Cirrus@Austlit

Jill Morris wrote her first childhood poem as a result of the tragic death of her father during World War II. From this formative literary beginning at the age of nine, Morris went on to establish a career that covered a depth of experience in both writing and publishing. Educated at Sandgate State School, Shorncliffe State School and the Brisbane Girls' Grammar School, Morris graduated from the University of Queensland with a Bachelor of Arts degree and a Diploma of Education; she subsequently taught for a short period at Bundaberg State High School.

After gaining a position as a producer of educational radio programmes at the Australian Broadcasting Commission, Morris made the move into television and film production in 1957. From a background of writing, editing and producing scripts for television and radio, Morris progressed to playwriting for the theatre and working on book manuscripts. Her first major children's book, Harry the Hairy-nosed Wombat, was published in 1970; this work was subsequently followed by five more picture books which featured native Australian animals. In 1972 Morris was awarded a Churchill Fellowship which enabled her to visit fourteen countries for the purpose of 'studying creative activities for children'. She has since written extensively in the genre of children's literature with her work spanning fiction, non-fiction and educational texts (e.g. the Animals of Oz series (1986) of primary school readers which she co-authored with Mary Lancaster, q.v.), as well as producing activity books to accompany many of her publications.

Morris co-founded Greater Glider Productions in 1983. Based in Maleny (Queensland), Greater Glider is an independent publishing company which has forged a reputation for producing 'high quality, richly illustrated books for children' that focus on the 'natural environment'. Inspired by childhood holidays spent at Binna Burra Lodge and O'Reilly's Guesthouse, Morris's commitment to the environment and the preservation of native wildlife habitat has been reinforced by the development of the Book Farm. Described as an 'educational eco-tourism centre', the Book Farm has been established as both the 'home' of Greater Glider Productions as well as a site where 'writers of all ages' are encouraged to 'link creativity' with the 'natural environment' amidst a rainforest property located in the hinterland of Queensland's Sunshine Coast.

An Australian Council Literature Board member from 1976-1979, Morris has also taught at a number of tertiary institutions (including having lectured in the Graphic Design Department at the Swinburne Institute), been a journalist/theatre critic with the Age and edited numerous publications. Morris was awarded a Senior Honorary Fellowship from the University of the Sunshine Coast in 2000.