Naomi Tippett AM (Jacobi, 1947)
Artist

After graduating from Lauriston in 1947, Naomi completed a Diploma of Graphic Art at RMIT and a Bachelor of Fine Arts at the University of Melbourne. She then worked as a graphic artist, both in industry and freelance. In 1954 Naomi married, and went on to raise four children, including Carin (Cebon, 1983) and to teach art at Carey Grammar School. In 1976 she became the General Manager of the Creative School Holiday Club, a school holiday ‘kids’ skills’ program.In 1978, in response to changes in Australian demography and with the aim to build primary school aged children’s multicultural awareness, Naomi established the Polyglot Puppet Theatre. Naomi led Polyglot for almost twenty years and received the Kenneth Myer Medallion for the Performing Arts, which is presented each year to one Victorian, for outstanding and distinguished services to the Performing Arts.

From 1998 to 2011 Naomi was president of ForChildren (Australia), an organisation focused on ‘enhancing the welfare of children and families irrespective of race, colour, sex, religion, disability, or birth status’.Naomi supported her husband, Dr George Tippett, in his work introducing Day Hospitals to Australia, and improve healthcare among Tibetan refugees in India and other communities in South-East Asia.

Naomi has published two books – Planning for Play (1984) (co-authored with Dorothy Rickards) and A Family Haggadah (2002) (interpreted by Rabbi John Levi and illustrated by children from the King David School).

In June 2012, Naomi was recognised in the Queen’s Birthday 2012 Honours List and was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) “for service to children and their families through the development of health and welfare programs, as a contributor to multicultural education, and to the promotion of social harmony”

Naomi passed away on 3 October 2022. She is missed by her extended family and especially by her sister Carmel Benjamin AM (Jacobi, 1949).