Elisabeth Murdoch (nee Greene), 1908-2012
December 5, 2012 8:01 PM Subscribe
Dame Elisabeth Murdoch, AC DBE, wife of Sir Keith and mother of Rupert, was an outspoken philanthropist. She died overnight in Australia, aged 103.
Warning: that "mother of Rupert" auto plays some bland Xmas music.
posted by notsnot at 8:21 PM on December 5, 2012
posted by notsnot at 8:21 PM on December 5, 2012
Dame Elizabeth was one of the most loved, most respected and most admired people in Australia.
And absolute national treasure - a strong, independent, brilliant woman, a great philanthropist and contributor to charity, a keen gardener (her property Cruden Farm is a thing of beauty) and someone who was loved and respected for her extraordinary giving and generosity.
She gave so much to so many organisations and people - and spoke out so often in support of philantropy, of giving and of (general) kindness.
We here in Australia don't view her as "Rupert's mum". Many of us would in fact say Rupert is Dame Elizabeth's son", and that Dame Elizabeth is brilliant enough, wonderful enough and respected enough not be viewed through the prism of being her famous son's mother.
Vale Dame Elizabeth. A great life and the world is a much poorer place (on many levels) for your passing.
posted by chris88 at 8:31 PM on December 5, 2012 [21 favorites]
And absolute national treasure - a strong, independent, brilliant woman, a great philanthropist and contributor to charity, a keen gardener (her property Cruden Farm is a thing of beauty) and someone who was loved and respected for her extraordinary giving and generosity.
She gave so much to so many organisations and people - and spoke out so often in support of philantropy, of giving and of (general) kindness.
We here in Australia don't view her as "Rupert's mum". Many of us would in fact say Rupert is Dame Elizabeth's son", and that Dame Elizabeth is brilliant enough, wonderful enough and respected enough not be viewed through the prism of being her famous son's mother.
Vale Dame Elizabeth. A great life and the world is a much poorer place (on many levels) for your passing.
posted by chris88 at 8:31 PM on December 5, 2012 [21 favorites]
And excuse the typos - should of course be Dame Elisabeth with an "s"!
posted by chris88 at 8:40 PM on December 5, 2012
posted by chris88 at 8:40 PM on December 5, 2012
What's with all those old people dying all of a sudden?
posted by growabrain at 8:50 PM on December 5, 2012
posted by growabrain at 8:50 PM on December 5, 2012
Everyone says she was nice.
So, I guess you can't hold Rupert against her.
.
posted by Mezentian at 9:00 PM on December 5, 2012
So, I guess you can't hold Rupert against her.
.
posted by Mezentian at 9:00 PM on December 5, 2012
Everyone has a mum, even him.
She was a nice person, did lots of good and she took a dim view of his business practices.
posted by mattoxic at 9:20 PM on December 5, 2012 [3 favorites]
She was a nice person, did lots of good and she took a dim view of his business practices.
posted by mattoxic at 9:20 PM on December 5, 2012 [3 favorites]
Yeah, she was a good person, and most people in Australia don't actually speak of her and Rupert in the same breath. She was unfailingly cheerful, respectful and courteous to everyone, including the people checking tickets and bringing her glasses of water. That's the measure of genuine class amongst powerful and/or wealthy people - how they treat those who serve them.
She used to answer the phone and the doorbell herself well into her 90s, no mucking about keeping people at arms' length. She was never afraid to talk about her philanthropy and the joy it brought her, unlike many Australians.
The last time I saw her was at a function a couple of years ago where, most unusually, she was not the centre of attention. She was in a wheelchair, cheerfully chugging down a glass of wine with a big smile on her face, and avidly people-watching. It's a nice memory.
posted by andraste at 9:40 PM on December 5, 2012 [8 favorites]
She used to answer the phone and the doorbell herself well into her 90s, no mucking about keeping people at arms' length. She was never afraid to talk about her philanthropy and the joy it brought her, unlike many Australians.
The last time I saw her was at a function a couple of years ago where, most unusually, she was not the centre of attention. She was in a wheelchair, cheerfully chugging down a glass of wine with a big smile on her face, and avidly people-watching. It's a nice memory.
posted by andraste at 9:40 PM on December 5, 2012 [8 favorites]
What's with all those old people dying all of a sudden?
There are a lot of us around. We've been dying for a while now.
posted by bhnyc at 9:43 PM on December 5, 2012
There are a lot of us around. We've been dying for a while now.
posted by bhnyc at 9:43 PM on December 5, 2012
Dynasties - Murdoch Family special, available on iview.
posted by wilful at 9:46 PM on December 5, 2012
posted by wilful at 9:46 PM on December 5, 2012
The Murdoch documentary is only available to Australians. Any alternatives?
posted by jadepearl at 5:30 AM on December 6, 2012
posted by jadepearl at 5:30 AM on December 6, 2012
The Murdoch documentary is only available to Australians.
Haaa haaa!
No, that's mean. Can you try Foxy Proxy or something?
There is a YouTube channel by... *aghem* Barry Ballsdeep He has the Ansett Dynasties but I couldn't find Murdoch. There is a lot of other Australiana.
posted by Mezentian at 6:04 AM on December 6, 2012
Haaa haaa!
No, that's mean. Can you try Foxy Proxy or something?
There is a YouTube channel by... *aghem* Barry Ballsdeep He has the Ansett Dynasties but I couldn't find Murdoch. There is a lot of other Australiana.
posted by Mezentian at 6:04 AM on December 6, 2012
Interesting how such a seemingly 'good' person could be the mother of such a plainly 'bad' one. What happened to Rupe that he turned out the way he did?
posted by Myeral at 6:25 AM on December 6, 2012
posted by Myeral at 6:25 AM on December 6, 2012
Well, looking at James Murdoch, there seems to be a bit of a downward trend, really...
posted by Jimbob at 6:16 PM on December 6, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by Jimbob at 6:16 PM on December 6, 2012 [1 favorite]
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Everyone has a mum, even him.
posted by Artw at 8:17 PM on December 5, 2012 [4 favorites]