AustLit

Variety entertainer, radio actor, writer, director, teacher.

The daughter of George Edwards and Rosie Parkes, Chandra Parkes was immersed in the world of theatre from birth. While studying at Sydney University (1927-1930) she was actively involved in its dramatic society productions theatre, but turned to radio industry after graduating with Arts degree. A specialist monologue and sketch actor (sometimes working opposite her father) she turned to writing, finding success in 1934 with The Filbert Family series (2UE). She later wrote radio plays and appeared regularly in sketches opposite her husband Lionel Lunn for 2FC and later 2GB. Parkes and Lunn co-founded the Radio Institute of Australia, which became the Chandra Parkes Australian Radio Institute after their divorce.

[Source: Australian Variety Theatre Archive]