1978 in Australian literature

This article presents a list of the historical events and publications of Australian literature during 1978.

Events

Jessica Anderson won the 1978 Miles Franklin Award for Tirra Lirra by the River
The Anne Elder Award for poetry is awarded for the first time

Major publications

Books

Jessica Anderson – Tirra Lirra by the River
Nancy Cato – All the Rivers Run
David Malouf – An Imaginary Life
Christopher Koch – The Year of Living Dangerously
George Turner – Transit of Cassidy^[1]

Science fiction and fantasy

A. Bertram Chandler — To Keep the Ship^[2]
David Lake — The Gods of Xuma, or, Barsoom Revisited^[3]
George Turner – Beloved Son^[4]

Crime and mystery

Nicholas Hasluck — Quarantine^[5]

Children's and young adult fiction

Peter Pavey – One Dragon's Dream^[6]
Joan Phipson – Keep Calm^[7]
Patricia Wrightson – The Dark Bright Water^[8]

Poetry

David Campbell — "Lizard and Stone"^[9]
Lee Cataldi — Invitation to a Marxist Lesbian Party^[10]
Bruce Dawe — Sometimes Gladness: Collected Poems 1954–1978^[11]
Jennifer Maiden — Birthstones^[12]

Non-fiction

Patsy Adam-Smith – The ANZACS^[13]
Mary Durack – The End of Dreaming^[14]
Wendy Lowenstein – Weevils in the Flour^[15]
Elyne Mitchell – Light Horse: The Story of Australia's Mounted Troops^[16]

Awards and honours

Order of Australia

Margaret Hasluck appointed Dame of the Order of Australia (AD) for "pre-eminent achievement in the fields of literature and history and for extraordinary and meritorious public service to Australia".^[17]

Lifetime achievement

Award	Author
Christopher Brennan Award^[18]	Rosemary Dobson
Patrick White Award^[19]	Gwen Harwood

Literary

Award	Author	Title	Publisher
The Age Book of the Year Award^[20]	Christopher Koch	The Year of Living Dangerously	Nelson
ALS Gold Medal^[21]	No award
Colin Roderick Award^[22]	Leslie Rees	History of Australian Drama	Angus & Robertson

Fiction

Award	Author	Title	Publisher
The Age Book of the Year Award^[20]	Christopher Koch	The Year of Living Dangerously	Nelson
Miles Franklin Award^[23]	Jessica Anderson	Tirra Lirra by the River	Macmillan

Children and Young Adult

Award	Category	Author	Title	Publisher
Children's Book of the Year Award^[24]	Older Readers	Patricia Wrightson	The Ice is Coming	Hutchinson
Children's Book of the Year Award^[24]	Picture Book	Jenny Wagner, illustrated by Ron Brooks	John Brown, Rose and the Midnight Cat	Viking Kestrel

Poetry

Award	Author	Title	Publisher
Anne Elder Award^[25]	Lee Cataldi	Invitation to a Marxist Lesbian Party	Wild & Woolley
Grace Leven Prize for Poetry^[26]	Bruce Dawe	Sometimes Gladness: Collected Poems 1954–1978	Longman Cheshire

Non-fiction

Award	Author	Title	Publisher
The Age Book of the Year Award^[20]	Patsy Adam-Smith	The ANZACS	Nelson

Births

A list, ordered by date of birth (and, if the date is either unspecified or repeated, ordered alphabetically by surname) of births in 1978 of Australian literary figures, authors of written works or literature-related individuals follows, including year of death.

28 December — Holly Throsby, novelist and musician^[27]

Unknown date

Brett McBean, horror, thriller and speculative fiction writer^[28]
Fiona McFarlane, novelist and short story writer^[29]
Andrew O'Connor, novelist^[30]

Deaths

A list, ordered by date of death (and, if the date is either unspecified or repeated, ordered alphabetically by surname) of deaths in 1978 of Australian literary figures, authors of written works or literature-related individuals follows, including year of birth.

9 March – John K. Ewers, novelist, poet, schoolteacher and short story writer (born 1904)^[31]
16 April – Barbara Vernon, playwright, screenwriter and radio announcer (born 1916)^[32]
23 May – Rose Lindsay, artist's model, author, and printmaker (born 1885)^[33]
15 June – Paul McGuire, author, public servant and diplomat (born 1903)^[34]
23 July – T. Inglis Moore, writer, anthologist and academic (born 1901)^[35]
24 July – Annie Rattray Rentoul, children's poet and story writer (born 1882)^[36]
27 September – Margaret Horder, artist and children's book illustrator (born 1903)^[37]
7 December – Helen Haenke, poet, playwright and artist (born 1916)^[38]

References

^ "Transit of Cassidy by George Turner". National Library of Australia. Retrieved 19 April 2024.
^ "To Keep the Ship by A. Bertram Chandler". ISFDB. Retrieved 19 March 2024.
^ "The Gods of Xuma, or, Barsoom Revisited by David Lake". ISFDB. Retrieved 19 March 2024.
^ "Beloved Son by George Turner". ISFDB. Retrieved 19 March 2024.
^ "Quarantine by Nicholas Hasluck". National Library of Australia. Retrieved 19 April 2024.
^ "One Dragon's Dream by Peter Pavey". National Library of Australia. Retrieved 19 April 2024.
^ "Keep Calm by Joan Phipson". National Library of Australia. Retrieved 19 April 2024.
^ "The Dark Bright Water by Patricia Wrightson". National Library of Australia. Retrieved 19 April 2024.
^ "Austlit — "Lizard and Stone" by David Campbell". Austlit. Retrieved 28 December 2023.
^ "Austlit — Invitation to a Marxist Lesbian Party by Lee Cataldi". Austlit. Retrieved 28 December 2023.
^ "Sometimes Gladness: Collected Poems 1954–1978 by Bruce Dawe". National Library of Australia. Retrieved 19 April 2024.
^ "Austlit — Birthstones by Jennifer Maiden". Austlit. Retrieved 28 December 2023.
^ "The ANZACS by Patsy Adam-Smith". National Library of Australia. Retrieved 19 April 2024.
^ "The End of Dreaming by Mary Durack". National Library of Australia. Retrieved 19 April 2024.
^ "Weevils in the Flour by Wendy Lowenstein". National Library of Australia. Retrieved 19 April 2024.
^ "Light Horse: The Story of Australia's Mounted Troops by Elyne Mitchell". National Library of Australia. Retrieved 19 April 2024.
^ "Australian Government Gazette – Special" (PDF). Government House of The Commonwealth of Australia. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 21 April 2019.
^ ""Dobson, Rosemary de Brissac (1920 - 2012)"". The Australian Women's Register. Retrieved 13 September 2023.
^ "Gwen Harwood". PoemHunter.com. Retrieved 21 April 2019.
^ ^a ^b ^c ""Novel in a slice of history"". The Age, 2 December 1978. ProQuest 2520821566. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
^ "ALS Gold Medal — Previous Winners". Association for the Study of Australian Literature. Retrieved 22 August 2023.
^ "Other Winners". www.jcu.edu.au. 15 November 2017. Archived from the original on 20 April 2019. Retrieved 20 April 2019.
^ "Miles Franklin Literary Award – Every Winner Since 1957". Better Reading. Retrieved 21 April 2019.
^ "Winners and Commended Books 1970 - 1979 - CBCA". 12 November 2009. Archived from the original on 12 November 2009. Retrieved 21 April 2019.
^ "Austlit — Anne Elder Award 1977-78". Austlit. Retrieved 8 February 2024.
^ "Brisbane Writers Festival - Bruce Dawe". 6 August 2007. Archived from the original on 6 August 2007. Retrieved 21 April 2019.
^ "Austlit - Holly Throsby". Austlit. Retrieved 6 July 2023.
^ "Austlit - Brett McBean". Austlit. Retrieved 6 July 2023.
^ "Austlit - Fiona McFarlane". Austlit. Retrieved 6 July 2023.
^ "Austlit - Andrew O'Connor". Austlit. Retrieved 6 July 2023.
^ "Ewers, John Keith (1904–1978) by Jenny Gregory and Rebecca Shepherd". Australian Dictionary of Biography. Retrieved 6 July 2023.
^ "Vernon, Barbara Mary (1916–1978) by Jane Connors". Australian Dictionary of Biography. Retrieved 6 July 2023.
^ "Lindsay, Rose (1885–1978) by Ana Carden-Coyne". Australian Dictionary of Biography. Retrieved 6 July 2023.
^ "McGuire, Dominic Mary Paul (1903–1978) by Katharine Massam". Australian Dictionary of Biography. Retrieved 30 June 2023.
^ "Austlit – T. Inglis Moore (1901-1978)". Austlit. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
^ "Rentoul, Annie Rattray (1882–1978) by Diane Langmore". Australian Dictionary of Biography. Retrieved 6 July 2023.
^ "Austlit - Margaret Horder (1903-1978)". Austlit. Retrieved 6 July 2023.
^ "Haenke, Helen Joyce (1916–1978) by Delyse Anthony". Australian Dictionary of Biography. Retrieved 6 July 2023.

[1] "Transit of Cassidy by George Turner". National Library of Australia. Retrieved 19 April 2024.

[2] "To Keep the Ship by A. Bertram Chandler". ISFDB. Retrieved 19 March 2024.

[3] "The Gods of Xuma, or, Barsoom Revisited by David Lake". ISFDB. Retrieved 19 March 2024.

[4] "Beloved Son by George Turner". ISFDB. Retrieved 19 March 2024.

[5] "Quarantine by Nicholas Hasluck". National Library of Australia. Retrieved 19 April 2024.

[6] "One Dragon's Dream by Peter Pavey". National Library of Australia. Retrieved 19 April 2024.

[7] "Keep Calm by Joan Phipson". National Library of Australia. Retrieved 19 April 2024.

[8] "The Dark Bright Water by Patricia Wrightson". National Library of Australia. Retrieved 19 April 2024.

[9] "Austlit — "Lizard and Stone" by David Campbell". Austlit. Retrieved 28 December 2023.

[10] "Austlit — Invitation to a Marxist Lesbian Party by Lee Cataldi". Austlit. Retrieved 28 December 2023.

[11] "Sometimes Gladness: Collected Poems 1954–1978 by Bruce Dawe". National Library of Australia. Retrieved 19 April 2024.

[12] "Austlit — Birthstones by Jennifer Maiden". Austlit. Retrieved 28 December 2023.

[13] "The ANZACS by Patsy Adam-Smith". National Library of Australia. Retrieved 19 April 2024.

[14] "The End of Dreaming by Mary Durack". National Library of Australia. Retrieved 19 April 2024.

[15] "Weevils in the Flour by Wendy Lowenstein". National Library of Australia. Retrieved 19 April 2024.

[16] "Light Horse: The Story of Australia's Mounted Troops by Elyne Mitchell". National Library of Australia. Retrieved 19 April 2024.

[17] "Australian Government Gazette – Special" (PDF). Government House of The Commonwealth of Australia. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 21 April 2019.

[CB1978-18] ""Dobson, Rosemary de Brissac (1920 - 2012)"". The Australian Women's Register. Retrieved 13 September 2023.

[19] "Gwen Harwood". PoemHunter.com. Retrieved 21 April 2019.

[Age78-20] ""Novel in a slice of history"". The Age, 2 December 1978. ProQuest 2520821566. Retrieved 12 May 2024.

[ALS-21] "ALS Gold Medal — Previous Winners". Association for the Study of Australian Literature. Retrieved 22 August 2023.

[22] "Other Winners". www.jcu.edu.au. 15 November 2017. Archived from the original on 20 April 2019. Retrieved 20 April 2019.

[23] "Miles Franklin Literary Award – Every Winner Since 1957". Better Reading. Retrieved 21 April 2019.

[:0-24] "Winners and Commended Books 1970 - 1979 - CBCA". 12 November 2009. Archived from the original on 12 November 2009. Retrieved 21 April 2019.

[25] "Austlit — Anne Elder Award 1977-78". Austlit. Retrieved 8 February 2024.

[26] "Brisbane Writers Festival - Bruce Dawe". 6 August 2007. Archived from the original on 6 August 2007. Retrieved 21 April 2019.

[27] "Austlit - Holly Throsby". Austlit. Retrieved 6 July 2023.

[28] "Austlit - Brett McBean". Austlit. Retrieved 6 July 2023.

[29] "Austlit - Fiona McFarlane". Austlit. Retrieved 6 July 2023.

[30] "Austlit - Andrew O'Connor". Austlit. Retrieved 6 July 2023.

[31] "Ewers, John Keith (1904–1978) by Jenny Gregory and Rebecca Shepherd". Australian Dictionary of Biography. Retrieved 6 July 2023.

[32] "Vernon, Barbara Mary (1916–1978) by Jane Connors". Australian Dictionary of Biography. Retrieved 6 July 2023.

[33] "Lindsay, Rose (1885–1978) by Ana Carden-Coyne". Australian Dictionary of Biography. Retrieved 6 July 2023.

[34] "McGuire, Dominic Mary Paul (1903–1978) by Katharine Massam". Australian Dictionary of Biography. Retrieved 30 June 2023.

[35] "Austlit – T. Inglis Moore (1901-1978)". Austlit. Retrieved 23 June 2023.

[36] "Rentoul, Annie Rattray (1882–1978) by Diane Langmore". Australian Dictionary of Biography. Retrieved 6 July 2023.

[37] "Austlit - Margaret Horder (1903-1978)". Austlit. Retrieved 6 July 2023.

[38] "Haenke, Helen Joyce (1916–1978) by Delyse Anthony". Australian Dictionary of Biography. Retrieved 6 July 2023.

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v t e Years in Australian literature (1852–present)
19th century	1852 1853 1854 1855 1856 1857 1858 1859 1860 1861 1862 1863 1864 1865 1866 1867 1868 1869 1870 1871 1872 1873 1874 1875 1876 1877 1878 1879 1880 1881 1882 1883 1884 1885 1886 1887 1888 1889 1890 1891 1892 1893 1894 1895 1896 1897 1898 1899 1900
20th century	1901 1902 1903 1904 1905 1906 1907 1908 1909 1910 1911 1912 1913 1914 1915 1916 1917 1918 1919 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000
21st century	2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024

Events

Major publications

Books

Science fiction and fantasy

Crime and mystery

Children's and young adult fiction

Poetry

Non-fiction

Awards and honours

Order of Australia

Lifetime achievement

Literary

Fiction

Children and Young Adult

Poetry

Non-fiction

Births

Deaths

See also

References