Cirrus@Austlit

Michael Noonan was the son of John Patrick and Eileen (Moloney) Noonan. After wartime service in the Australian Imperial Forces (New Guinea), between 1941 and 1945, he studied art at the National Gallery in Melbourne. He then attended the University of Sydney, 1947-50, where he studied drama, literature, history and philosophy. As well as writing for radio, television and film, Noonan's prolific writing included stage plays, children's books, short stories, novels and biography. He wrote his first book, In the Land of the Talking Trees, on active service in New Guinea. Later, during the golden age of Australian radio drama, he scripted thousands of episodes for serials and about two hundred plays.

From 1957 to 1979 Noonan lived in England, where he wrote for television and helped pioneer Australian television programmes, including Flying Doctor (1959) and Whiplash (1961). He returned to Australia to make his home in Queensland.