Ida Elizabeth Osbourne facts for kids

Ida Elizabeth Lea (born August 29, 1916 – died October 30, 2014) was an important Australian actor and radio host. She was also known professionally as "Elizabeth" Osbourne and Ida Elizabeth Jenkins. She is best known for helping to create and host the popular children's radio program, the Argonauts Club. This show was on the Australian Broadcasting Commission (ABC) for a long time. She was also recognized for her work with an award called MBE.

Ida Lea's Early Radio Days

Ida Elizabeth Osbourne was born in Brighton, Victoria. She was the only daughter of her parents. She went to Firbank Grammar School for her education. When she was a young girl, she studied elocution. This means she learned how to speak clearly and expressively. She did very well in speaking competitions.

In 1934, a drama producer named Frank Clewlow saw her perform. He was judging a competition in Melbourne. He was so impressed that he invited her to act in radio plays. Her very first big role was playing Juliet in Romeo and Juliet. She acted opposite Harry Traynor as Romeo. For the next two years, she played many young female roles in Shakespeare's plays.

In 1938, she started working at a radio station called 3LO. She hosted the Victorian Children's Program and was known as "Elizabeth." In 1939, the ABC's General Manager, Charles Moses, decided to combine all the children's programs. Frank Clewlow, who was now in Sydney, made sure Ida was chosen to lead this new program.

Acting Roles on Radio

Even while working on children's programs, Ida continued to act in many radio plays. She played leading parts in several famous productions, including:

• Saint Joan by George Bernard Shaw (1939)
• Romeo and Juliet again, with Nigel Lovell as Romeo
• Martine, which was adapted for radio
• Alcestis of Euripides, produced by Lawrence H. Cecil
• Night Must Fall
• The first radio performance of The Fire on the Snow (1941)
• The Fortunes of Richard Mahony, adapted for radio (1950)

The Argonauts Club

Ida Osbourne created a new part of the Children's Session. This new segment became very famous in Australian radio history. It was called The Argonauts Club. The main idea for the club came from Nina Murdoch. However, Ida wrote the words for the membership certificate. She also wrote the opening and closing songs for both the Children's Session and the Argonauts Club.

As "Elizabeth," she hosted the show. Later, she had co-hosts like "Mac" (Atholl Fleming) and "Joe" (Albert Collins). She asked famous writers, musicians, and artists to appear on the show. She wanted only the best for the children who listened.

Ida also asked Ruth Park to write a radio series called The Wide-Awake Bunyip. Ida played the character "Mouse" to Joe's "Bunyip." Ruth Park later turned this idea into the popular The Muddle-Headed Wombat radio series and children's books.

In 1946, Ida received a scholarship to study children's programs in the UK. She spent time with the BBC in London. She felt that the BBC shows were well-made but not as new or exciting as her Australian program. In 1949, she married a musician named Idwal Jenkins. At that time, married women had to leave their jobs in the public service. So, she had to quit her job at the ABC. Sadly, her husband died two years later in 1951.

Later Career and Honours

After her husband passed away, Ida returned to ABC radio in 1953. She was now known as Ida Elizabeth Jenkins. She hosted the ABC Women's Session until 1960. She was also chosen to be a national commentator for the important 1954 Royal Visit. She later returned to host a more personal radio program called At Home with Ida Elizabeth Jenkins.

Ida married again and became Ida Elizabeth Lea. In 1977, she was given the award of Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE). This award recognized her important contributions. She passed away in Sydney on October 30, 2014, at the age of 98.