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Dymphna Cusack

May 04, 2024

Ellen Dymphna Cusack AM (21 September 1902 – 19 October 1981) was an Australian writer and playwright.[1]

Dymphna Cusack
AM
Dymphna Cusack, 1947
Born(1902-09-21)21 September 1902
Died19 October 1981(1981-10-19) (aged 79)
NationalityAustralian
Alma materUniversity of Sydney
Occupation(s)Author, playwright

Personal life edit

Born in Wyalong, New South Wales, Cusack was educated at Saint Ursula's College, Armidale, New South Wales[2] and graduated from the University of Sydney with an honours degree in arts and a diploma in Education. She worked as a teacher until she retired in 1944 for health reasons. Her illness was confirmed in 1978 as multiple sclerosis.[1] She died at Manly, New South Wales on 19 October 1981.

Career edit

 
Dymphna Cusack memorial plaque in Sydney Writers Walk at Circular Quay

Cusack wrote twelve novels (two of which were collaborations), eleven plays,[3] three travel books, two children's books and one non-fiction book. Her collaborative novels were Pioneers on Parade (1939) with Miles Franklin, and Come In Spinner (1951) with Florence James.[4]

The play Red Sky at Morning was filmed in 1944, starring Peter Finch.[5] The biography Caddie, the Story of a Barmaid, to which Cusack wrote an introduction and helped the author write, was produced as the film Caddie in 1976. The novel Come In Spinner was produced as a television series by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation in 1989, and broadcast in March 1990.[6]

Family edit

Her younger brother, John, was also an author, writing the war novel They Hosed Them Out under the pseudonym John Beede, which was first published in 1965; an expanded edition under the author's real name, John Bede Cusack, was published in 2012 by Wakefield Press, edited and annotated by Robert Brokenmouth.[7]

Activism edit

Cusack advocated social reform and described the need for reform in her writings. She contributed to the world peace movement during the Cold War era as an antinuclear activist.[1] She and her husband Norman Freehill were members of the Communist Party and they left their entire estates to the Party in their wills.[8]

Contribution and recognition edit

Cusack was a foundation member of the Australian Society of Authors in 1963. She had refused an Order of the British Empire,[1] but was made a Member of the Order of Australia in 1981 for her contribution to Australian literature.[9]

In 2011, Cusack was one of 11 authors, including Elizabeth Jolley and Manning Clark, to be permanently recognised by the addition of brass plaques at the Writers' Walk, Sydney.[10]

Plays edit

Novels edit

Radio plays edit

Nonfiction edit

  • Chinese Women Speak. Angus & Robertson. Sydney. 1958.
  • Holidays Among the Russians. Heinemann. London. 1964.
  • Illyria Reborn. Heinemann. London. 1966.
  • Mary Gilmore A Tribute. Australasian Book Society. London. 1965.
  • A Window in the Dark. National Library of Australia. Canberra. 1991.

Children's literature edit

  • Kanga-Bee and Kanga-Bo. Botany House. Sydney. 1945.
  • Four Winds and a Family with Florence James. Shakespeare Head Press. London. 1947.

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d Marilla North (2007), "Cusack, Ellen Dymphna (Nell) (1902–1981)", Australian Dictionary of Biography, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, retrieved 18 May 2015
  2. ^ [1] 6 June 2011 at the Wayback Machine, middlemiss.org; retrieved 22 March 2008.
  3. ^ Croft, Julian, 1941-; Bedson, Jack; Campbell Howard Collection; University of New England. Centre for Australian Language and Literature Studies; Dixson Library (University of New England) Australian plays in manuscript (1993), The Campbell Howard annotated index of Australian plays 1920-1955 / compiled and edited by Jack Bedson and Julian Croft, Centre for Australian Language and Literature Studies, University of New England.{{citation}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) pp.68-78.
  4. ^ Spender (1988) p. 219
  5. ^ "Red Sky at Morning (1944)". IMDb. Retrieved 9 March 2008.
  6. ^ IMDB – Come In Spinner (1990)
  7. ^ Cusack, J.B. (2012), They Hosed Them Out, Wakefield Press, ISBN 9781743051061
  8. ^ Peter Coleman, "Memento Moscow", Weekend Australian, 16–17 January 1999, Review, p. 10
  9. ^ "It's an Honour – 26 January 1981". Australian Government. Retrieved 9 March 2008.
  10. ^ "Tribute to Literary Greats on Sydney Writers’ Walk", 24 October 2011; retrieved 10 April 2012.
  11. ^ Marilla North, 'Cusack, Ellen Dymphna (Nell) (1902–1981)', Australian Dictionary of Biography, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/cusack-ellen-dymphna-nell-12385/text22259, published first in hardcopy 2007, accessed online 14 March 2024.
  12. ^ "YOUNG WOMAN'S FINE PLAY". Daily Standard. No. 6948. Queensland, Australia. 25 April 1935. p. 9. Retrieved 14 March 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  13. ^ "Women in the World", The Australian woman's mirror., 11 (41 (3 September 1935)), Sydney: The Bulletin Newspaper, nla.obj-572096208, retrieved 14 March 2024 – via Trove
  14. ^ "ANZAC PLAY FROM WOMAN'S PEN". The Daily Telegraph. Vol. 5, no. 59. New South Wales, Australia. 25 April 1935. p. 7. Retrieved 14 March 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  15. ^ "ANZAC EVE FESTIVAL". The Sydney Morning Herald. No. 30, 668. New South Wales, Australia. 18 April 1936. p. 12. Retrieved 14 March 2024 – via National Library of Australia.

Sources edit

  • North, Marilla. (2007) "Cusack, Ellen Dymphna (Nell) (1902–1981)". Entry in the Australian Dictionary of Biography. Melbourne: Melbourne University Press
  • Spender, Dale (1988) Writing a New World: Two Centuries of Australian Women Writers, London: Pandora

Further reading edit

  • North, Marilla (2013) Laying the Foundations of a Writer's Life: Dymphna Cusack (1902-81) (essay).

May 04, 2024
dymphna, cusack, ellen, september, 1902, october, 1981, australian, writer, playwright, 1947born, 1902, september, 1902died19, october, 1981, 1981, aged, nationalityaustralianalma, materuniversity, sydneyoccupation, author, playwright, contents, personal, life. Ellen Dymphna Cusack AM 21 September 1902 19 October 1981 was an Australian writer and playwright 1 Dymphna CusackAMDymphna Cusack 1947Born 1902 09 21 21 September 1902Died19 October 1981 1981 10 19 aged 79 NationalityAustralianAlma materUniversity of SydneyOccupation s Author playwright Contents 1 Personal life 2 Career 3 Family 4 Activism 5 Contribution and recognition 6 Plays 7 Novels 8 Radio plays 9 Nonfiction 10 Children s literature 11 References 11 1 Sources 11 2 Further readingPersonal life editBorn in Wyalong New South Wales Cusack was educated at Saint Ursula s College Armidale New South Wales 2 and graduated from the University of Sydney with an honours degree in arts and a diploma in Education She worked as a teacher until she retired in 1944 for health reasons Her illness was confirmed in 1978 as multiple sclerosis 1 She died at Manly New South Wales on 19 October 1981 Career edit nbsp Dymphna Cusack memorial plaque in Sydney Writers Walk at Circular Quay Cusack wrote twelve novels two of which were collaborations eleven plays 3 three travel books two children s books and one non fiction book Her collaborative novels were Pioneers on Parade 1939 with Miles Franklin and Come In Spinner 1951 with Florence James 4 The play Red Sky at Morning was filmed in 1944 starring Peter Finch 5 The biography Caddie the Story of a Barmaid to which Cusack wrote an introduction and helped the author write was produced as the film Caddie in 1976 The novel Come In Spinner was produced as a television series by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation in 1989 and broadcast in March 1990 6 Family editHer younger brother John was also an author writing the war novel They Hosed Them Out under the pseudonym John Beede which was first published in 1965 an expanded edition under the author s real name John Bede Cusack was published in 2012 by Wakefield Press edited and annotated by Robert Brokenmouth 7 Activism editCusack advocated social reform and described the need for reform in her writings She contributed to the world peace movement during the Cold War era as an antinuclear activist 1 She and her husband Norman Freehill were members of the Communist Party and they left their entire estates to the Party in their wills 8 Contribution and recognition editCusack was a foundation member of the Australian Society of Authors in 1963 She had refused an Order of the British Empire 1 but was made a Member of the Order of Australia in 1981 for her contribution to Australian literature 9 In 2011 Cusack was one of 11 authors including Elizabeth Jolley and Manning Clark to be permanently recognised by the addition of brass plaques at the Writers Walk Sydney 10 Plays editSafety First 1927 Shallow Cups 1933 Anniversary 1935 11 The play won first prize for an Anzac Fellowship competition for a play on a war theme Cusack researched it in part on papers of her uncle who died at Gallipoli 12 13 The play premiered at the Sydney Conservatorium 14 It was performed again the following year 15 In the play an old digger meets the ghosts of his comrades Red Sky at Morning performed 1935 published 1942 Morning Sacrifice 1943 Comets Soon Pass 1943 Call Up Your Ghosts with Miles Franklin 1945 Stand Still Time 1946 Pacific Paradise 1955Novels editJungfrau 1936 Pioneers on Parade 1939 with Miles Franklin Come In Spinner 1951 with Florence James Say No to Death 1951 Southern Steel 1953 Caddie the Story of a Barmaid 1953 Introduction only The Sun in Exile 1955 Heatwave in Berlin 1961 Picnic Races 1962 Black Lightning 1964 The Sun is Not Enough 1967 The Half Burnt Tree 1969 A Bough in Hell 1971 Radio plays editHis Honor Comes to Tea Lure of the Inland Sea 1945 Mary Reibey 1947 Shoulder the Sky Exit The Golden Girls SpartacusNonfiction editChinese Women Speak Angus amp Robertson Sydney 1958 Holidays Among the Russians Heinemann London 1964 Illyria Reborn Heinemann London 1966 Mary Gilmore A Tribute Australasian Book Society London 1965 A Window in the Dark National Library of Australia Canberra 1991 Children s literature editKanga Bee and Kanga Bo Botany House Sydney 1945 Four Winds and a Family with Florence James Shakespeare Head Press London 1947 References edit a b c d Marilla North 2007 Cusack Ellen Dymphna Nell 1902 1981 Australian Dictionary of Biography National Centre of Biography Australian National University retrieved 18 May 2015 1 Archived 6 June 2011 at the Wayback Machine middlemiss org retrieved 22 March 2008 Croft Julian 1941 Bedson Jack Campbell Howard Collection University of New England Centre for Australian Language and Literature Studies Dixson Library University of New England Australian plays in manuscript 1993 The Campbell Howard annotated index of Australian plays 1920 1955 compiled and edited by Jack Bedson and Julian Croft Centre for Australian Language and Literature Studies University of New England a href Template Citation html title Template Citation citation a CS1 maint multiple names authors list link CS1 maint numeric names authors list link pp 68 78 Spender 1988 p 219 Red Sky at Morning 1944 IMDb Retrieved 9 March 2008 IMDB Come In Spinner 1990 Cusack J B 2012 They Hosed Them Out Wakefield Press ISBN 9781743051061 Peter Coleman Memento Moscow Weekend Australian 16 17 January 1999 Review p 10 It s an Honour 26 January 1981 Australian Government Retrieved 9 March 2008 Tribute to Literary Greats on Sydney Writers Walk 24 October 2011 retrieved 10 April 2012 Marilla North Cusack Ellen Dymphna Nell 1902 1981 Australian Dictionary of Biography National Centre of Biography Australian National University https adb anu edu au biography cusack ellen dymphna nell 12385 text22259 published first in hardcopy 2007 accessed online 14 March 2024 YOUNG WOMAN S FINE PLAY Daily Standard No 6948 Queensland Australia 25 April 1935 p 9 Retrieved 14 March 2024 via National Library of Australia Women in the World The Australian woman s mirror 11 41 3 September 1935 Sydney The Bulletin Newspaper nla obj 572096208 retrieved 14 March 2024 via Trove ANZAC PLAY FROM WOMAN S PEN The Daily Telegraph Vol 5 no 59 New South Wales Australia 25 April 1935 p 7 Retrieved 14 March 2024 via National Library of Australia ANZAC EVE FESTIVAL The Sydney Morning Herald No 30 668 New South Wales Australia 18 April 1936 p 12 Retrieved 14 March 2024 via National Library of Australia Sources edit Dymphna Cusack bibliography North Marilla 2007 Cusack Ellen Dymphna Nell 1902 1981 Entry in the Australian Dictionary of Biography Melbourne Melbourne University Press Spender Dale 1988 Writing a New World Two Centuries of Australian Women Writers London Pandora Further reading edit North Marilla 2013 Laying the Foundations of a Writer s Life Dymphna Cusack 1902 81 essay Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Dymphna Cusack amp oldid 1221971586, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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