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Jen McVeity Jen McVeity i(A25602 works by) (a.k.a. Jennifer Louise McVeity)
Gender: Female
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BiographyHistory

McVeity was the daughter of an Army officer and moved frequently during her childhood. She gained a Bachelor of Arts from Monash University in 1975. After some years skiing in Austria and Australia she became a Maths and English teacher. In her spare time she freelanced for national newspapers and magazines. McVeity became the head of the Australian chapter of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators and was the first Australian ever elected to their International Board of Directors, serving as Board Chair for two years from 2004-2006. She lived in Melbourne. McVeity wrote for the Crackers, Zipper Books, Foundations, Insights and Supa Dooper series of readers.

Most Referenced Works

Notes

  • For information about this author's works for children not included in AustLit, see Australian Children's Books by Marcie Muir and Kerry White (Melbourne: Melbourne University Press, 1992-2004).

Personal Awards

2023 recipient Order of Australia — Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) For service to literacy education as an author and publisher.
2002 Churchill Fellowship Fellowship awarded to allow McVeity to spend two months in the USA during 2003 showcasing the work of Australian children's book creators to USA publishers.
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Awards for Works

y separately published work icon Shadow Seeker Pymble : Angus and Robertson , 2002 Z956049 2002 single work novel young adult

'Saving hundreds of rats from the dissecting knife is only the start of the Green Guerrillas' campaign. Their leader is Tess Robertson, a genius at fighting environmental pollution and injustice, and equally brilliant at fighting with friends and family at the same time. Now Tess is planning her biggest battle yet. She has to stop a billion-dollar paper mill from being set up in town, and pumping dioxin, one of the world's most toxic pollutants, into the air. And all she has to help her are the three Green Guerrillas, a reckless kid sister and one dark-eyed, karate-kicking photographer who can't take "no" for an answer.' (Libraries Australia record).
2003 shortlisted The Wilderness Society Environment Award for Children's Literature — Youth Fiction
y separately published work icon On Different Shores New York (City) : Orchard Books , 1998 Z337839 1998 single work novel young adult 'Tess used to believe her father would always be there. But that was before he got caught up with his rising political career. Tess is different now, too. Shuttling between two homes and two mothers, she's dropped out of championship swimming and almost out of school as well. The only thing that interests her is leading a group of young environmental activists, the 'Green Guerillas'. And even though Tess never goes near the water now, she still has nightmares about drowning ...' (Libraries Australia record).
2000 winner The Wilderness Society Environment Award for Children's Literature — Fiction
2000 winner Australian Family Therapists' Award for Children's Literature — Older Readers
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Last amended 13 Jun 2023 10:04:53
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