Daughter of Brynmor Herbert Jones, a digger from World War I and his wife Nancy Eleanor (Winnall), Alison Manthorpe grew up on a farm at Keith, in the South East of SA. She had two sisters, one of whom was close to her in age and in all other ways. They shared a passion for horses. Her primary education was achieved through correspondence lessons. She was fortunate, she says, that her mother, who supervised their lessons, had a science degree from the University of Adelaide and was better educated than many primary school teachers of the period. She was also fortunate that her parents valued ideas, books and the arts.
Her secondary schooling was at Walford House School in Adelaide, from 1941-45. The English mistress at the time, Vera Swift, was outstanding, and engendered a lifelong interest in literature. Alison studied physiotherapy at the University of Adelaide 1946-8, and worked at various hospitals, both in Adelaide and London. In 1956 she married Master Mariner Preston Manthorpe, harbourmaster and pilot. They lived at Port Lincoln, Whyalla, Port Pirie and in Adelaide. They had three children. They spent their holidays cruising the SA waters in their 31 ft yacht, and cruising overseas (Greece, Jugoslavia, Italy, New Guinea, Indonesia) in friends' yachts. On retirement they moved back to the country and now live in Coffin Bay.
Alison is an active member of Eyre Writers Inc. In 1998 she was President, and the editor of the monthly newsletter. Jointly with Pat Virgin she won a 1999 grant from the SA Country Arts Trust and the Australia Council for a 6 month Poetry Mentorship with poet Jan Owen (q.v.)
