Wes Marne was born in 1922 on Bigambul country in southern Queensland. He is a highly regarded elder in the Aboriginal communities of greater western Sydney. Marne learnt the art of storytelling from his grandfather. At the age of nine Marne and his family moved south to a mission near Ashford, New South Wales. He has worked as a drover, a fencer, a miner, a tannery worker and served in the Korean war.
In August 2023, Marne was awarded honorary life membership of the Australian Society of Authors. He is also 'a member of the Order of Australia (AM) for service to the Indigenous community and an Honorary Fellow by the University of Western Sydney in recognition of his contribution as a cultural leader, an advocate, educator, and mentor to the communities of Western Sydney'.
He is honoured in the award Unle Wes Poetry Competition, open to poets from five years of age and up.
Source for awards information: 'ASA welcomes Uncle Wes Marne with Life Membership', 9 August 2023.
