Inside the Australian and New Zealand book industry

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Obituaries >

Vale Marion Halligan

Black and white photograph of Marion Halligan 28 February 2024
The award-winning novelist, essayist, and short story writer Marion Halligan died in Canberra on 19 February, aged 83. Halligan was the author of 11 novels, five short story collections, and...

Vale Tom Whitton

21 February 2024
Jodie Dalglish, owner of Megalong Books, writes: We are very sad to report that we have lost a member of our Megalong Books family. Tom Whitton has sadly passed away....

Vale Jim Hart 

Photograph of Jim Hart 24 January 2024
Jim Hart, a former company director and co-owner of Lonely Planet, editor at Rigby, and former vice-president of the Small Press Network, died on Monday 15 January. Lonely Planet founder...

Vale Frank Thompson 

Black and white photo of a young man, Frank Thompson, on steps outside a building with BOOKSHOP on the wall behind him 24 January 2024
Publisher Frank Thompson died on 1 January, aged 91. The Australian Publishers Association (APA) writes: On the first of January 2024, esteemed publisher Frank Thompson AO passed away at the...

Vale Bill Granger

10 January 2024
Cookbook author and restaurateur Bill Granger has died in London, aged 54. Murdoch Books writes: Murdoch Books has paid tribute to ‘King of Breakfast’ Bill Granger, who sadly passed away...

Vale John Pilger

10 January 2024
Journalist, author and filmmaker John Pilger has died, aged 84. An Australian based in the UK, Pilger was a critic of Australian, US and UK foreign policy. As a journalist, he...

Vale Dale Spender

13 December 2023
Editor, author and Copyright Agency founding member Dale Spender has died. The Copyright Agency writes: 'We are saddened to hear of the passing of Dr Dale Spender AM, pioneering feminist,...

Vale Shirley Barber

13 December 2023
Australian children's author and illustrator Shirley Barber died on Tuesday, 12 December in Melbourne, aged 88. Brolly Books publisher Emma Borghesi writes: 'Shirley Barber, one of Australia’s most loved children’s...

Vale Kevin Weldon

15 November 2023
Australian book publisher and philanthropist Kevin Ernest Weldon has died in Sydney, aged 89. Ventura director and publisher Jane Curry writes: 'Kevin started his career as a colour etcher at Brisbane's Truth newspaper...

Vale Chris McKimmie 

20 September 2023
Award-winning writer, illustrator and artist Chris McKimmie has died, aged 77. For many years the convenor and originator of the illustration program at the Queensland College of Art, Griffith University, McKimmie...

Vale Alf Taylor

16 August 2023
The author and poet Alf Taylor, whose works include Singer Songwriter, Winds, Long time now, the NSW Premier's award-shortlisted memoir God, the Devil and Me, and Cartwarra or what?, has died. Magabala Books...

Vale Elizabeth Webby 

9 August 2023
Emeritus Professor Elizabeth Webby, an academic, mentor, teacher and author, has died. Rochford Street Review writes:  ‘Rochford Street Review was saddened to learn of the death of Emeritus Professor Elizabeth...

Vale Bella Green

2 August 2023
Author, comedian and sex worker Bella Green has died, aged 38. Green developed a stand-up and sketch comedy routine around her life as a sex worker called ‘Bella Green is...

Vale Richard Parslow

19 July 2023
Richard Parslow, former HarperCollins sales and marketing director, died on Sunday, 9 July. All are welcome to attend a celebration of his life to be held at the Patonga Community Hall...

Vale Joy McKean

7 June 2023
Joy McKean, an Australian country music singer-songwriter and the wife and manager of Slim Dusty, has died. Hachette Australia writes:  'Hachette Australia is saddened to hear of Joy McKean’s passing...

Vale Mark Raphael Baker

24 May 2023
Writer Mark Raphael Baker died on 4 May. He was the author of The Fiftieth Gate: A journey through memory, about his parents’ experience during the Holocaust, and the memoir Thirty...

Vale Bruce Sims 

10 May 2023
Editor and publisher Bruce Sims has died, aged 75. In collaboration with Sims’s partner Peter Ronge, family, friends and publishing colleagues, Bryony Cosgrove writes:   'Bruce Sims was a brilliant...

Vale Gabrielle Carey

10 May 2023
Gabrielle Carey, the author of multiple works of fiction and nonfiction, including Puberty Blues, co-written with Kathy Lette, and the Prime Minister's nonfiction award-winning Moving Among Strangers, has died, aged...

Vale John Tranter

3 May 2023
Poet, editor and critic John Tranter has died, aged 79. The Copyright Agency writes: 'We’re saddened to hear of the passing of John Tranter, renowned Australian poet, editor, critic, reviewer,...

Vale Jock Zonfrillo

3 May 2023
Scottish-born chef and MasterChef host Jock Zonfrillo has died, aged 46. Simon & Schuster published Zonfrillo's autobiography Last Shot in 2021. S&S commercial nonfiction publisher Emma Nolan writers: 'Jock was...

Vale Barry Humphries

3 May 2023
Australian comedian, actor, and author Barry Humphries has died. He was the author of numerous books, including two autobiographies and two novels. Hachette Australia said staff are saddened to hear...

Vale Harry Hart 

18 April 2023
Dymocks Bendigo franchise holder Harry Hart has died. Dymocks writes: 'It is with great sadness that we share the news of Harry Hart’s passing, after a battle with oesophageal cancer....

Vale Ross Gibson

22 March 2023
Filmmaker and author Ross Gibson has died. Gibson was the author of several books including The Summer Exercises (2009), 26 Views of the Starburst World (2012), Changescapes (2015) and Memoryscopes (2015), all...

Vale Pam Horsey

22 February 2023
Pam Horsey, member of the Children’s Book Council of Australia (Victorian Branch) Executive Committee, has died. Horsey worked at HarperCollins as the education manager, and was an active and longstanding...

Vale Edel Wignell

1 February 2023
Author, journalist and poet Edel Wignell has died aged 85. The Australian Society of Authors (ASA) writes: ‘The ASA was profoundly saddened to hear of the passing of acclaimed author,...

Vale Gabrielle Williams

25 January 2023
Acclaimed YA author, Gab Williams, died on Saturday 21 January after suffering a massive stroke the previous Monday. Williams’s books include Beatle Meets Destiny (Penguin), The Guy, The Girl, the...

Vale Jim Molan

18 January 2023
Australian politician, major general in the Australian army and author Jim Molan has died, aged 72. HarperCollins Australia & New Zealand CEO Jim Demetriou writes: ‘We are deeply saddened to...

Vale Shirley Shackleton

18 January 2023
Shirley Shackleton, author of The Circle of Silence: A personal testimony before, during and after Balibo (Murdoch Books), has died aged 91. Shackleton spent many decades campaigning for justice for...

Vale Robert Adamson

11 January 2023
Australian poet, publisher and editor Robert Adamson has died, aged 79. Born in Sydney and raised in Neutral Bay, NSW, Adamson was known as the ‘poet of the Hawkesbury River’...

Vale Wendy Jenkins

11 January 2023
Long-time Fremantle Press editor, writer and manuscript assessor Wendy Jenkins has died, aged 70. Jenkins spent 40 years at Fremantle Press, formerly known as Fremantle Arts Centre Press, before retiring...