Monte Punshon lived in a man’s world. She also lived a fierce life where she refused to be pigeon-holed. Ethel May ‘Monte’ Punshon is the colourful subject of A Secretive Century, a new biography from award-winning author Tessa Morris-Suzuki. Morris-Suzuki is a history professor who has written over 25 books. A scholar specialising in Asian studies, she proves the perfect mouthpiece to write about Australian Japanophile – Punshon.
A Secretive Century is all about one woman staying true to herself whilst living one long and illustrious life (106 years to be exact). Punshon grew up in a conservative, Methodist household but her adulthood saw her challenging these roots. She would then go on to forge a career at a time when most women got married and had children. Instead, Punshon would work in the theatre, as a teacher, as a broadcaster and one of her last roles was as an ambassador for Expo 88, which included a stoush with Queensland premier Joh Bjelke-Petersen no less.
Punshon was a slight woman physically but her personality was larger than life. This book looks at various chapters of her life story and draws together some inspiration from her very own memoir. Morris-Suzuki aptly describes Punshon’s love of her life, Debbie Sutton, even though Monte eschewed the term ‘lesbian’, despite always loving women.
Living through the end of the Victorian era, two world wars, the swinging sixties and the dawn of the computer age wasn’t always easy for Punshon. She was guarded about her privacy at times. But, nevertheless, she lived a life where she was true to herself, by thumbing her nose at convention and in doing so, lived a life that was even richer.
Morris-Suzuki does an excellent job of capturing Punshon in this well-researched volume, placing the spotlight firmly on this colourful character and her many achievements. By excellently laying the scene and chronicling the changing political landscape that occurred with the changing eras, Morris-Suzuki successfully highlights how remarkable Punshon was.
It’s fair to say that Punshon may have been born a century too early. But, there is no doubt that she lived life to the fullest. A liberated woman, she had a curiosity for life and a love of travel. At times a bad girl in a bar and at others a diligent student and an only child (for the first decade), what shines through is her Punshon’s fierce independence and determination… something that should be seen as an inspiration to us all.
A Secretive Century is a must-read for those who want to know more about Queer history in Australia, especially during the Colonial Era. It will also appeal to readers who enjoy stories about fierce females who set out to find their crowds. Punshon is ultimately one intriguing subject and this colourful portrait gives a detailed look at both her life and her loves.
FOUR STARS (OUT OF FIVE)
A Secretive Century: Monte Punshon’s Australia by Tessa Morris-Suzuki is available from Melbourne University Publishing. Grab yourself a copy from your local bookstore HERE.
