June Marriott Gallery
June Marriott is the namesake of Central Craft’s June Marriott Gallery. June made a significant contribution to art and craft in Alice Springs.
June Marriott was born in Yorkshire in 1929, and was educated at Goole Grammar School and the Doncaster School of Art. Later she was accepted for study at the Royal School of Needlework in London, and after graduating was invited to join the teaching staff. Traditionally the Royal School is responsible for Robes of State; June was chosen as a member of the group that worked on the Queen’s Coronation Robes.
With her mother, Isobel Bristow, June arrived in Melbourne in 1954, where she took up a position as an embroidery teacher at the prestigious Emily McPherson School. In June 1956 June came to Alice Springs. Her first craft teaching job was at Yuendumu with Aboriginal children.
June married Jim Marriott in 1958. They had five children: Andrew, John, Catherine, Elizabeth, and Craig. When her children were growing up June was involved with craft at Ross Park School, Brownies, and the Alice Springs High School.
For many years, as Craft Officer in the Country Women’s Association (CWA), June taught weekly craft classes. It was the only craft instruction available at that time. She also organised International Days, the Tables Days, and was convenor of the CWA Flower Show. The CWA has remembered June’s contribution with the June Marriott Award, to be granted to a high school student showing outstanding achievement in craft.
June was a foundation member of Territory Craft (then the Craft Association) in 1974 and was its first Treasurer. It was mainly through her efforts that the National Craft Awards (renamed the Alice Craft Acquisition) was instituted in 1975. During 1976 and 1977, June was President of Territory Craft, and was involved in finding the first three temporary premises. She also organised weekly Fibre Craft Days, and the first Craftsman in the Community Project
When June resigned from the Crafts Council in 1977, she was able to devote more time to developing her own interests in dyeing, spinning, knitting, and weaving. She continued to take craft classes at the Community College. She was working as a supervisor at the Youth Hostel and as a craft teacher at the gaol at the time of her death.
June was dedicated to increasing community awareness in craft activities, and to helping people develop their interests and abilities. June had a profound influence on craft in Alice Springs. She set the tone for many things and the way the Craft Council functions is largely because of her deep and extensive knowledge of craft.
