Mary Elwyn Patchett

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Mary Elwyn Patchett
Mary Elwyn Patchett
Mary Elwyn Patchett in 1953
Born2 December 1897
Sydney
Died1989
England
NationalityAustralian
Occupations
Spouses
  • Alan Barrington Hill
  • Stanser Patchett
Children2

Mary Elwyn Patchett (2 December 1897 – 1989) was an Australian writer of children's literature, beautician and dietitian. She was considered to be a pioneer of children's science fiction and the most widely-read Australian children's author of the time.[1] Patchett spent most of her life in England where both her beauty salon and authorial careers began.

Biography[edit]

Early life in Australia[edit]

Patchett was born on 2 December 1897 in Sydney. She grew up on a cattle station near Texas, Queensland.[1] She married Alan Barrington Hill in 1921 and moved to Warren, New South Wales where she experienced more rural life.[2][3] Patchett left the bush in 1925 and worked as a journalist for five years for the Sun newspaper group.[1][2] Whilst in Australia, Patchett studied diet, anatomy and massage under Elizabeth McMillan-Davidson. She also worked in a Sir Truby King mothercraft centre.[4]

"I think I was very lucky to grow up in Australia and get that solid training of self-reliance. In an accident, give me a bushman any day."

Mary Elwyn Patchett, "Author inspired by love of cats". The Australian Women's Weekly. 4 July 1956.

Beauty salons in London[edit]

Mary Elwyn Patchett in 1936

"As soon as I arrived in London I felt that it would be my home. I'd planned to be away only six months, but London got into my blood, and I settled down to try to learn about it."

Mary Elwyn Patchett, "Author inspired by love of cats". The Australian Women's Weekly. 4 July 1956.

Patchett left for London in 1931, originally only planning to stay there for six months.[1][2] Patchett began her career in London by freelance writing until she could no longer do outdoor newspaper work due to an illness.[4] Patchett was offered a job in a beauty parlour where she was shown a special technique based on muscular manipulation. By this point she was remarried to her husband Stanser Patchett from Melbourne.[4] Once her husband became ill, Patchett travel to sanatoriums around Europe for treatment. On these travels Patchett learnt more about muscle manipulation treatments. She studied in Paris where she gained an orthodox diploma and enrolled on diploma course at the Helen Pessel school in Vienna 1935.[2][4][5]

Back in London, Patchett opened a beauty parlour in Clarges Street, Mayfair then moved to Clifford Street in 1936.[5] Among other high-profile patrons she became in charge of beauty treatments for Lady Titchbourne.[2][5] Patchett designed a diet chart and provided a combination of muscular treatment with practical advice on diet and exercise.[5] She also published articles on beauty tips.[6]

Patchett fought for a common standard for beauty specialists, concerned about people providing temporary improvements which could do permanent harm. This led to her opening a school of beauty culture with four students at a time.[5] She became known as one of the leading beauty specialists and dietitians in London.[4]

World War II[edit]

During World War II Patchett worked as a wartime censor. She was stationed in Gibraltar where she was tasked with introducing Press censorship. Later, Patchett became the head of Press censorship in Bermuda where her husband died in 1939. Patchett stated she did not enjoy the job but it kept her alive "for many years." She worked in Bermuda until a foot injury forced her to retire from the job, then worked in censorship in Trinidad.[2][7]

Career as author[edit]

During her time working in beauty salons in London, Patchett also wrote short stories on the side.[4] After the War she travelled back to England via Canada.[2]

Patchett started writing books because she needed money, and around 1949–1950 she decided to commit to children's writing full-time.[2][7] Her first book, Ajax the Warrior (based on Patchett's dog, also called Ajax)[7] was published in 1953 and was originally broadcast in 1952 for BBC Children's Hour.[1] It inspired a long series of adventure stories from Patchett with animal characters and bush settings.[8] In 1953, 500 copies of Ajax the Warrior were sold for use in Australian schools alone and a copy of the book was ordered for Buckingham Palace.[7][9]

In 1954, copy of The Sunburnt Country, a profile of Australia written by Australian writers in England, was given to The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh as a helpful guide for their tour of the country.[10][11] Patchett wrote the chapter As Nature Left It, describing homestead life including depictions of platypuses and kookaburras.[7][10]

"An animal that captures my imagination really becomes an illness for me. The only cure that works is to put all my feelings about it in a book. I must write it down."

Mary Elwyn Patchett, "Author inspired by love of cats". The Australian Women's Weekly. 4 July 1956.

Many of Patchett's early books were science fiction and were written under the pseudonym M. E. Patchett. Patchett claimed she used this gender non-specific pseudonym "because boys don't like books written by women."[9] She was keen to research the subject of her books, which led her to join British Interplanetary Society stating "I was determined not to write fool stuff in this field, so I decided to learn all I could about outer space and go on from there."[1][2] At the time she was only one of three women to have been admitted to the Society.[12]

Patchett was passionate about animals and worked this into her writing, stating that she "gets animals the way other people get jaundice".[2] She wrote about her experience with mice and snake plagues whilst living in Warren, which inspired her novel Call of the Heart. Whilst working in Trinidad, she kept a centipede and rescued an anteater. She looked after it for a while before handing it over to a zoo. In England, she became an expert on falconry.[13]

Bibliography[edit]

Title Genre Publication date Details
Ajax the Warrior Adventure 1953 The novel is based on Patchett's childhood and involves depictions of Australian culture including dogs, Aboriginal Australians, wolves, and horses.[14]
Kidnappers in Space Science fiction 1953 A story of two brothers who are captured by the 'golden men' of Mars.[15]
The Lee Twins: Beauty Students Children's fiction 1953 The experiences of the 17-year-old Lee twins as beauty apprentices. The details of the story were reported as being authentic, owing to Patchett's understanding of the beauty industry.[16]
Wild Brother Adventure 1954 Set in Queensland featuring two dingoes and a kangaroo dog.[9][17] Chosen as book of the month by John O'London's, and described as outstanding among Australia's "wealth of literary vitality".[12] It was serialised on radio in 1955.[18]
Tam the Untamed Adventure 1954 A story about a foal and Australia girl set in a cattle station on the New South Wales and Queensland border.[19]
Adam Troy, Astroman: The Exciting Story of How a Great Space-Pilot Saved the World from Radiation Beasts Science fiction 1954 Science fiction novel for children.
Evening Star Children's fiction 1954 Children's novel about dance.[20]
Lost On Venus: the Thrilling Story of Two Boys Who Land on the Planet and Explore a Fantastic World Science fiction 1954 Story about two young space trainees who crash-land on Venus and encounter dangerous alien life.[21]
Journey Through Pear Country Mystery 1954 Book inspired by Patchett's memories of forests and cacti.[22]
Undersea Treasure Hunters Children's fiction 1955
Your Call, Miss Gaynor Children's fiction 1955 Part of the Marcie Muir collection of Australian children's books.[23]
Treasure of the Reef: An Ajax Book Adventure 1956 Story of the adventures of a girl on an island in the Great Barrier Reef.[24]
Cry of the Heart Children's fiction 1956 Based on Patchett's experience of living in Warren, New South Wales and the story of Ma'amu the cat.[2] It was serialised throughout 1956 in The Australian Women's Weekly.[25]
Return to the Reef: An Ajax Book Adventure 1956 The protagonist Mary spends a holiday on the Barrier reef.[26]
Send for Johnny Danger: The Amazing Adventures of the Ace Pilot, Captain Danger, and His Crew on the Moon Science fiction 1956 Story involving astronauts and a space flight to the Moon.[27]
Caribbean Adventurers Adventure 1957 Part of the Marcie Muir collection of Australian children's books.[28]
Outback Adventure: An Ajax Book Adventure 1957 Part of the Ajax series and Marcie Muir collection of Australian children's books.[29]
Sally's Zoo Adventure 1957
The Saffron Woman Adventure, romance 1958 Adventure set in 1860s Australia.[30]
The Brumby Adventure 1958 The first book in Patchett's Brumby pony series.
The Mysterious Pool Adventure 1958 Book about Anabel and John Forrest set in the Australian bush.[31]
The Call of the Bush Adventure 1959 Part of the Ajax series. Story about Mary and her dog on holiday by the sea.[32]
The Proud Eagles Adventure 1960 Dedicated to an eagle called Horatia.[33]
The Quest of Ati Manu Young adult 1960 Story of two boys on the north shore of Australia searching for treasure and being hunted by two murderers.[34]
Warrimoo Young Adult 1961 Story about a young Englishman given a year to prove himself. He spends time in Arnhem Land earning the name Warrimoo, and Brazil using the skills he learned.
The End of the Outlaws Adventure 1961 Part of the Ajax series.
Come Home Brumby Adventure 1961
Brit Adventure, romance 1961 Story about a family who travel from Adelaide to Northern Territory.[35] It is set in the period of the construction of the Overland Telegraph and includes depictions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders.[36]
The Golden Wolf Adventure 1962 Part of the Ajax series.
Dangerous Assignment Science fiction 1962 Part of the Kerry White collection of Australian children's books.[37]
In a Wilderness Adventure 1962
Circus Brumby Adventure 1962 Story involving horses and circus animals.[38] Part of the Brumby series.
Ajax and the Haunted Mountain Adventure 1963 Part of the Ajax series.
The Venus Project Science fiction 1963 A British secret agent is ordered to find a Russian rocket landed in Arnhem Land and faces creatures from outer space.[39]
A Budgie Called Fred Adventure 1964
Tiger in the Dark Adventure 1964 An expedition to a remote part of Australia looks for a surviving marsupial 'tiger'.
Ajax and the Drovers Adventure 1964 Part of the Ajax series.
Stranger in the Herd: a Brumby Book Adventure 1964 Part of the Brumby series.
Summer on Wild Horse Island Adventure 1965 An adventure story featuring treasure and horses.[40]
The Last Warrior Adventure 1965 Story involving Aboriginal Australians and conflict in the Northern Territory.[41]
The White Dingo Adventure 1965
Terror of Manooka Adventure 1966 Story about an elderly Aboriginal man who goes on an expedition to rainforests north of Queensland.[42]
Summer on Boomerang Beach Adventure 1967 Book about the Delaney family's holidays on a small island of the Great Barrier Reef where they befriend an Aboriginal boy.[43]
Festival of Jewels Adventure 1968 Story of two children and a jewel thief set in Northern Australia.[44]
Farm Beneath the Sea Science fiction 1969 Story involving mariculture.
Quarter Horse Boy Adventure 1970
The Long Ride Adventure 1970 Part of the Brumby series.
Rebel Brumby Adventure 1972 Set in the mountain country of Australia, Joey considers breeding his own wild brumbies.[45] Part of the Brumby series.
Roar of the Lion Adventure 1973
Hunting Cat Adventure 1976

Collections[edit]

  • BBC Children's Hour Annual
  • Look and Learn
  • Chucklers Annual
  • A Bumper Book of Girls' Stories

Awards[edit]

Wild Brother was named book of the month by John O'London's.[12] It was also Highly Commended CBCA Book of the Year in 1955.[1]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e f g "Mary Elwyn Patchett". AustLit. Retrieved 27 May 2021.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Author inspired by love of cats". The Australian Women's Weekly. 4 July 1956. p. 12. Retrieved 27 May 2021.
  3. ^ "Family history research service". Queensland Government. Retrieved 28 May 2021.
  4. ^ a b c d e f Cotton, Kay (16 June 1936). "Mary Elwyn's Rise". Australian Woman's Mirror. p. 10. Retrieved 28 May 2021.
  5. ^ a b c d e Wilson, Betty (28 October 1936). "Health Is Beauty's Only Foundation". The Mercury. p. 3. Retrieved 27 May 2021.
  6. ^ Elwyn, Mary (25 February 1937). "A Beauty Lesson". Chronicle. p. 56. Retrieved 27 May 2021.
  7. ^ a b c d e "Queen Reads Bush Story". The Sun-Herald. 22 November 1953. p. 51. Retrieved 27 May 2021.
  8. ^ Wilde, W. H.; Hooton, Joy W.; Andrews, B. G. (1985). The Oxford companion to Australian literature. Oxford University Press. p. 548. ISBN 978-0-19-554233-2. Retrieved 29 May 2021.
  9. ^ a b c "Wins fame as writer in 3 years". The Courier-Mail. 27 September 1954. p. 8. Retrieved 27 May 2021.
  10. ^ a b Covell, Roger (6 February 1954). "They took the sting out of the sunburn". The Courier-Mail. p. 2. Retrieved 27 May 2021.
  11. ^ Cummins, Constance (6 February 1954). "Writers tell Queen about our country". Brisbane Telegraph. p. 21. Retrieved 27 May 2021.
  12. ^ a b c Garland, Deborah (5 October 1954). "She took a chance – and success is hers". The Herald. p. 23. Retrieved 27 May 2021.
  13. ^ "Simpson's Europe". The Bulletin. 9 December 1959. p. 65. Retrieved 28 May 2021.
  14. ^ "Books From Abroad". The Sunday Herald. 9 August 1953. p. 13. Retrieved 29 May 2021.
  15. ^ "Kidnappers of Space". State Library of Queensland. 17 April 2015. Retrieved 29 May 2021.
  16. ^ Campbell, Ross (3 July 1954). "For girls and boys". The Daily Telegraph. p. 23. Retrieved 29 May 2021.
  17. ^ Covell, Roger (27 November 1954). "Queensland author writes another classic". The Courier-Mail. p. 2. Retrieved 27 May 2021.
  18. ^ "Animal Story Serial". ABC Weekly. 14 May 1955. p. 25. Retrieved 28 May 2021.
  19. ^ Slessor, Kenneth (24 July 1954). "Books of the world and the week". The Sun. p. 5. Retrieved 29 May 2021.
  20. ^ "Evening star / Mary Elwyn Patchett ; illustrated by Olga Lehmann". National Library of Australia. Retrieved 29 May 2021.
  21. ^ "Lost on Venus : the thrilling story of two boys who land on the planet and explore a fantastic world / by M. E. Patchett". National Library of Australia. Retrieved 29 May 2021.
  22. ^ Cummins, Constance (11 December 1954). "Book reviews: Enticing short story collection". Brisbane Telegraph. p. 19. Retrieved 29 May 2021.
  23. ^ Your call, Miss Gaynor / Mary Elwyn Patchett ; illustrated by Bill Martin. White Lion Publishers. 1974. ISBN 9780856860799. Retrieved 29 May 2021. {{cite book}}: |website= ignored (help)
  24. ^ "Treasure of the reef : an Ajax book / Mary Elwyn Patchett ; illustrated by Joan Kiddell-Monroe". National Library of Australia. Retrieved 29 May 2021.
  25. ^ Patchett, Mary (1 August 1956). "Cry of the heart". The Australian Women's Weekly. p. 4. Retrieved 27 May 2021.
  26. ^ "Australian Books For Young People". The Canberra Times. 18 October 1958. p. 13. Retrieved 27 May 2021.
  27. ^ "Send for Johnny Danger : the amazing adventures of the ace pilot, Captain Danger, and his crew on the moon / by M.E. Patchett". National Library of Australia. Retrieved 29 May 2021.
  28. ^ "Caribbean adventures / Mary Elwyn Patchett ; illustrated by William Stobbs". National Library of Australia. Retrieved 29 May 2021.
  29. ^ "Outback adventure / Mary Elwyn Patchett ; illustrated by Kiddell-Monroe". National Library of Australia. Retrieved 29 May 2021.
  30. ^ "The Saffron Woman". The Bulletin. 29 July 1959. p. 59. Retrieved 28 May 2021.
  31. ^ The Mysterious Pool. Hamish Hamilton. 1958. ISBN 9780241904640. Retrieved 29 May 2021 – via Google Books.
  32. ^ John O'London's: Volume 1. 1959. p. 100. Retrieved 29 May 2021.
  33. ^ Fleay-Thomson, Rosemary (1 January 1964). "Almost Human". Walkabout. p. 40. Retrieved 28 May 2021.
  34. ^ The quest of Ati Manu / Mary Elwyn Patchett ; illustrated by Stuart Tresilian. Bobbs-Merrill. 1962. Retrieved 29 May 2021. {{cite book}}: |website= ignored (help)
  35. ^ "Bookshelf". Journal of the N.S.W. Public School Teachers Federation. 42: 8. 4 October 1961.
  36. ^ Brit / Mary Patchett. Hodder and Stoughton. 1961. Retrieved 29 May 2021. {{cite book}}: |website= ignored (help)
  37. ^ Dangerous assignment / M.E. Patchett ; illustrated by Roger Payne. Brockhampton Press. 1962. Retrieved 29 May 2021. {{cite book}}: |website= ignored (help)
  38. ^ Circus brumby / illustrated by Stuart Tresilian. Lutterworth Press. 1962. Retrieved 29 May 2021. {{cite book}}: |website= ignored (help)
  39. ^ The Venus project / M.E. Patchett ; illustrated by Roger Payne. Brockhampton Press. 1963. Retrieved 29 May 2021. {{cite book}}: |website= ignored (help)
  40. ^ Benn, Miriam J. (10 September 1966). "Young Readers: Many themes". The Canberra Times. p. 10. Retrieved 28 May 2021.
  41. ^ The last warrior / by Mary Patchett. Hodder & Stoughton. 1965. Retrieved 29 May 2021. {{cite book}}: |website= ignored (help)
  42. ^ The terror of Manooka / Mary Elwyn Patchett ; illustrated by Roger Payne. Lutterworth Press. 1966. Retrieved 29 May 2021. {{cite book}}: |website= ignored (help)
  43. ^ Summer on Boomerang Beach [by] Mary E. Patchett. Illustrated by Roger Payne. Brock books. Brockhampton Press. 1967. Retrieved 29 May 2021. {{cite book}}: |website= ignored (help)
  44. ^ Festival of jewels / Mary E. Patchett ; illustrated by Roger Payne. Brockhampton Press. 1968. ISBN 9780340041796. Retrieved 29 May 2021. {{cite book}}: |website= ignored (help)
  45. ^ Rebel Brumby; illustrated by Roger Payne. Lutterworth Press. 1972. ISBN 9780718819224. Retrieved 29 May 2021. {{cite book}}: |website= ignored (help)

External links[edit]

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