DURKIN, Noreen Mary - née CARROLL - 'Dare-Devil'

If you remember the days of the sideshows, such as Jimmy SHARMAN, who had the travelling boxing tent, or UBANGI the pygmy, you'll also remember the days of the old Tivoli ' the TIV' Theatre, in Melbourne, as well.

One of the more regular, and spectacular, death-defying shows to grace both arenas, was the DARE-DEVIL DURKINS, 'Globe of Death'.

The 'Globe of Death' troupe was made up of brothers, Herb, and Frank DURKIN, and Herb's wife, Noreen Mary, who drove a midget car.


Born 31st May, 1913, Noreen Mary CARROLL, a younger sister of the famous entrepreneur, Garnet H. CARROLL, OBE., was a showgirl - through and through. All her family were talented, in some way. Noreen was often compared to the legendary Sophie TUCKER, because she was an accomplished comedienne/vocalist. She enjoyed notoriety at the Tivoli Theatre, where her brother, Roger 'Bruce' CARROLL, produced many variety shows, and her nephew, Roger Edgar CARROLL, was a principal artist in the Jazz music world, and played in the concerts at the 'TIV'.

Noreen was 7th of 8 children, born to Dentist, Roger Bede CARROLL, and Mildred 'Millie' Lorne CARROLL, née SMITH. The family often stayed at Noreen's grandfather's boarding house, called 'Kalarah', in Singleton. Roger, her father, as mentioned before, was a Dentist, and moved around a bit, building his professional business. The children were:

Garnet H.. b.4/12/1902-d.23/8/1941 - m. Catherine (Kitty) Stewart ELLIOTT, on 11/4/1932
Roger B.. b.1/5/1904-d.30/4/1952 - m. Dorothy May RICKETTS, in 1933
Astrutha P.. b.4/7/1905-d.24/2/1980 - m. Herbert Cecil JUKES, on 6/4/1942
Jean M.. b.28/8/1906-d.16/2/1975 - m. John (Jack) David SHELLEY, on 6/10/1929
Norma M.. b.3/5/1908-d.18/5/1973 - m. Cecil John ORMAN* on 4/12/1929
Constance S.. b.25/7/1910-d. 1957 - m. Francis James TEASDELL, in Dec.1931
Noreen M.. b.31/5/1913-d.9/6/1995 - m. Herbert DURKIN, on 11/3/1934
Hilton W.. b. 27/11/1914-d. 5/12/1956 - m. June ROBSON, in 1932

* Cecil John ORMAN is responsible for some of the historical facts from this side of the family, and my fruitless thanks go to him.


All I can do here, is to give you the information as I have it - both from newspaper clippings, copies of personal letters, and anecdotal evidence from family members. This is how it goes:


One site I visited, made mention of a Stan DURKIN. jnr. telling of his father, Stan snr., the younger brother to Herb and Frank, as having a part in the show called the Dare-Devil Durkins. I haven't found anything about Stan - pictures etc, but would love one if anybody has one. There were many accidents and broken bones over the years, and the show 'had to go on' - so, I presume, that Stan may have 'filled-in' from time to time. I can find mention of team members, Frank, Stan, Herb and Noreen, referred to as 'Mary'. Here, she is referred to, by a less than accurate reporter, as the Durkin boys' sister ...

Pardon the poor quality ...

It all started around 1930. Herb DURKIN was a noted speedway rider, winning the Australian Blue Ribbon, and the four-lap Australian Quarter-Mile Championship. During a respite between racing, Herb decided to build-up a stunt act, called the 'Wall of Death', which required a rider to propel his motorcycle around inside a high wooden-fenced circular construction, sort of like the inside of a barrel. Together with Frank, his brother, they practiced for 12 months, met with several accidents, but were eventually good enough at it, to tour Australia for 3 years.

Having dismissed any ideas of returning to the racing track, Herb, together with Frank, designed a new act, which they were to call 'The Globe of Death'. The Globe, itself, was constructed from 8000 ft of latticed iron, and weighed 2½ tons, and all the work was done by the brothers, themselves. They practiced this act for 4 years, until they had it down pat. During this period of practice, Herb and Noreen were married on the 4th Dec.1934, in Newcastle. Noreen was then included in the act, to drive the midget car inside the Globe. The car, designed and built once again, by the brothers, was small and lightly-powered. Noreen had to remove the steering wheel to get into it. When the steering wheel was replaced, there was no escape, should there be an accident, or the engine fail.

Herb Durkin ...

Frank and Herb DURKIN ...

Noreen, and her car, generally performed first, followed by each of the brothers, doing various tricks, like riding side-saddle, doing loop-the-loops and riding 'no-hands'. Then, as a finale, they would all enter together, riding at 75 miles per hour! The climax was always a double-loop, which, if a minute part of a second out of timing, would have meant certain death!

Needless to say, insurance was not available for the act!

Herb and Noreen had one child, David, b.7/3/1948-d.11/3/1983.

Herb died around the same time, or perhaps in 1984. Noreen survived them both, to pass away in 1995. End of an era.

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