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Bill Scott Bill Scott i(A13132 works by) (a.k.a. William Neville Scott; W. N. Scott)
Born: Established: 4 Oct 1923 Bundaberg, Bundaberg area, Maryborough - Rockhampton area, Queensland, ; Died: Ceased: 22 Dec 2005 Warwick, Warwick area, Darling Downs, Queensland,
Gender: Male
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BiographyHistory

Bill Scott was the second of five children. He attended Brisbane State High School and then worked in various jobs before enlisting in the navy during the Second World War. He served for four years, mainly in the New Guinea area. After the war he worked in north Queensland as canecutter, prospector and steam train driver. He married Mavis Scott (q.v.) in 1949 and after working as a seaman on the lighthouse tender he worked in McLeod's Bookshop before joining Jacaranda Press in 1957. There he packed, sold and promoted books. He and Mavis later settled in Warwick.

Scott established himself as writer, poet and folklorist. His first poem was published in the Bulletin in 1944 when he was twenty-one. He compiled The Continual Singing: An Anthology of World Poetry (1973) and was a prolific correspondent with library archives testifying to his writing regularly to various Australian authors, including Colin Thiele and Max Fatchen (qq.v.). This trio was known affectionately as Portly (Fatchen), Pathos (Scott) and Tin Legs (Thiele). Zita Denholm published Corresponding Voices : The Letters of Bill Scott and David Denholm (2000), which anthologised the many letters exchanged between Scott and Zita Denholm's husband David Denholm (q.v.).

Scott also published a number of pamphlets, including Queensland in Its Literature (1968) and Portrait of Brisbane (1976). He wrote a number of Australian folk song classics, including 'Hey Rain!" and 'Where the Cane Fires Burn'.

Most Referenced Works

Awards for Works

y separately published work icon Following the Gold Norwood : Omnibus/Puffin , 1989 Z832369 1989 selected work poetry children's
1990 shortlisted CBCA Book of the Year Awards Book of the Year: Younger Readers
y separately published work icon Darkness under the Hills Melbourne : Oxford University Press , 1980 Z449008 1980 single work novel young adult fantasy 'Boori receives a message from Ganba, the Great One, that an evil spirit called Rakasha has entered the land of the Aboriginal people. So Boori journeys north with his companions, Jaree and the spirit dog Dingo, to bring together the forces for protection against this power of darkness.' (Source: LibrariesAustralia)
1981 highly commended CBCA Book of the Year Awards Book of the Year Award
y separately published work icon Boori Melbourne : Oxford University Press , 1978 Z667616 1978 single work novel young adult fantasy

The story of Boori, the young warrior who must go on a journey to repay his debt to Perentie, the Old Man of the Hill of Opals. Boori must see and fight the savage warrior Dingo, win his friendship and outwit the thieving Pukwudgies. Throughout the journey he overcomes many perils, from water women and from Ganba the Rainbow snake. When he returns from the inland deserts to his coastal home, he discovers that there are more dangers to be overcome; for Melong, spirit of water and gatherer of storms, oppresses his people.

The elements of Aboriginal lore which make up this stirring tale of magic and high adventure are based largely upon beliefs of the Kabi and Wakka nations, who once lived near the Queensland coast north of Brisbane. (Source: Boori, 1978 edition)

1979 highly commended CBCA Book of the Year Awards Book of the Year Award

Known archival holdings

National Library of Australia (ACT)
Last amended 18 Mar 2015 15:49:03
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