Marion Mildred Halligan AM (16 April 1940 – 19 February 2024) was an Australian writer. She was born and educated in Newcastle, New South Wales, and worked as a school teacher and journalist before publishing her first short stories. Halligan has served as chairperson of the Literature Board of the Australia Council and the Australian National Word Festival. In her later years, she lived in Canberra.
Marion Halligan | |
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Born | Marion Mildred Halligan 16 April 1940 Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia |
Died | 19 February 2024 Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia | (aged 83)
Occupation | Writer |
Language | English |
Nationality | Australian |
Notable works | Valley of Grace, The Golden Dress |
Marion Mildred Halligan was born in Newcastle, New South Wales on 16 April 1940.[1] For a number of years she was a member of a group of women writers based in Canberra known as the "Canberra Seven" or "Seven Writers". The group began with three members in 1980, growing to seven by 1984. In addition to Marion Halligan, they were Dorothy Johnston, Margaret Barbalet, Sara Dowse, Suzanne Edgar, Marian Eldridge and Dorothy Horsfield. The group essentially disbanded after Marian Eldridge's death in 1997. However, before that they met regularly to critique each other's work, and published a book of short stories called Canberra Tales in 1988.[2] Halligan died on 19 February 2024, at the age of 83.[3][4]
Halligan was appointed Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in the 2006 Birthday Honours "for service to literature as an author, to the promotion of Australian writers and to support for literary events and professional organisations."[5]
Her work is referenced in an art work "The Cushion and the Wedge" at Garema Place, Canberra. It is in the form of a voluptuous pillow of polished stainless steel, around which are scattered sheets representing sheets of paper, on which are engraved poems by Halligan.[6]