Maurice Saxby

Henry Maurice Saxby was born on 26 December 1924 in Botany,{{cite news|last1=Hamilton|first1=Margaret|title=Maurice Saxby remembered as the Godfather of Australian children's literature|url=http://www.smh.com.au/comment/obituaries/maurice-saxby-remembered-as-the-godfather-of-australian-childrens-literature-20141219-12amhn.html|access-date=2 January 2015|work=Sydney Morning Herald|publisher=Fairfax Media|date=20 December 2014}} New South Wales. His father was Maurice Henry Saxby and his mother was Nettie Thompson.{{cite web|title=Mr Maurice Saxby: member of the Aborigines Welfare Board|url=http://www.acmssearch.sl.nsw.gov.au/search/itemDetailPaged.cgi?itemID=225863|website=Catalogue|publisher=State Library of New South Wales|access-date=10 December 2014}} They had three sons, Henry Maurice, Geoffrey, Richard and a daughter, Helen. Saxby attended and won awards{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article156077079 |title=CULMINATION OF PROGRESSIVE L.I.H. SCHOOL YEAR. |newspaper=The Murrumbidgee Irrigator (Leeton, NSW : 1915 – 1954) |location=Leeton, NSW |date=15 December 1939 |access-date=6 February 2015 |page=2 |publisher=National Library of Australia}} at Leeton High School{{cite journal|last1=Brown|first1=Ian|title="It's been a magic run" – Dr Maurice Saxby AM|journal=Contact: Newsletter of the Anglican Parish of Hunters Hill|date=September 2009|url=http://www.huntershill.anglican.asn.au/file_download/128/Contact_200902.pdf|access-date=2 January 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110217071000/http://www.huntershill.anglican.asn.au/file_download/128/Contact_200902.pdf|archive-date=17 February 2011|df=dmy-all}} and completed his Leaving Certificate in 1941 at Fort Street Boys' High School, later studying at the Metropolitan Business College.

Maurice Saxby served in the Australian Imperial Forces from 1943 to 1946,{{cite web|title=H.M.Saxby Biography|url=http://www.austlit.edu.au/austlit/page/A11659|website=AustLit|access-date=4 December 2014}} including as an army medic in the 4th Field Ambulance in Madang, Papua New Guinea during World War II and was discharged with the rank of Sergeant after the war.{{cite web|title=Life Members|url=http://www.petaa.edu.au/About/Lifemembers#MauriceSaxby|website=Primary English Teaching Association Australia|access-date=4 December 2014}}

Maurice Saxby trained as a teacher at Balmain Teachers College from 1948–49. He spent five years teaching in infants, primary and high schools in New South Wales including setting up a library in North Sydney School, appointment to Forest Lodge Demonstration School as a teacher-librarian,{{cite web|title=Maurice Saxby Award|url=http://slansw.asn.au/advocacy/awards/maurice-saxby|website=School Library Association of New South Wales|access-date=4 December 2014}} and Picton High School teaching English. He was associated with the NSW School Library Service working with Joyce Fardell.{{cite journal|last1=Phillips|first1=Georgia|last2=Hydnes|first2=Colin|title=School Library Matriarch: Tribute to Joyce Fardell|journal=Access|date=September 2007|volume=21|issue=3|pages=17–18|issn=1030-0155}}

Saxby completed his Masters of Education at the University of Sydney before lecturing in the Bachelor of Education course.{{cite web|title=Dr Maurice Saxby: fairy godfather of children's literature|url=http://sydney.edu.au/news/84.html?newsstoryid=10096|access-date=4 December 2014}} He was appointed as a lecturer in English at Newcastle Teachers College, lectured at Alexander Mackie College{{Citation | author1=Saxby, H. M. (Henry Maurice), 1924–2014 | author2=Carpenter, Carole Henderson, 1944– | title=Interview with Henry Maurice Saxby, academic and children's author | publication-date=2000 | url=http://trove.nla.gov.au/work/35684301 | access-date=4 December 2014 }} and continued to lecture at various colleges and universities in Australia and overseas. He moved to Kuring-gai College of Advanced Education where he lectured in English, Librarianship and Children's Literature until his retirement as Head Teacher of Education.

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|quote = Maurice Saxby is considered, by those involved with Australian children's literature, as the foremost commentator on, and critic of, the field.

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|source=~ John Foster,{{cite journal|last1=Foster|first1=John|title=Books in the Life of a Child: Bridges to Literature and Learning [Book Review]|journal=Australasian Public Libraries and Information Services|date=March 1998|volume=11|issue=1|pages=50–52}} 1998

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Saxby was recognised internationally as an authority on children's literature and on Australian children's writing in particular.{{cite journal|last1=Saxby|first1=Maurice|title=Researching Australian children's literature|journal=The Australian Library Journal|date=February 2004|volume=53|issue=1|pages=81–91|doi=10.1080/00049670.2004.10721615|doi-access=free}} He was affectionately referred to as "the Godfather of Australian Children's Literature."{{cite web|last1=Ridge|first1=J|title=Dr Maurice Saxby AM: In Memoriam|url=http://misrule.com.au/wordpress/tag/maurice-saxby/|website=Misrule: On children's books and other things|access-date=4 December 2014}} His masters thesis on the history of Australian children's literature was later published as "A history of Australian children's literature 1841 to 1941". He continued researching and surveying the history of Australian children's literature in a second volume which he completed as a PhD thesis at the University of Technology Sydney and published as "Images of Australia 1940 to 1970" and a third volume "The Proof of the Puddin'".{{cite journal|last1=Saxby|first1=Maurice|title=Researching Australian children's literature|journal=Australian Library Journal|date=2004|volume=53|issue=1|pages=81–91|doi=10.1080/00049670.2004.10721615|s2cid=110507404|doi-access=free}}

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|quote = Maurice turned me not just into a children's writer, but with his kindness and insight, made me the one I am now. So much of the strength and diversity of Australian children's literature is due to him...But his true legacy will last as long as stories are told to young people in Australia.

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|source=~ Jackie French, 2015

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Saxby reviewed Australian children's books for a range of publications including Magpies, Reading Time, Viewpoint, Literature Base and Orana.{{Citation | author1=Gale Group | title=Contemporary authors | publication-date=1995 | publisher=Gale Research | url=http://trove.nla.gov.au/work/34329417 | access-date=2 January 2015 }}

Maurice Saxby was the first national president of the Children's Book Council of Australia in 1958,{{cite journal|last1=Macleod|first1=Mark|title=The Children's Book Council of Australia and the Judging of Literary Excellence|journal=New Review of Children's Literature and Librarianship|date=21 April 2011|volume=17|issue=1|pages=20–35|doi=10.1080/13614541.2011.562792|s2cid=143611192}}{{Citation | author1=Smith, June | author2=Hamilton, Margaret, 1941– | title=Celebrate with stories : the Children's Book Council of Australia 1945–1995 | publication-date=1995 | publisher=Margaret Hamilton Books | isbn=978-0-947241-75-9 }} served as a judge for the CBCA book of the year awards. He became a Trustee of the NSW Branch. He remained associated with the Children's Book Council of Australia for more than 60 years and was granted life membership in recognition of his achievements, also receiving a Children's Book Council National Council Citation in 1991.{{cite web|title=Distinguished Services Citation|url=http://cbca.org.au/natdsc.htm|website=Children's Book Council of Australia|access-date=4 December 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141208051251/http://cbca.org.au/natdsc.htm|archive-date=8 December 2014|df=dmy-all}}

Maurice Saxby served twice on the international jury for the Hans Christian Andersen Awards. He was nominated by Ena Noël, and elected to the jury in 1984 and 1986. In his second term the two Hans Christian Andersen medals were presented to Australians the first time both awards had ever gone to the same country.{{cite journal|title=Obituary Phillipena (Ena) Noël, AOM, 1910–2003|journal=Incite|date=2004|volume=25|url=http://archive.alia.org.au/incite/2004/01-02/enoel.html|access-date=4 December 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150403020147/http://archive.alia.org.au/incite/2004/01-02/enoel.html|archive-date=3 April 2015|df=dmy-all}} The 1986 Awards were presented at the IBBY Congress in Tokyo. The award for writing was presented to Patricia Wrightson and the award for illustration was presented to Robert Ingpen.{{cite web|title=HCA Award|url=http://ibbyaustralia.wordpress.com/hans-christian-andersen-awards/|website=IBBY Australia|date=14 April 2010 |access-date=4 December 2014}} In recognition of his achievements he was made a life member of the IBBY Australia organisation.{{cite web|title=IBBY Australia Newsletter|date=May 2011|url=http://ibbyaustralia.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/ibby-australia-newsletter-may-2011.pdf}}

Saxby also served as judge for the NSW Premier's Literary Awards.

Surveying the history of children's literature in Australia

• {{Citation | title=Offered to children : a history of Australian children's literature 1841–1941 | year=1998 | publication-date=1998 | publisher=Scholastic Australia | isbn=978-1-86388-638-3 }}
• {{Citation | title=Give them wings : the experience of children's literature | year=1987 | publication-date=1987 | publisher=Macmillan | isbn=978-0-333-43041-5 }}
• {{Citation | title=The proof of the puddin' : Australian children's literature 1970–1990 | year=1993 | publication-date=1993 | publisher=Sydney New York Ashton Scholastic | isbn=978-0-86896-604-5 }}
• {{Citation | title=Images of Australia : a history of Australian children's literature 1941–1970 | year=2002 | publication-date=2002 | publisher=Scholastic Australia | isbn=978-1-86504-456-9 }}

Children's literature

• {{Citation | title=Books in the life of a child : bridges to literature and learning | year=1997 | publication-date=1997 | publisher=South Melbourne Macmillan Education Australia | isbn=978-0-7329-4519-0 }}
• {{Citation | author1=Saxby, H. M. (Henry Maurice) | author2=Smith, Glenys, 1928– | title=First choice, a guide to the best books for Australian children | publication-date=1991 | publisher=Oxford University Press | isbn=978-0-19-553130-5 }}
• {{Citation | author1=Cooper, Pamela J | author2=Collins, Rives | author3=Saxby, H. M. (Henry Maurice), 1924– | author4=Cooper, Pamela J. | title=The power of story | year=1994 | publication-date=1994 | publisher=Macmillan Education Australia | isbn=978-0-7329-2798-1 }}
• {{Citation | author1=Saxby, H. M. (Henry Maurice) | title=Children and literature | publication-date=1977 | publisher=University of Sydney, Dept. of Adult Education | url=http://trove.nla.gov.au/work/16164672 | access-date=5 December 2014 }}

Teaching reading

• {{Citation | author1=Saxby, H. M. (Henry Maurice) | author2=Turney, C. (Clifford), 1932–, (joint ed.) | title=Teaching the new English in primary schools : maintaining continuity and implementing change in the language arts | publication-date=1974 | publisher=Ian Novak | url=http://trove.nla.gov.au/work/9408429 | access-date=5 December 2014 }}
• {{Citation | title=When Johnny and Judy don't read | year=1978 | publication-date=1978 | publisher=Primary English Teaching Association of N.S.W | isbn=978-0-909955-33-5 }}

Anthologies

• {{Citation | author1=Saxby, H. M. (Henry Maurice) | author2=Ingpen, Robert, 1936– | title=The great deeds of superheroes | year=1989 | publication-date=1989 | publisher=Millennium | isbn=978-0-85574-884-5 }}
• {{Citation | author1=Saxby, H. M. (Henry Maurice) | author2=Ingpen, Robert, 1936– | title=The great deeds of heroic women | year=1990 | publication-date=1990 | publisher=Millennium Books | isbn=978-0-85574-983-5 }}
• {{Citation | author1=Saxby, H. M. (Henry Maurice) | author2=Winch, John, 1944–2007 | title=The Millennium book of myth & story | year=1997 | publication-date=1997 | publisher=Millennium Books | isbn=978-1-86429-041-7 }}
• {{Citation | author1=Saxby, H. M. (Henry Maurice), 1924– | author2=Glusac, Randy, 1953– | title=The All over Australia joke book | year=1989 | publication-date=1989 | publisher=Puffin Books | isbn=978-0-14-034104-1 }}
• {{Citation | author1=Saxby, H. M. (Henry Maurice), 1924– | author2=Glusac, Randy, 1953– | title=The All over Australia riddle book | year=1989 | publication-date=1989 | publisher=Puffin Books | isbn=978-0-14-034250-5 }}

Picturebooks

• {{Citation | author1=Saxby, H. M. (Henry Maurice) | author2=Lacis, Astra, (illustrator.) | title=Russell and the star shell | year=1990 | publication-date=1990 | publisher=Hunters Hill, N.S.W. Margaret Hamilton | isbn=978-0-947241-20-9 }}
• {{Citation | author1=Saxby, H. M. (Henry Maurice) | author2=Gross, Julie, (illustrator.) | title=The devil's trousers : a folktale from Bologna | year=1999 | publication-date=1999 | publisher=Milson's Point, N.S.W. Random House | isbn=978-0-09-183164-6 }}

• 1983 Dromkeen Medal
• 1986 Rotary International Award for vocational excellence
• 1989 Lady Cutler Award (CBCA NSW)
• 1991 Children's Book Council of Australia National Council Citation
• 1991 Australian School Library Association Citation
• 1995 Appointed Member of the Order of Australia (AM){{Cite web|title=Mr Henry (Maurice) Saxby|url=https://honours.pmc.gov.au/honours/awards/870367|access-date=2021-07-16|website=It's An Honour}}
• 2002 Nan Chauncy Award for contributions to Australian Children's Literature
• 2005 Primary English Teachers Association Australia Life Member
• 2013 Pixie O'Harris Award for distinguished service to children's books at the Australian Book Industry Awards
• 2013 Doctor of Letters (honoris causa), University of Sydney{{cite journal|last1=University of Sydney|title=Annual Report 2013|page=22|url=http://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/prod/la/latabdoc.nsf/30d097ada2f32772ca256e84007f076b/96575ddc39b5756fca257ce70020304d/$FILE/The%20University%20of%20Sydney%20Annual%20Report%202013.pdf|access-date=4 December 2014}}

Saxby married Joyce Boniwell, who was the first children's editor at Angus & Robertson book publisher in 1963. Joyce died of cancer in 1964. He married Norma Jean Bateson on 14 December 1972. Norma died of cancer in 1990.

Henry Maurice Saxby died on 30 November 2014 in Hunters Hill, New South Wales.{{cite web|title=H. Maurice SAXBY|url=http://tributes.smh.com.au/obituaries/smh-au/obituary.aspx?n=h-maurice-saxby&pid=173375397|website=Sydney Morning Herald|access-date=5 December 2014}} A memorial service was arranged on Monday 19 January 2015 in the Great Hall at Sydney University.{{cite news|last1=Wyndham|first1=Susan|title=Undercover: news about books and publishing|url=http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/undercover-news-about-books-and-publishing-20150113-12n7sa.html|access-date=17 January 2015|work=Sydney Morning Herald|date=17 January 2015}} A memory book with contributions by children's authors, illustrators, publishers as well as friends and former students was compiled.

• The Maurice Saxby Award presented by the School Library Association of New South Wales honours an individual, team or organisation that has displayed excellence and passion in promoting reading and/or writing for young people in New South Wales.
• The Maurice Saxby Lecture presented by the Children's Book Council of Australia acknowledges the contribution made to the CBCA by lecturer, writer and mentor Dr Maurice Saxby AM.{{cite web|title=Events|url=http://nsw.cbca.org.au/pages/events.html|website=Children's Book Council of Australia|access-date=4 December 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141021134635/http://nsw.cbca.org.au/pages/events.html|archive-date=21 October 2014|df=dmy-all}}

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Category:1924 births

Category:2014 deaths

Category:Australian literary critics

Category:Writers from New South Wales

Category:University of Sydney alumni

Category:Members of the Order of Australia

Category:University of Technology Sydney alumni

Category:Australian children's writers