towel

I wonder who was Miss Watts ? She sure was photogenic. Love the dog tugging on the towel.

Nev I think she might be Jean Watts "the 12 year-old wonder swimmer" from Bondi where her father Harold Watts controlled the surf sheds. trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/103547089 trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/103549060 The photo reminds me of one of the old adverts for soap - can't remember which brand !

Thank you very much for your research Beachcomber! We have now updated the catalogue record to indicate this is indeed Miss Jean Watts. nla.gov.au/nla.pic-vn4981298

National Library of Australia A pleasure to add a little information to this wonderful image. I have not had much more success with finding what happened to Miss Jean Watts. Her swimming career seems to have burned out in about 1929. Her father Harold Watts, who managed the Bondi surf sheds, died in 1926, just after this photo - trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/128102390 . It wasn't SOAP I was reminded of, but the famous COPPERTONE advert (created 1953) - en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coppertone_sign

Miss Jean Watts was married in late 1936 or early 1937. - trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/17293553 She became Mrs [E.] R. Johnston, and in April 1944 her husband was appointed Science Master at the Broken Hill High School. - trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/49561753. From 1947 he was Science Master and Deputy Headmaster at Narrandera High School, and beginning 1952 was appointed Headmaster of Katoomba High School. - trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/101619209

So cute!

cute!!! love the way is looking

aahh the tilt of the head, so very cute.

Such a sweet photo.

Ha, looks like this was just posted at Cute Overload under the headline "Vintage Baroo?"

Those swimsuits should be brought back as retro

My Mum. Offered a movie contract in 1930s and turned it down. Much loved, much missed, Mum was a no-nonsense woman and very colourful, full of personality and brought a lot of joy to those who knew her. Not only a model but a dancer.

David de Pinna is this picture of your mum? We have no information of the woman in this photographs and are seeking information, such as her name, to add to our photographic description.

Yes she is my Mum. Thanks for asking. She was a model in the thirties and offered a movie contract by Charles Chauvel. She turned it down. She was mascot for Fourth Squadron during the war and held parties for The Americans away from home. She put on manikin parades in the 50s and knew Peter Finch before he went to England and I think she knew Roy Rene and Maida Jones. And the Macquires at The Bellevue Hotel in Brisbane. She described herself as a dancer and was in the vaudeville crowd. Oh, and Mum was a lovely woman much missed by her son and my sister. Thank-you for asking of her. She would be thrilled.

You have her right name in your caption:- Merle Constance Woodward married name Merle de Pinna - Thanks again.