond Harry Wright - 1920s

My Dad, Raymond Harry (Ray) Wright, in the 1920s.

Ray & Bill Wright, et al - 1920s

Ray & Bill Wright, et al - 1920s

This photo of  Dad, Raymond Harry (Ray) Wright (front) and his brother, William (Bill) Wright, was taken in the 1920s. I am not sure where it was taken, but I am guessing from all the pretty young women surrounding Dad and Uncle Bill that it may have been at Nanny Mullins' guest house, "Kegworth", at 207 Ocean Street, Narrabeen, on Sydney's Northern Beaches. I never knew my paternal grandmother, who died before I was born. She was always referred to in the family as "Nanny Mullins" (Mary Ann Mullins nee Wright). She had remarried after Dad and Bill's father, Thomas Wright, (my paternal grandfather and her first husband) had died. She had two further sons, Reginald (Reg) and Alan, by her second husband, Jack Mullins. Nanny Mullins' guest house specialised in providing young city women from Sydney with a holiday by the sea. I never knew my Uncle Bill either. He died tragically young, not so long after this photo was taken. I understand there had been a storm which had blown-down power lines. Uncle Bill stepped in a puddle where the power lines were and was electrocuted. It happened in Florence Avenue at Long Reef in Sydney.

Raymond Harry Wright - 1920s

My Dad, Raymond Harry (Ray) Wright, in the 1920s.

Raymond Harry Wright - 1920s

Raymond Harry Wright

1920s

My handsome Dad, Raymond Harry (Ray) Wright. Dad was born at the Royal Hospital for Women in Paddington, Sydney, Australia, on 24 November 1907.  He once told me that he was named after his place of birth, in that the Royal Hospital for Women was at that time widely  referred to simply as "RHW".  Dad  told me that this was primarily because the initials "RHW" were emblazoned in large letters high-up on the side of the hospital building and that when his mother saw them, she decided to name her son with the same initials. Dad was raised on a rural property at Jack's Creek near the town of Willow Tree, on the fertile black-soil Liverpool Plains of the upper Hunter Valley of New South Wales. Dad’s family relocated to Narrabeen on Sydney’s Northern Beaches in the 1920s.