Iris Milutinovic Iris Milutinovic i(28 works by) (a.k.a. Iris Milutinovich)
Also writes as: Iris Osborne ; Emma Atkins ; see more
Born: Established: 1908 Cooee, Burnie area, Northwest Tasmania, Tasmania, ; Died: Ceased: 1986
Gender: Female
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BiographyHistory

Raised and educated on Tasmania's north-west coast, Iris Milutinovic spent a period of time in both Victoria and New South Wales before eventually settling in Western Australia in 1948. She lived for many years in Albany where she worked in a number of clerical jobs and during the 1950s wrote scripts and recorded talks for radio broadcasts by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC). By the late 1970s Milutinovic had moved back to Tasmania where she took up residence in 'a little old cottage on the banks of the Mersey River in East Devonport'.

Although Milutinovic had 'always loved writing', the demands of marriage and family determined that 'she did not start publishing until she was over sixty'. Despite this delayed beginning to her literary career, Milutinovic established a reputation as a writer of short fiction and in 1978 she won the Jessie Litchfield Award for Literature. A further tribute to her accomplishment has been reflected by FAW Tasmania which conducts the Iris Milutinovic Short Story Competition, held biannually in even-numbered years.

Milutinovic published a fictionalised autobiography, Talk English Carn't Ya (1978), which was inspired by the twenty-seven years she spent married to her second husband, a Yugoslav who migrated from Serbia. Her short fiction has been published in the selected work, I'm Still Here Aren't I? : Short Stories (1985), and also appeared in numerous journals and anthologies.

She was a co-founder of the Albany branch of the Fellowship of Australian Writers, as well as a member of the Australian Society of Authors, and the Business and Professional Women's Club of Albany.

(Source: (Dustjacket) Milutinovic, Talk English Carn't Ya, 1978)

Most Referenced Works

1
y separately published work icon Talk English Carn't Ya Iris Milutinovic , South Yarra : Hyland House , 1978 Z974448 1978 single work autobiography 4.1231055
2
y separately published work icon I'm Still Here Aren't I? : Short Stories Iris Milutinovic , Lenah Valley : Shearwater Press , 1985 Z362712 1985 selected work short story 3.8729835
3
form y separately published work icon Iris Milutinovic : An Inventory of Her Papers at the Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center Iris Milutinovic , Austin : Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center , 1946-1984 6352566 1946 collection diary short story correspondence radio play

'The papers of Australian writer Iris Milutinovic (1910-) consist chiefly of correspondence and literary manuscripts documenting her career 1946-1984 (bulk 1955-1978). Also included are published materials, clippings, diaries, scrapbook material, financial information and audio recordings.

'The papers are arranged in three series: Correspondence, 1946-1984, Literary Works, 1955-1978, and Miscellaneous, 1963-1980.

'Correspondence is subdivided into personal and literary correspondence. Arrangement within these subseries is alphabetical by author with relevant copies of outgoing correspondence filed with the appropriate incoming correspondence. Correspondence specifically related to a manuscript is generally filed outside this subseries with the literary work concerned. All correspondence (888 items) is indexed in the incoming (777 items) or outgoing (111 items) correspondence indexes which form a part of this finding aid.

'The personal subseries consists of correspondence from family and friends, as well as letters concerning personal business matters. Mrs. Milutinovic's concerns and opinions are expressed in letters to various newspaper editors, broadcasters and government officials. The correspondence of literary organizations, other Australian and Tasmanian writers, editors, publishers, broadcasters and fans comprise the literary subseries and serves to document Milutinovic's struggle to write and publish despite poor health and economic difficulties. The bulk of the literary correspondence involves Milutinovic's extensive radio scripts aired by the Australian Broadcasting Commission.

'Correspondents include a number of persons at the Australian Broadcasting Commission (A.B.C.), Richard Beilby (author), Muriel Binding (step-niece), Irene Burgess (local writer), Mary Durack (author), Phyll Evan (writer and teacher), Zoe Evans (music teacher), Norma Ferris (A.B.C.), Jane M. Fleming (A.B.C.), Irene Gibson (teacher and radio broadcaster), Margaret Giordano (Tasmanian writer), Anne Godden (of Thomas Nelson Australia Ltd.), Cherry Grimm (writer), Dorothy Hewett (poet, playwright), A.J. Holdsworth (editor), Dorrit Hunt (local writer), Nancy Keesing (author), Catherine King (A.B.C.), Dame Enid Muriel Lyons (cousin, writer, politician), Amy Macaulay (artist), John D. McLaren (editor), Oscar Adolf Mendelsohn (writer), Ian Morgan (A.B.C.), Phyllis Moss (artist), Stephen Murray-Smith (editor), Pat Osborne (sister-in-law), Hal Porter (writer), Pamela Relton (columnist), Vincent Serventy (naturalist, writer), Valerie Sisson (writer), Robert Stephens (local historian), Katherine Strehlow, T.G.H. Strehlow (educator), Erica Underwood (A.B.C.), Freda Vines (writer), Beverly Wardle (writer, broadcaster), and Helen Helga Mayne Wilson (writer).

'Literary Works are filed alphabetically by title irrespective of genre or whether published or not. Cross references are included for identified variant titles, though the researcher should be aware that much of Milutinovic's writing was autobiographical in nature and many of her works are closely associated or somewhat related to one another. Stories were also sometimes rewritten from one genre to another, so that a radio talk might also appear as a short story, or vice-versa. As is the case with correspondence, any contracts or financial documents relating to a particular work have also been filed with the literary work.

'Occupying 7 boxes, this subseries comprises the heart of the collection and consists of articles, short stories, a large number of radio talk manuscripts, a radio play ( "Grandmother Pritchard's Victory"), and two novels ( "The Street of Seven Tongues" and Talk English Carn't Ya) in various stages of production (notes, holograph drafts, typescripts, setting copy, galleys, proofs). There are a small group of unidentified writings and some lists of writings compiled by Milutinovic.

'The subject matter of the writings ranges widely among Milutinovic's own experiences in western Australia and Tasmania, local history, family lore, contemporary mores, social issues, current events and such diverse topics as cats, cookery, fishing, gardening, language, immigrants and cultural assimilation, and whaling. Milutinovic believed her Scope radio broadcasts in particular would interest Americans because it is virtually "a small, clear window on Australian ideas and beliefs."

'The Miscellaneous series includes audio recordings, miscellaneous clippings, and financial information arranged chronologically insofar as possible. Of special interest are the audio recordings, which include a letter recorded by Milutinovic and a taped broadcast of her short story "The Blonde Cat," which is read by Alistair Duncan.

'It should be noted that Mrs. Milutinovic selected what she felt were appropriate items to form this collection of papers. Frequently she annotated correspondence, manuscripts and other materials to identify persons, explain circumstances, importance, etc.' (Source: Library catalogue)

3.7416575
4
From Leo with Love Iris Milutinovic , 1973 single work short story
— Appears in: Australian New Writing 1973; (p. 6-10) I'm Still Here Aren't I? : Short Stories 1985; (p. 83-88)

— Appears in: Australian Short Stories 2005; (p. 142-153)
2.828427
5
One Summer Sunday Iris Milutinovic , 1971 single work short story
— Appears in: Overland , Spring no. 49 1971; (p. 11-13) Sandgropers : A Western Australian Anthology 1973; (p. 27-32) I'm Still Here Aren't I? : Short Stories 1985; (p. 13-17)
2.4494898

Notes

  • The University of Texas holds a significant archival collection for Milutinovic, comprising correspondence, published and unpublished manuscripts, radio scripts and ephemera (1955-1978).

Awards for Works

Known archival holdings

Last amended 6 Feb 2007 13:00:27
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