Daphne Campbell (actress)

Daphne Calder (née Campbell; 5 January 1924 – 15 October 2013) was an Australian politician, actress and controversial entrant in the 1947 Miss Australia charity quest.

She was a corporal stationed in Cairns with AAMWS when "discovered" by director Harry Watt for the role of Mary Parsons in the all-Australian cast for the British Ealing Studios film The Overlanders.

[citation needed] In August 1947 Campbell was approached by an organising committee from the Alice Springs sub-branch of the Returned Servicemen's League to represent the Northern Territory in the Miss South Australia Quest, preparatory to the Miss Australia Quest.

[3] A fair number of special fund-raising activities were held in the Territory in support of her campaign, including a rodeo[4] and an Australian Rules football match,[5] and Campbell worked as hard as anyone[6] but support was lacking from people who could best afford it, and a spoiling campaign developed on the grounds that she wasn't a "true Territorian",[7] with the result that her funds raised barely exceeded £800 when expectations had been for considerably more.

[8] Her eligibility for inclusion in the Miss Australia judging, on the basis of her marital status, was also questioned.