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From the Archives, 1961: Tania Verstak is Miss Australia
Sixty years ago, Tania Verstak - born in China of White Russian parents - became the first “New Australian” to win the Miss Australia quest. The 20-year-old spoke to the Herald about her ideal man, her future plans and why she had given up on returning to her birthplace.
By Staff reporter
First published in The Sydney Morning Herald on October 26, 1961
Sydney’s Tania Verstak is Miss Australia
Melbourne, Wednesday - A panel of judges tonight chose 20-year-old Tania Verstak, as winner of the Miss Australia quest.
The new Miss Australia, Tania Verstak, returns to Sydney on October 29, 1961.Credit: R. L. Stewart
Miss Verstak two weeks ago was chosen as Miss NSW 1961.
Born in China of White Russian parents, she is the first New Australian to win the quest.
Lady Brooks, wife of the Victorian Governor, Sir Dallas Brooks, crowned Miss Verstak as Miss Australia 1961 at a ball at the Palais de Danse, St Kilda.
Miss Verstak’s parents, Mr and Mrs V. Verstak, and her sister, helen, 13, were in the audience.
The previous Miss Australia, Miss Rosemary Fenton, and the other six finalists were among the first to congratulate Miss Verstak.
Miss Verstak, a brunette, arrived in Australia from China nine years ago.
She is now in the second year of an Arts course at the University of Sydney.
Tania Verstak is crowned Miss Australia on October 25, 1961Credit: Miss Australia Company
Miss Verstak was chosen Miss Australia after a three day series of public appearances.
She will be given a wardrobe and a trip around the world.
Miss Australia’s ideal male is...
(First published on November 5, 1961)
MISS Australia’s ideal male is “80 per cent man, 15 per cent boy, and five per cent woman.”
“This is the sort of man I would like to marry,” she said this week.
Miss Australia—Tania Verstak—explained: “He has to be 80 per cent man, because a woman needs strength and security to depend on. The 15 per cent boy is important, because without enthusiasm and adventure he would be a dullard and a bore. And I would like him to be 5 per cent woman, because he must have some tenderness — but 5 per cent is sufficient.”
Tania, who is 21 this month, said she was not “romantically involved.”
Tania, the first New Australian ever to win a Miss Australia title, has given up hope of returning to her birthplace in Red China.
Reading a card from a well-wisher on November 20, 1961.Credit: Staff photographer
She said she did not think the visit would be “wise.”
“When I became Miss Australia, I thought for a little while that it might be possible to include Tientsin in my world tour. I was born there and lived there until I was almost eleven,” she said.
“Now I have changed my mind. I don’t think It would be wise for me to return to the land which is still under the regime from which my parents fled. For one thing, I do not know if the Communists would let me enter China. And if they did, there is always the chance that they would try to make propaganda out of my visit. But I am hopeful of seeing other parts of the East which attract me very much — such as Japan, Hong Kong and Malaya.”
Tania said it was likely that she would take a business position instead of resuming her Arts course at Sydney University, which would now be interrupted in its second and third years.
“Some Australian firms have offered me interesting positions representing them overseas,” she said.
“So kind”
“One offer is from a chemical firm, another from a fashion house. If the positions are still open after my tour, I think I would like to take one. My ideal would be world travel for the next four years, then return to Australia and settle down. I don’t think I will marry before 25.”
Tania, who lives with her Russian-born parents and 13-year-old sister Helen, at Manly, said winning Miss Australia “continues to be more wonderful every day.
“Everyone is so kind and friendly to me,” she said.
“I thought a few people mightn’t be too pleased with me as Miss Australia, because I am a New Australian.”