a sad loss

[adelaidesean]

I could and probably should update my LJ with gossip from Worldcon and boring writerly stuff, but I won't just yet. Instead I'm going to talk briefly about Colin Thiele, who died earlier this week from heart failure. Australians will know him as the author of Storm Boy, a novel set on the South Australian coast concerning a boy and his father, a pelican and an outcast Aboriginal called Fingerbone (filmed in 1976). I grew up with book and movie, and am saddened by this loss to the Australian literary landscape. An author of 80 or more novels, he was something of an inspiration. An author with plenty of time and energy for new writers, ditto.

When asked on a list if I had met him, I had to say that I had not, but the degrees of separation between us were very small (as they always are in Adelaide). A few years back the government tried to award him an "SA Great" Literature Award, for services to the industry and promotion of the state, but he wouldn't accept it. He insisted it should go to the runner up, a younger fellow who, Colin felt, deserved the encouragement more. That young whippersnapper was me. It may not be much of an award outside SA, but I was pleased to have something with the word "Literature" in it and flattered by his generosity.

I'll never again be able to describe The Stone Mage & the Sea as "Storm Boy meets Mad Max" without feeling a little wistful.

Comments

[murasaki-1966.livejournal.com]

Having had a look around for sites on Colin Thiele, I've realised that there doesn't seem to be one dealing with his writing in a critical capacity (but this I mean examined in a literary manner not picked to pieces). Since the Wrightson site is supposed to be an examination of her writing, I'm wondering if doing a Thiele site later might be a good thing. The Wrightson site is going to take a while (assuming Ms Wrightson gives her consent), so this would be a very long term project.

[ladnews.livejournal.com]

I think it's wonderful that you're doing this for Patricia Wrightson, and I agree with you that Colin Thiele's sites seem a little thin on the ground. I can't understand why. I wonder if the Australia Council would fun an attempt to redress this imbalance?

[murasaki-1966.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the idea. I'll look into it.

[ladnews.livejournal.com]

Perhaps under the Audience Development arm:
http://www.ozco.gov.au/council_priorities/audience_development/

There's a real case here, I think. If you decide to take it further and need help of any kind (including letters of recommendation) drop me a line. I can put on my SA Writers' Centre hat too, which is always fun.

[murasaki-1966.livejournal.com]

Thank you Sean. That is very kind. Does my being in NSW preclude you from wearing your SA Writers Centre hat?

We have a bit of a setback. The old computer we were overhauling has died completely. So we now have to save up and get a new computer...blah. However, I can work on content (starting by reading all the books again, etc) so I'm to go when the computer is ready. I can do some work on the main computer when Jack_ryder is off it (if ever).

[ladnews.livejournal.com]

Does my being in NSW preclude you from wearing your SA Writers Centre hat?

Not at all! The hats (like various automobile service organisations) function perfectly well across state lines. :-)

Good luck with the computer.