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OBITU ARIES OBITU ARIES

independent, maybe stubborn and so very interesting and and was still travelling to many meetings to assist women to and challenging. Katerina stuck it out, living like a stoic, and
Jill McFarlane (Mackinnon 1957) interested. become better communicators well into her 80s. It was only the embarked on monumental journeys, including on the Trans-
3 July 1938 – 28 June 2023 restrictions of COVID-19 that brought this to a halt. Siberian railway.
Gone, but never ever forgotten.
We think Jill’s headstone Some of the messages from others capture the essence of Jill. St Margaret’s Presbyterian Church (now part of the St Kilda After finishing her honours MA, she won a scholarship to Yale
should read ‘Wow, what a Jill was a force of nature and it’s hard to imagine that deep voice & Balaclava Presbyterian Church) was a favourite sanctuary to study for a PhD in Russian language and literature, involving
ride!’ She packed a lot in and and rippling laugh now silent. for Stephanie over the years. She made many friends from extensive stays in Moscow and travel throughout Russia.
had such a positive impact on the Church and was often the go-to person for all the other After graduating with her PhD, Katerina taught Russian
all the communities she lived My memory of your mum is on the hill at St Kevins, cheering Angus parishioners. language and literature at a series of universities in the US. She
in, and was passionate about and the boys on. Such a beautiful and spirited lady. In 2021, Stephanie decided to sell her house and move into the maintained close contact with Yale, particularly with Michael
the environment and the arts, Her great outlook on life with her face always erupting into a Arcare Retirement home in Caulfield. Stephanie had developed Holquist, her former PhD supervisor and a distinguished
always looking for ways to cheeky smile with a laugh. She really has lived a great life. How a passion for assisting those not in as privileged a position as Russian and comparative literature professor.
make a difference. lucky I feel to have known her a little. herself. She gave to JCH and to numerous charities and would The couple married in 1974. Between 1975 and 1986, Katerina
Jill grew up at Kaladbro, She was a legend and the world is a little less bright. I hope she rode regularly receive the most mail at Arcare! taught Russian language and literature at the University of
Strathdownie with parents, out on the Hawaiian boat! She was interesting, interested and a After a short illness, she passed away in 2023 and donated her Texas and Indiana University, while Holquist was the head of
Charles and Annie Lavinia (aka Poggy) Mackinnon, and siblings true world citizen. body to University of Melbourne for research. both universities’ Slavic departments. During this period, sons
Malcolm, Mary (aka Sue) and Hamish (aka Dick), going to Nicholas and Sebastian were born.
school in Mt Gambier, Hamilton and Geelong, arriving at JCH That gorgeous, wonderful woman who gave the world so much in Rowena Doyle
in 1957. Jill finished her Arts/Social Studies degree in 1961 and care, laughter (naughty, anti-authoritarian pranks), joie de vivre. A 2nd cousin The couple returned to Yale in 1986, marking the start of
then practised as a social worker for her entire professional role model to all ages. Katerina’s most productive period as an academic and author.
life, working in London, Mount Gambier, Coffs Harbour and Kind, generous and down to earth and so much fun. According to Edyta Bojanowska, professor and chair of the
Bendigo Hospitals. Prof. Katerina Clark (1959) Department of Slavic Languages and Literatures at Yale,
Such bravery, tenacity and courage. 20 June 1941 – 1 February 2024 she was a ‘path-breaking scholar of 20th century Russian
But work was just part of it! Jill was an avid adventurer, traveller Anna Hart and Soviet culture, one of the most influential Slavists and
and environmentalist. After returning to Australia, Jill spent Katerina was born in comparatists of her generation... (she was) instrumental in
time in northern Australia, working as a governess and living in Daughter Melbourne. Her father, overcoming reductive and politicised approaches to the
Cairns. Whilst in Cairns, she completed her flying training, being Manning Clark, was a history study of Soviet culture that were set by Cold War rivalries, and
the first woman to get her licence at Cairns Airport. teacher at Geelong Grammar helped transform this field into an intellectually vibrant critical

Returning to southern Australia, Jill married Clive (aka Mick) Errol Stephanie Day (Aikman 1951) School, while her mother, enterprise that continues to be a source of scholarly innovation’.
McFarlane and settled at The Wicket, Tarpeena in SA where she 2 September 1928 – 28 August 2023 Dymphna, a scholar in German Bojanowska singled out Katerina Clark’s The Soviet Novel: History
worked as a social worker and farmer – and was very active in the language and literature, was as Ritual, which was first published in 1981, as ‘the essential
community. She was Primary School President, had extensive Stephanie was an only child raising a young family. reference point on the subject’.
involvement with the Penola Golf Club, and played pivotal born to parents Clem and After her father was appointed Her many books have been translated into Russian, Chinese,
roles in the establishment of the Riddoch Art Gallery, Sir Robert Lorna Aikman in Newtown, a lecturer in history and Japanese, Italian, Czech, Portuguese and Spanish and have
Helpmann Theatre and Mt Gambier Sheltered Workshop. Geelong. political science at Melbourne received numerous awards. In 2007, she received a US award for

When Jill moved to Coffs Harbour, she was instrumental in At an early age, one of her University, the Clarks moved to the outer Melbourne suburb Outstanding Contributions to Scholarship and, apart from Yale,
she continued to lecture and teach at universities worldwide.
establishing the Botanic Gardens there. Then, when living uncles had passed away and, of Croydon. Along with her older brother, Sebastian, Katerina But it wasn’t just work, writing and travel to exotic places. A
at Kingower in Victoria, with her sister Sue at Passing Clouds in order to assist the widowed attended Croydon State School. Among her contemporaries proud Australian, Katerina ensured her connection with home
vineyard, she was an active member of local conservation aunt, their child Beverley was the distinguished publisher and JCH alumna Dr Hilary continued, often taking sabbatical leave in Canberra, and
groups, and Board member of Inglewood Bendigo Bank, moved in with Stephanie’s McPhee AO (1957). spending lengthy periods at the family property on the NSW
Western Region Catchment Management Authority and DSE family and Beverley became In 1949, Manning Clark was appointed professor of history at south coast.
Water Board. the ‘sister’ Stephanie never Canberra University College, which later amalgamated with the
had. Stephanie was always known as a tomboy amongst the Australian National University. She was also beset with domestic turmoil – she and Holquist
Jill was mother to Anna; stepmother to David, Hamish and extended family and was regularly scaling tall objects or riding divorcing in 2000.
Andy; grandmother to James and Angus; aunt to Charlie, Will, a motorbike from Geelong to Melbourne without her parents’ In 1956, the family travelled to Britain. Manning Clark took Katerina held strong convictions regarding family, health and
Hamish and Robert; and finally, godmother to many of her knowledge. sabbatical leave at his alma mater, Oxford University’s Balliol fitness. She regularly hosted jubilant family gatherings and,
friends’ children. College, and started work on his six-volume A History of Australia.
Stephanie attended school at The Hermitage in Geelong before well into her seventies, enjoyed bike riding and often hiked
In later life, Jill’s passion for travel did not wane. She travelled enrolling at The Gordon, a technological college in Geelong, to Meanwhile, Katerina attended Oxford High School. Renowned mountains with her sons and grandchildren in Vermont.
actor and raconteur extraordinaire Miriam Margolyes recalls she
regularly, sometimes with friends, sometimes with family, often study architecture. The final years of this degree course were In October 2022, she was sadly diagnosed with lymphoma.
solo – rarely back to the familiarity of Europe. Her travels took required to be completed at Melbourne University and Stephanie met Katerina in the playground. Katerina Clark is survived by Nicholas, an English teacher in
her to Antarctica, the Arctic, Russia, Scandinavia, South America, moved into Janet Clarke Hall for the years 1951 to 1953. “I saw this shy, lonely and very handsome stranger, and went up Montpelier, Vermont, and Sebastian, a drug and alcohol counsellor
New Zealand, Alaska, Morocco, South Africa – and almost to her and said, ‘Would you like to be friends with me?’ and Katy in New Haven, Connecticut, and grandsons Marley and Julian.
literally all over Australia! Stephanie married John Day and they moved overseas together said, ‘Yes’ (bravely), and for the rest of time, we were.”
to live in Singapore, where Stephanie worked in various firms Memorial gatherings were held at Yale University as well as in
Jill’s final move was from Kingower to Melbourne, where she whilst John worked as an air crash investigator. Returning to Australia, Katerina excelled in sports and academic Melbourne and in Canberra at Manning Clark House.
settled with Ridley, the last in a line of Jack Russells – spending They moved back to Melbourne and purchased their home pursuits at Canberra High, becoming the school’s athletics
time with family and friends, roaming galleries and gardens. in East Caulfield where they lived for many years. Stephanie champion and winning a scholarship to Janet Clarke Hall. She Andrew Clark
studied for an arts degree, majoring in Russian.
Younger brother of Katerina Clark
But it was not all easy – and the nickname of Shackleton was continued her work whilst pursuing her passion with the Royal
hard-earned. She was known for soldiering on, and that she did! Victorian Aero Club as she was also a trained pilot. After graduating with an honours BA, she secured an MA The above is an abridged version of Andrew Clark’s tribute
Stephanie was very involved in the Penguin Club, an scholarship to the ANU but spent much of her time in the Soviet published in the SMH on 19/2/24.
Jill’s contribution was real, in so many walks of life, and what Union, including lengthy stays in a dormitory attached to
a role model she was to so many. She will be remembered organisation for women to assist them in learning and Moscow University. It was the height of the Brezhnev era in the
practising public speaking. Stephanie became an assessor
for being so kind and warm, intelligent, brave, fiercely Soviet Union, and life for a foreign student in Moscow was spare
38 L u ce Number 23 2024 Janet Clar ke Hall 39