Broken Hill’s June Bennett, of Priscilla fame, has passed away

Movie fans and the Broken Hill community are mourning the loss of June Bennett, one of the breakout stars of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert.

National treasure June Bennett, who found fame in The Adventures Of Priscilla, Queen Of The Desert, has died aged 85.

The Broken Hill local played Shirl, a hard-drinking homophobe, in the 1994 film starring Terrence Stamp, Guy Pearce and Hugo Weaving.

June Bennett with Shirl’s singlet. Picture: Instagram / @brokenheelfestival

Guy Pearce and Hugo Weaving in Priscilla. Picture: Advertiser library

In a scene filmed at Broken Hill’s Palace Hotel, Shirl confronts Bernadette, Felicia Jollygoodfellow and Mitzi Del Bra, telling them: “We’ve got nothing here for people like you.”

Broken Hill local June Bennett as Shirl. Picture: Advertiser Library

Bennett was nothing like Shirl. She did not drink and the self-proclaimed “bling lady” was admired for her feminine fashion sense.

It was far-removed from Shirl’s white singlet, which Bennett borrowed from her husband, John.

“They made me look like a hard bird,” Bennett said of her outfit and the makeup artist’s decision to draw lines on her face, adding: “When I got demolished, I was horrified.”

June Bennett in Broken Hill. Picture: Jonathan Ng

Before her star turn in Priscilla, Bennett had already made her mark on the local arts scene. She played the lead role in a Broken Hill Repertory Society production of Hello Dolly! and was always supportive of up-and-coming talent, attending shows and concerts – when she wasn’t in them.

In 2012, Bennett was awarded the Order of Australia for her services to theatre and the community.

A regular at the Broken Heel Festival in her home town, she was also celebrated with a Shirl float at the 2019 Mardi Gras in Sydney.

Originally published as Broken Hill’s June Bennett, of Priscilla fame, has passed away