CAMILLA AH KIN
1965 - 2023
Farewell to one of ABF’s long serving Committee members.
Camilla Ah Kin was always a fierce fighter for the performing arts but on June 9 she lost a long personal battle with illness. She is mourned across the performing arts by those who worked with her over a stellar career.
Camilla was an industry warrior, serving on the ABF Committee for many years. She was also a long term Equity delegate to Federal Council and NPC member, on staff as NSW Equity organiser for several years, and latterly, a member of the Equity Board. Their heartfelt tribute to her stated that “with kindness and tough love, she held her #MEAAequity family accountable”.
Camilla’s activism for and within the performer community for 30 years was recognised with the award of a MEAA Gold Honour Badge earlier this year.
She was also and a brilliant actor with a lengthy string of credits to her name, working with major theatre companies as well as becoming a familiar face on film and television. Her performance as the matriarch Mariam Habib won the hearts of Australians in the comedy TV series ‘Here Come the Habibs’ which aired on Channel 9 and ran to two successful seasons.
Camilla’s many talents stretched across different sectors of the performing arts, she was a director, teacher, mentor, panellist, policy innovator and a highly skilled actor and comedian, much admired by her peers.
Always a passionate supporter of new Australian work, Camilla’s most recent performance was in ‘Green Woman Yam Corsage’ at Riverside in 2021. Camilla carried this commitment through to the Griffin Theatre stage where she featured in plays such as 'The Nightwatchman' by Daniel Keene, 'Silent Disco' by Lachlan Philpott and 'Jump for Jordan' by Donna Abela. Most recently, Camilla’s dramaturgical talents were employed as a reader in the 2021 Griffin Award.
She was loved and admired across the industry for her committed advocacy for the performing arts and immense talent as an actor. She was also caring, compassionate and great fun to be with. She is missed and mourned by all who had the privilege to know her, work with her or sit beside her on a committee.
RIP Camilla from all at ABF