Ita Buttrose, the mother of Australian style and business

Ita Buttrose has been an inspiration to generations of Australian women playing a leading role in the Packer media empire as the creator and first female editor of major women’s magazine, Cleo.  In 2012 Ita was named Australian of the Year.  A terrific docudrama on Buttrose’s life was made a couple of years back called Paper  Giants which gives a fascinating insight into what it was like for an up and coming business woman in the 60s and 70s in Australia, as well as a view into media moguls, Frank and Kerry Packer’s business kingdom.  A very interesting historical view of Australian culture for outsiders to experience Australia’s social and cultural development and in particular, the development of gender equity in the later part of the 20th century. The drama stars Asher Keddie, a rising star of Australian television and film.

Ita Buttrose (Photo credit: Eva Rinaldi Celebrity and Live Music Photographer)

When she won the Australian of the Year award in 2012, ABC TV’s Jane Hutcheon interviewed Ita (as we like to call her) on the program One to One. In this interview Ita reveals her views on Australian media now and during her time at Cleo, what it was like being a woman in a man’s world in the 60s and 70s and talks about the barriers she faced as a woman that most young women today in Australia could never imagine.

In the course of her phenomenal media career Ita Buttrose has seen how important etiquette is in every aspect of life, from the personal to the professional.  Her very easy to read book,  A Guide to Australian Etiquette, provides 100s of tips and pieces of good advice on what is and is not acceptable in Australian society. Especially good for those doing business in Australia and figuring out how best to comport themselves and guide their families in Australian society.