Brenda Walker

{{Short description|Australian writer (1957–2024)}}

{{For|the Emmerdale character|Brenda Walker (Emmerdale)}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2024}}

{{Infobox writer

| name = Brenda Walker

| image =

| caption =

| birth_name = Brenda Joanne Walker

| birth_date = {{birth year|1957}}

| birth_place = Grafton, New South Wales, Australia

| death_date = {{death date and given age|2024|12|10|67|df=y}}

| death_place = Perth, Western Australia, Australia

| language = English

| alma_mater = University of New England {{br}} Australian National University

| notableworks = The Wing of Night

| awards = {{Plainlist|

• Nita Kibble Literary Award 2006, 2011
• Victorian Premier's Literary Awards, Non-Fiction, 2010

}}

| years_active = 1983–2010

}}

Brenda Joanne Walker (1957 – 10 December 2024) was an Australian writer. Born in Grafton, New South Wales, she studied at the University of New England in Armidale and, after gaining a PhD in English (on the work of Samuel Beckett) at the Australian National University, she moved to Perth in 1984. She was a Winthrop Professor of English and Cultural Studies at the University of Western Australia. She had also been a visiting fellow at Stanford University and the University of Virginia.

Walker was the sister of songwriter and musician Don Walker, and the daughter of author Shirley Walker.{{cite news|newspaper=The Australian|title=Kibble Literary Award stays in the family as daughter follows in light of mother|author=Stephen Romei|url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/nation/kibble-literary-award-stays-in-the-family-as-daughter-follows-in-light-of-mother/story-e6frg6nf-1226103018309|accessdate=20 August 2011|date=28 July 2011}}

Walker was killed on 10 December 2024 while crossing Kings Park Road in Perth by a driver speeding at {{convert|97|km/h}}. The driver was moments earlier seen driving at {{convert|104|km/h}}, while the speed limit on Kings Park Road is {{convert|60|km/h}}. The driver was charged with dangerous driving causing death in circumstances of aggravation.{{cite web |last1=Evensen |first1=Jessica |title=Award-winning novelist Brenda Walker identified as pedestrian killed by speeding car on Kings Park Road |url=https://thewest.com.au/news/court-justice/lucas-martins-da-silva-accused-of-driving-at-104kmh-in-kings-park-before-hitting-brenda-joanne-walker-c-17047674 |website=The West Australian |access-date=11 December 2024 |date=11 December 2024 |url-access=subscription}}{{cite web |last1=Peppiatt |first1=Rebecca |last2=Carbonne |first2=Bianca |title=Brazilian national faces court accused of Kings Park crash that killed 67-year-old pedestrian |url=https://www.watoday.com.au/national/western-australia/brazilian-national-faces-court-accused-of-kings-park-crash-that-killed-67-year-old-pedestrian-20241211-p5kxme.html |website=WAtoday |access-date=11 December 2024 |date=11 December 2024}}