Phipson, Joan (1912–2003)
Phipson, Joan (1912–2003)
Australian children's writer. Name variations: Joan Phipson-Fitzhardinge, Joan Fitzhardinge. Born Joan Margaret Phipson, Nov 16, 1912, in Warrawee, NSW, Australia, only child of English parents; died April 2, 2003, in Australia; m. Colin Hardinge Fitzhardinge (sheep and cattle farmer), 1944 (died 1998); children: Guy and Anna Fitzhardinge.
Traveled widely with family, receiving education in Mittagong, Bombay and Birmingham; taught at Frensham School under Winifred West and later served as printer and librarian, going on to establish small private Frensham Press; worked for Reuters in London, studying journalism there, and later was copy and scriptwriter for a radio station in Sydney; served as telegraphist for Women's Auxiliary Air force during WWII; published 1st story with Angus and Robertson (early 1950s); had great success with 1st novel, Good Luck to the Rider, which won Australian Children's Book of the Year award (1953); lived most of married life on farm in Central Tablelands of NSW and frequently evoked outback life in writing; began tackling social and environmental issues in such novels as The Bird Smugglers (1977), A Tide Flowing (1981), The Watcher in the Garden (1982) and Dinko (1985); wrote 30 books before retiring (1994). Won Children's Book of the Year award for The Family Conspiracy (1963); received Dromkeen Medal (1987); member of Order of Australia in (1994).