Rudolph Bronner
Rudolph Bronner | |
|---|---|
| Born | September 27, 1890 Lyndoch, South Australia, Australia |
| Died | January 17, 1960 (aged 69) |
| Occupation | Broadcasting executive |
| Known for | National controller of talks for the Australian Broadcasting Commission |
Rudolph "Rudi" Bronner (27 September 1890 – 17 January 1960) was an Australian executive who served as the National controller of talks for the Australian Broadcasting Commission (which later became the Corporation).
History
Bronner was the second son born to Carl (Charles) Bronner (died 26 February 1944) and his first wife Marian "Marie" Bronner, née Schmidhauser (who passed away on 10 April 1903). Originating from Zürich, Switzerland, Charles Bronner emigrated to South Australia in 1877. He joined the Education Department three years later in 1880, taught at multiple schools, and spent a total of 22 years as headmaster of Goodwood Primary School. In 1907, he remarried Frances May Shaw, née Hussey, fathering eight children altogether. The family resided at "Helvetia," located on Victoria Street in Goodwood.
Rudolph Bronner was born in Lyndoch and completed his education at St Peter's College, Adelaide followed by the University of Adelaide, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1912. He pursued further studies in Philosophy and Social Sciences at Balliol College, Oxford, during which time he developed a friendship with Aldous Huxley. While in England, he married Pauline Berkeley Bartels from Adelaide. In 1917, Bronner enlisted with the London Rifle Brigade, serving on the European front during World War I. Although wounded, he remained active until the conflict ended.
Upon returning to Adelaide, Bronner took up lecturing duties for the Workers' Educational Association before being appointed assistant director of tutorial classes at University of Melbourne in 1921. In 1928, he relocated to Germany to study under Professor Heussel at the University of Freiburg. There, he lectured as Reader in English and developed a deep appreciation for German language and literature.
Bronner returned to Adelaide in 1934 and joined the Australian Broadcasting Commission in September 1935 as assistant controller of talks. This position was elevated to a national role that same year, which led him to move to Sydney. By 1937, he had been named Federal controller of broadcasts directed to schools, consolidating responsibilities that had previously been handled by individual states.
He retired from his position in 1955 and passed away following a series of strokes; his remains were cremated.
Family
On 7 April 1917, Bronner wed Pauline Berkeley "Pauli" Bartels in England. She was the daughter of Adelaide businessman and mayor Adolph Bartels. The couple had one daughter:
- Elizabeth Pauline Berkeley Bronner (born 1919), who married Donald Malcolm Reid in Sydney on 6 August 1940. Donald was the grandson of prominent Adelaide businessman Malcolm Reid. Elizabeth earned her pilot’s licence at age eighteen. The couple welcomed a daughter in 1943.