Famous Manly-Siders

More than just a pretty town – Manly has had its fair share of heroes and heroines who have left us a great legacy.

Here are the stories of just three – Sylvia Bremer , Kylie Tennant and Sir Roden Cutler.

Sylvia Bremer

Actress Sylvia Bremer (or Breamer) (1897–1943) was in over 45 movies in her long career. As a child, she lived at 8 East Esplanade, Manly. The family owned the property circa 1911-1919, and would have been fairly well-to-do.

Circa 1917 she traveled to America to break into the movie industry. She successfully starred in more than 20 movies from 1917 to 1936, including The Girl of the Olden West (based on the play 'Girl of the Golden West'), and Up in Mabel’s Room (1926).

Bremer died in New York in 1943. She is still quoted today for her words:

"The finest kind of friendship is between people who expect a great deal of each other, but never ask it."

Kylie Tennant

Kylie Tennant (1912-1988) was born and grew up in Manly. Her autobiography, The Missing Heir (1986) has vivid recollections of her girlhood in 1920's Manly.

Tennant first came to notice in 1935 with her novel about the Depression, Tiburon. Her next novel, Foveaux (1939) was set in a slum district of Sydney. It was her third novel, The Battlers (1941) which made the biggest impact. It was awarded the Australian Literature Society’s Gold Medal, and the S H Prior Prize.

Despite being one of Australia’s most notable women writers, Kylie Tennant is not yet commemorated in Manly in any way.

Sir Roden Cutler, VC, AK, KCMG, KCVO, CBE, KStJ.

Arthur Roden Cutler was born at Manly, 24 May 1916. He joined the army (2/5 Field Regiment, RAA) during World War II and won the Victoria Cross on 19 June 1941 for courage in capturing an enemy position (Merdjayoun) from the Vichy French in Syria. Three weeks later at Damour he was shot in the leg, and had to have it amputated.

Roden Cutler returned to Manly to a hero’s welcome, and became State Secretary of the RSL. In 1946 he married Helen Morris , and entered the diplomatic service, serving in New Zealand, Ceylon, Egypt, Pakistan, and the Netherlands. In 1966 Arthur Roden Cutler became the 32nd Governor of New South Wales, at the very young age of 49. He was then knighted by Queen Elizabeth .

Governor Roden Cutler served until 1981 and was very popular with the New South Wales public – not bad for a man with one leg! While still alive, Sir Roden was named one of Australia’s 100 National Living Treasures. He died on 22nd February 2002 and was accorded a State Funeral.

Manly thanks to John MacRitchie
Local Studies, Manly Library