Education & Social Work TALKS: An Australian Story - Maurice Saxby on children's literature

19 September 2012

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Maurice Saxby’s relentless focus on promoting children’s literature has established him as a lifelong advocate for enriching young people’s engagement in life through literature.

This is a rare opportunity to take a tour through the history of Australian children’s literature with the master, considered the world’s foremost authority on this subject. From the early days when children’s literature and indeed Australian children’s literature was derided as fanciful to the current body of work and the acknowledgement of the importance of different voices in the acquisition of language, literacy and their imperative role in education. There is a distinct and recognised canon of Australian children’s literature which has been chronicled and assessed by Saxby in his seminal works. Is he now working on the latest ‘chapter’ – the period from 1990.

One of a number of Faculty of Education & Social Work events recognising the National Year of Reading, Saxby will be in conversation with Professor Geoff Williams.

Event details

• When: 6.00pm - 7.00pm
• Where:

  Lecture Theatre 351

  Education Building A35

  Manning Road

  University of Sydney

• Cost: Complimentary
• Contact:

  Helen Loughlin

  Alumni & Events

  02 9351 2791

  helen.loughlin@sydney.edu.au
  

• Speaker/ Performer:

  Dr Maurice Saxby AM is an alumnus of the Faculty of Education & Social Work and was the first national president of the Children’s Book Council of Australia. Among his many awards are the Nan Chauncy Award, the Lady Cutler Award, the Dromkeen Medal, and Member in the Order of Australia (AM). His publications include works that document the history and significance of Australian children's literature, including Give Them Wings: The Experience of Children's Literature, The Proof of the Puddin’: Australian Children's Literature 1970–1990, Books in the Life of the Child: Bridges to Literature and Learning, Offered to Children: A History of Australian Children's Literature 1841–1941, and Images of Australia: A History of Australian Children's Literature 1941–1970.

  Geoff Williams is an Emeritus Professor of Language and Literacy Education at the University of British Columbia, Canada. He has also held senior lecturer appointments at the University of Sydney in the Faculty of Education and the Faculty of Arts, Department of English.  He is currently a member of the PolySystemic Research Group at Hong Kong Polytechnic University. He has been a member of the Centre for Language in Social Life, Macquarie University since 2003 and the Review Editor of Linguistics and the human sciences since 2004. He is an alumnus of the Faculty of Education & Social Work and an Honorary Professor.

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