Bombala

Distinguished and Famous people from Bombala

• Severn Darden (1929 - 1995)

  Severn Darden was born in Bombala and became a renowned American comedian and actor. He starred in various movies and TV shows including "Battle for the Planet of the Apes" and "The Muppet Movie". Darden was also a founding member of The Second City improvisational comedy troupe in Chicago.

• Bruce Ferguson (1914 - 1943)

  Bruce Ferguson was a Bombala-born Australian Army officer during World War II. He was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross for his valiant actions during the Battle of Lae in New Guinea, where he died while leading his platoon.

• Charles Edwin Woodrow Bean (1879 - 1968)

  Charles Bean, born in Bombala, was an Australian journalist, war correspondent, and historian. He is best known as the editor of the official history of Australia in World War I, which comprised of twelve volumes. Bean played a significant role in shaping Australia's war memory and the Anzac legend.

• Vicki Viidikas (1948 - 1998)

  Vicki Viidikas, originally from Bombala, was an Australian poet. She gained recognition as a member of the "Generation of '68" poetry movement in Sydney. Viidikas published several poetry collections, including "Wrappings" and "Condition Red". Her work explored themes of love, sexuality, and liberation.

• Isabel Letham (1899 - 1995)

  Isabel Letham was born in Bombala and is considered an Australian surfing pioneer. In 1915, she became the first Australian woman to ride a surfboard at Freshwater Beach in Sydney. Letham also performed surfing demonstrations and worked as a swimming instructor throughout her life.

• Edwin Ardill (1875 - 1940)

  Edwin Ardill was an Australian politician who served as a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly. Born in Bombala, he represented the electorate of East Maitland from 1922 to 1925. Ardill was a member of the Labor Party and contributed to various legislative debates during his tenure.

• Betty Archdale (1907 - 2000)

  Betty Archdale, born in Bombala, was an English cricketer and educator. She played as a right-handed batswoman for the England women's cricket team from 1934 to 1939. Archdale was an advocate for women's cricket and made significant contributions as a sports administrator.

• Doug Peden (1920 - 1986)

  Doug Peden was an Australian rules footballer who played for Collingwood in the Victorian Football League (VFL). Born in Bombala, he represented Collingwood from 1940 to 1942 and later served as a pilot in the Royal Australian Air Force during World War II.

• John Casey (1886 - 1951)

  John Casey, born in Bombala, was an Australian novelist, poet, and diplomat. He wrote several novels, including "Sparta", which won the Australian Literature Society Gold Medal in 1937. Casey also served as Australia's ambassador to China, the Soviet Union, and the United States.

• Annie Wyatt (1902 - 1998)

  Annie Wyatt was an Australian landscape gardener, horticulturalist, and writer. Born in Bombala, she cofounded the Australian Garden History Society and made significant contributions to the preservation of historic gardens and landscapes in Australia. Wyatt also authored various books on gardening and garden history.