NLA image of person
Roland Robinson Roland Robinson i(A13659 works by) (a.k.a. Roland Edward Robinson; Roland E. Robinson)
Born: Established: 12 Jun 1912 Clare (County),
c
Ireland,
c
Western Europe, Europe,
; Died: Ceased: 8 Feb 1992 Newcastle, Newcastle - Hunter Valley area, New South Wales,
Gender: Male
Arrived in Australia: 1921
Heritage: Irish
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BiographyHistory

One of Australia's leading nature poets and talented collector of Aboriginal stories, Roland Robinson was brought to Australia when nine years old. After a brief education, he worked at various jobs, including rouseabout, boundary-rider, railway fettler, fencer, dam-builder, gardener, and ballet dancer, who trained under Helene Kirsova.

Robinson's first published verse appeared in Beyond the Grass-tree Spears (1944). His attraction to the landscape and his associated spirituality saw him connected with the Jindyworobak Movement, becoming one of the movement's most dedicated poets. While working in the Northern Territory during World War II, Robinson came into contact with Aboriginal tribal life, consolidating his interest in Aboriginal lore and narrative. During the 1950s, with the assistance of the Commonwealth Literary Fund, he collected stories from the Aborigines of New South Wales, later publishing them in several collections. In addition to these collections, Robinson published many more volumes of poetry, including Tumult of the Swans (1953) which won the Grace Leven Prize. He also wrote three widely admired autobiographies and a number of prose works on Aboriginal issues. In Minah (1995), it is stated that he 'believed that Aboriginal storytellers speak with a rhythm that transcribed as poetry and narratives in English. He scribed phonetically, making only minor punctuation changes'.

After working as a literary and ballet critic for the Sydney Morning Herald, Robinson was editor of Poetry Magazine (1965-69) and president of the Poetry Association of Australia. His work attracted a number of prizes and he received several honours, including the Patrick White Award (1988), the FAW Christopher Brennan Award (1989) and a D.Litt. from the University of Newcastle (1991).

Most Referenced Works

Awards for Works

y separately published work icon The Whalers Pymble : Angus and Robertson , 1996 Z928631 1996 single work picture book children's This is a story of the orca, the largest of the dolphin family. Known as killer whales, the orcas' relationship with the Aboriginal whalers of Twofold Bay has become legend. Man and orcas were partners in the same chase, herding whales to their bloody death at the end of a harpoon spear. (Libraries Australia)
1997 shortlisted CBCA Book of the Year Awards Picture Book of the Year
y separately published work icon The Drift of Things : An Autobiography 1914-52 Melbourne : Macmillan Australia , 1973 Z425159 1973 single work autobiography
1974 winner National Book Council Award for Australian Literature
y separately published work icon Wandjina, Children of the Dreamtime : Aboriginal Myths and Legends Children of the Dreamtime; Aboriginal Myths and Legends; Children of the Dreamtime; Aboriginal Myths and Legends Brisbane : Jacaranda Press , 1968 Z900211 1968 selected work short story children's Indigenous story
1969 commended CBCA Book of the Year Awards Book of the Year Award

Known archival holdings

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Last amended 27 Nov 2008 12:52:14
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