Coralie Hinkley: tribute to an icon of eastern suburbs Sydney

From her position perched on her favourite Queen Street bench, Coralie Hinkley made a strong impression on all those she met. But few knew of her incredible life.

A revered dancer, veteran teacher, patron of the arts, beloved member of the Wayside Chapel community and the lady with fabulous clothing and a quick wit – Coralie Hinkley was a woman of boundless accomplishment.

Ms Hinkley died last month just days before her 99th birthday having touched the lives of thousands of locals.

Born in Glebe, Ms Hinkley was the daughter of John Hinkley who established the glittering Hinkley’s Diamonds in the city.

She attended Maroubra Junction Primary School and graduated from SCEGGS where she was exposed to a performance by Gertrud Bodenwieser whose pupil she would later become.

Dance writer and historian Michelle Potter later interviewed Ms Hinkley for the National Library of Australia’s oral history archives.

Ms Potter wrote that in 1957 Ms Hinkley became the first Australian to ever be awarded a prestigious Fulbright Scholarship for graduate study in modern dance.

Supplied Editorial Coralie Hinkley was an icon of the eastern suburbs

After spending three years studying abroad, Ms Hinkley returned home and worked with Ballet Australia.

She took up a position at Fort Street Girls High School where she established its dance program and she also taught at various other institutions.

Both an accomplished dancer and choreographer, Ms Hinkley also had several volumes of poetry published.

Ms Hinkley spent her retirement closely connected with numerous community organisations including Mission Australia, Wayside Chapel Bondi, Eddie Dixon Centre and Norman Andrews House.

Her daughter Sancha Donald told the Wentworth Courier her mother was fabulously vivacious until the very end.

“I want to thank the community – everyone who stopped and saw her on her bench in Queen St or sitting outside the police station in Bondi. It is quite a feat to live to such an age and still be contributing to society and engaged,” Ms Donald said.

“It’s not always easy to support someone who has had such a vibrant life to remain and feel part of the community and certainly at the level and consistency that mum required.

“I would have had to be with her full time to satisfy her voracious appetite for life.

“I know my mum would want people to go on with their own lives and foster their own creative interests whatever they might be.”

Wayside Chapel Bondi Community Service Centre manager Stephanie Hughes said Ms Hinkley was a daily and much loved visitor.

Coralie Hinkley was an accomplished dancer. Image courtesy of Sancha Donald.

“Coralie was highly intelligent, very cultured – she loved to talk about the arts, fiercely independent and very brave,” Ms Hughes said.

“She had such a status with the other visitors. They’d help her out and then she’d help them too by pulling out a coin to buy them lunch.

“They’d tell her their problems and she’d come to me and say, ‘Stephy we have got to help them’. She was so concerned for the wellbeing of others and that’s exactly what it means to be part of a community.”

Ms Hinkley had a favourite seat at the entrance of Wayside Chapel Bondi so she could keep tabs on all the comings and goings.

“If there was a new staff member or volunteer or we’d get special guests such as donors or politicians come in, Coralie wouldn’t miss a trick,” Ms Hughes said.

“I’m sure the guests wouldn’t have expected to hear much from the little old lady sitting in the corner but oh how wrong they were.

“She was such a character and we all miss her very, very much.”

Ms Hinkley passed away on September 21.