Anne Immink

Anne Immink (b. Vredefort, Orange Free State, **/**/1889 - d. **/**/1941) was a socialite and occasional actress.

Biography

Anna Elizabeth Immink was the daughter of Johannes Carolus (Karel) Immink, a German-born Dutch immigrant to South Africa, and his second wife, Diana Elizabeth de Beer. Though born in the small town of Vredefort, she settled in Johannesburg and became a well-known personality around town. She was an amateur actress of some talent and in 1917 she appeared on the stage in One Summer’s Day for the Governor-General’s & Red Cross Funds. The following year she was in an amateur production of The Gondoliers at the Standard Theatre. In 1920 she was in the cast of Oh, Joy! at His Majesty’s Theatre and was one of the soloists (soprano) when Mendelssohn’s oratorio "Elijah" was performed at the Johannesburg Town Hall in 1921. Also in 1921 she was in the cast of The Magic Key at the Palladium Theatre, playing Maid Marion opposite Billy Matthews’ Robin Hood. Produced by Muriel Alexander and with music by David Foote, the proceeds went to the Transvaal Children’s Hospital. She also acted in one film when she played the wife of Piet Retief in the Afrikaans-language version of Die Bou van ‘n Nasie (1938) opposite Myles Bourke. Abraham Immink, who was mayor of Johannesburg from 1944 to 1945, was her brother.

Trivia: Her father’s first wife, with whom he came out to South Africa, was Jeannette Diest, who deserted her husband and young son and left with a British officer for India. As Jeanne Immink she later became a pioneer in the field of mountaineering, an activity that had hitherto been reserved for men. Over the years she conquered many peaks across Europe, opening the way for other female mountaineers. (FO)