Rita_Mills

Rita Mills

Rita Mills

Musical artist

Rita Mills (25 August 1935 – 8 December 2004), also known as Rita Fell Rita Tyrell, and Rita Fell-Tyrell, was an Australian singer from the Torres Strait Islands. She was one of the band the Mills Sisters.

Quick Facts Born, Died ...

Biography

Mills was born in 1934 on Naghir Island in Torres Strait.[1] She lived on Thursday Island, and during World War II was temporarily evacuated to the mainland.[2]

Rita was one of the Mills Sisters with her twin sisters Cessa and Ina.[3] All three sisters sang, and Rita played guitar in their band.[4] After the twins retired in 1996, Rita continued her solo career.[5]

After she was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in 2000 she moved to Cairns,[2] retiring in 2001[6] and she died on 8 December 2004.[7][8]

Personal life

As of 1970 she was married to Jack Fell.[9] She was later also known as Rita Tyrell[10] and Rita Fell-Tyrell.[11]

Discography

  • Blue Mountain (1999)
  • Mata Nice (2001)

References

  1. [1]
    Stewart, Paul (11 March 2001). "Rita calls it a day, at last". Sunday Herald Sun.
  2. [2]
    Pryor, Cathy (8 September 2001). "Northern Delights". The Australian.
  3. [3]
    Baker, Jordan (28 March 2003). "Better late than never for Uncle Seaman". General News. Australian Associated Press.
  4. [4]
    The Australian, 13 December 2004, "Trailblazer sang Torres on to map" by Steve Connolly
  5. [5]
    Australian Associated Press General News, 28 March 2003, "Better late than never for Uncle Seaman" by Jordan Baker
  6. [6]
    "Sunnies select Cairns". Cairns Post. 31 August 2001.
  7. [7]
    Connolly, Steve (13 December 2004). "Trailblazer sang Torres on to map". The Australian.
  8. [8]
    "Tributes for Mills Sister". The Age. 8 December 2004. Retrieved 26 April 2022.
  9. [9]
    "Torres News (1957-2015) available online". State Library Of Queensland. 3 October 2019. Retrieved 30 April 2022.
  10. [10]
    "Rita Mills". AustLit. Retrieved 30 April 2022.
  11. [11]
    "Message Stick - Frangipani Land Forever". ABC Commercial. 9 March 2015. Retrieved 30 April 2022.

Further reading
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