Last time I wrote about poet Rosemary Dobson was in my post on Australian literary couples but my post today is a sadder one as Dobson died this week, just a week or so after her 92nd birthday. She had a long career as a poet, starting soon after World War 2. When she first came … Continue reading Vale Rosemary Dobson (Australian poet)
Obituaries
Vale Sarah Watt
Non-Australians may not be aware of Sarah Watt, unless they are interested in Australian film. Sarah Watt is an animator-writer-photographer-film director who made a small number of well-reviewed films, one of which, My year without sex, I reviewed on this blog. Sarah (aged 53) died on Friday from secondary bone cancer (diagnosed in 2009), having been originally … Continue reading Vale Sarah Watt
What do Di Gribble and Steve Jobs have in common?
You probably think it's strange to put these two luminaries together - one a lesser-known Australian publisher and entrepreneur and the other an international icon in personal computing. But the thing is, you see, that besides the fact that they both died this week - from cancer - Gribble and Jobs both entered my life … Continue reading What do Di Gribble and Steve Jobs have in common?
Monday musings on Australian literature: Japanese poetry in Australia
Papa Gums loves to give me clippings of obituaries that he knows will interest me. Last week, from his hospital bed, he gave me one for an Australian poet I'd never heard of, Janice Bostock. She was, according to the obituary in the Sydney Morning Herald, "one of Australia's leading writers of Japanese poetic forms", … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Japanese poetry in Australia
Monday musings on Australian literature: the National Centre of Biography
What is life? Life itself, as you will realise if you consult a dictionary, is hard enough to define. But what is a life? And why does it matter? For itself (a question of honour)? Or for what one can make of it as a biographer (which may mean trespass)? I am old-fashioned enough to … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: the National Centre of Biography
Vale Ruth Park
"Harp in the South silenced: author Ruth Park dead at 93" confronted me this morning on page 3 of our daily newspaper. I guess it had to happen, but it is nonetheless sad to see such a grand dame of Australian literature leave us. I have referred to her several times on this blog, three … Continue reading Vale Ruth Park
Vale Kate McGarrigle
Last week I read on Cat Politics' blog that Kate McGarrigle - one part of the Kate and Anna McGarrigle duo - had died just shy of her 64th birthday. How very sad. Like Cat Politics I discovered the McGarrigles in the 1970s, and over the years have acquired a few of their albums: Kate … Continue reading Vale Kate McGarrigle
Vale Frank McCourt
I've only read one of Frank McCourt's books, his Pulitzer Prize winning memoir, Angela’s ashes. I loved it, but for some reason didn't really feel the need to read more, though I'm sure I would have enjoyed them if I had! Angela's ashes was such a visceral read. I've never read quite such a vivid description … Continue reading Vale Frank McCourt
Whispering Gums 