Person - David Milliss

DAVID ERNEST MILLISS (1931 - 2019)

Of interest to ASIO, David Milliss was born on 21 May, a birthday he shared with Peter Francis.

After joining NT on 11 March 1952 he was given the job of costume and set designer on the children’s show The Travelling Musicians which opened four days later. David designed Reedy River scarves and its songbook. In 1955 he painted the Out of Commission set designed by Les Tanner, then designed the sets of Pacific Paradise 1955, The End of the Beginning 1957, The Biggest Thief in Town 1959, Fission Chips 1959 and All My Sons 1960.

Courtesy of ASIO, 1960

In 1961 as a Fulbright Exchange teacher David taught art and directed drama at Hudson High School, Ohio. On his return from the USA he designed Sandhog 1962, designed costumes for An Enemy of the People 1962, directed a Workshop The Comedy of the Man Who Married a Dumb Wife 1963, designed The One Day of the Year 1964, designed You’ve never had it so good 1965, designed and directed Barbara 1966, designed Postmark Zero 1968, designed America Hurrah! 1968, directed Vote Vote Vote for Nigel Barton 1969, and designed and directed 1971 – A Race Odyssey 1971.

After organising NT Publicity in 1955 David was elected Vice President the next year. As President, he was a Sydney delegate to the 1960 Easter National NT conference held in Melbourne. He was again President in 1970, a founding member of New Theatre Limited 1971, organised the theatre's 50th birthday exhibition at the Opera House in 1982, spoke at Miriam Hampson’s memorial in 1994 and was long-term Secretary of New Theatre Properties. David also conducted occasional design classes and he and his wife Betty née Cole were reliable attendees at NT meetings and delegates to interstate conferences.

David Milliss (far left) and Betty Milliss (second from right) in the Newtown theatre foyer

Parents of David and his younger brother Roger were Bruce and Edith Milliss. Bruce Milliss opened a drapery shop in Katoomba in 1927. Bruce was a campaign manager for Ben Chifley and became an active member of the CPA. He and his wife travelled to China in 1959 and 1964. B J Milliss Pty Ltd imported tea and films from China and films, perfume and caviar from the USSR. In the years 1959 – ca 1965 ASIO illegally listened to Bruce's 'phone conversations with the USSR trade attaché.

While at school David Milliss was impressed by the strength of conviction of the NTL’s Tomorrow the World which visited Katoomba in 1945. He trained as a secondary school teacher at Sydney Teachers College (an influence was art lecturer Rah Fizelle) after graduating BA at Sydney University where he cartooned and illustrated (as "dem”). While teaching art in Sydney high schools he studied part-time at East Sydney Tech. In 1968 he started working at UNSW in its Publication Section, designing the university letterhead, Unisearch and PERC symbols and advertising for Open Day.

David first exhibited his paintings with the Watercolour Institute, and afterwards at Strawberry Hills, Parramatta, Mosman, Drummoyne, Rockdale, Ashfield and Liverpool. He won 1970 Credit Union art prizes for watercolour and oil, first prize in the 1985 Raymond Terrace art show, and two prizes in the 1987 Grenfell Henry Lawson Festival of the Arts.

David was described by ASIO as having an authoritative manner although usually quiet. He died at home on 8 February 2019.