Ivan SOUTHALL, AM, DFC RIP

Kyt · Nov 17, 2008

Vivid writer of adventure books for children | theage.com.au

IN 1946 a tall, thin, handsome ex-flying officer decorated for sinking a German U-boat returned to Australia with his English bride, Joy Blackburn. Little did he think, despite being "a scribbler" from the age of nine, that 30 years later he would be a renowned author.

Ivan Southall, a prolific writer of more than 50 books, among them those that made him one of the modern era's foremost writers of children's literature, has died of cancer at a hospice at Wantirna, aged 87.

Southall was known internationally, especially in Britain and the United States, and was the subject of research in countries such as Russia. His 27 international awards included the British Library Association Carnegie Medal for Josh. Virginia Haviland at the Library of Congress in Washington referred to him as "dear Ivan", and he won three Australian Children's Book of the Year awards, including for Fly West.

That book had its genesis in an earlier adult book, They Shall Not Pass Unseen, about his World War II RAAF squadron, No. 461. As the pilot captain of a Sunderland flying boat based at Pembroke Dock, Wales, Southall was awarded a Distinguished Flying Cross for playing a leading role in depth-charging and sinking the German submarine U-385 on a night patrol in the Bay of Biscay in 1944. He was always grateful that 41 of the crew were rescued.

Southall realised that "real adventure belongs to us" — that is to people such as himself, not the superheroes typified by Biggles or even the dashing airman of his early and highly popular Simon Black series of boy's adventures (1950-1961).

Not only was it the originality of his plots and subject matter that brought him literary fame but his extraordinary ability to create vivid and emotionally charged word pictures. He was also an innovator — the first to use mental monologue along with the present tense in Australian children's books. Especially in titles such as Bread and Honey (1970) and Josh (1971), the reader is invited to share the sensory and emotional life of the protagonist.

Southall would discount the epithet "hero", but he was an Aussie battler made good. He was born in Canterbury, a child of the Depression; his father, Francis, died when Ivan was fourteen. His mother Rachel (nee Voutier) was left to bring up her two sons, Ivan and Gordon, in Surrey Hills.

Southall became a paper boy and did odd jobs, but he was forced to leave Box Hill Grammar early and became an apprentice process engraver. Earlier, while still at Mont Albert Central School, his first published story, the progenitor of the Simon Black stories, appeared on the children's page of a Saturday newspaper.

After his return from war service, his short stories continued to be published in magazines such as Woman's Day. Those years bred a toughness but also a pragmatic outlook strengthened by his disciplined and frugal Methodism that became ingrained.

He wrote from experience: his flying operations when fear was part of every day; his family situation (his youngest daughter, Melissa, was born with Down syndrome); his battle to survive on an ill-fated farm at Monbulk.

He persisted, determined to become a full-time writer. He denied that his many books were autobiographical. Rather he saw life as an undiscovered land to be explored through his writings. So, for example, childhood disability is the subject of Let the Balloon Go (1968); the paralysing fear that threatens bomber pilots is heart-stoppingly dramatised in Fly West (1974); the lasting influence of his aunt Susie is captured in the award-winning Josh. The physical and emotional carnage of a bush fire pulsates through Ash Road (1965); the devastating demands made by flood and tempest in Hills End (1962); bullying is an affront in Bread and Honey.

Whether writing for adults in documentaries such as Woomera (1962) or the memoir Bluey Truscott (1958), about one of the RAAF's most famous fighter pilots, or for children and young people, Southall was determined to present life honestly, without sentimentality or intentional bias, without denying man's humanity, or glorifying it. His personal integrity as much as his writing skill won him numerous literary honours. Southall's Australian Children's Book of the Year awards included one for his picture book Sly Old Wardrobe (1968), illustrated by his friend, Ted Greenwood.

His many overseas awards included Japan's Children's Welfare and Cultural Encouragement in 1969, particularly for Ash Road, and the Netherlands' Silver Griffel Award in 1971 for To the Wild Sky (1967). His books were consistently short listed in numerous Australian awards. He also received such honours as the Dromkeen Medal and the Australia Council Emeritus Award for his services to children's literature, and in 1981 he was awarded an Order of Australia.

Yet the hundreds of letters he received from children and adults meant as much to him as any award.

In later life, Southall married Susan Stanton, whom he met in the US in 1974 when he went to deliver the prestigious May Hill Arbuthnot Lecture at the University of Washington, Seattle.

In his so-called retirement, and as his health deteriorated, Southall cared for his dogs and renewed his passion for gardening, specialising in fuchsias.

Dr Maurice Saxby, AM, has written several volumes covering the history of Australian children's literature, and is a friend of the Southall family.
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Kyt · Nov 17, 2008

From: The Sunderland Flying-boat Queen By John Evans

Antipodean Andy · Nov 17, 2008

What a truly talented man. RIP.

His work has popped up on my radar several times, especially the Bluey Truscott book, but I've been unable to acquire any of his books yet.

Antipodean Andy · Nov 17, 2008

From: The Sunderland Flying-boat Queen By John Evans
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Good book?

Ah ha - Paterchurch Publications :becky:

Nostalgair · Nov 17, 2008

An amazing individual.

RIP

Kyt · Nov 18, 2008

I have to admit that I never knew about his war service - though I'd seen many of his other books on evilbay.

And Andy.....:Booty:

Antipodean Andy · Nov 18, 2008

Kyt said: ↑

And Andy.....:Booty:
Click to expand...

What? :becky:

Kyt · Nov 18, 2008

You know what.......though I do normally keep clear of such slim volumes (especially the Osprey rip offs). But I do have a copy of Electronic Airborne Goldfish, though only skimmed it. Tiny little book

Antipodean Andy · Nov 18, 2008

Yeah, I was thinking the same thing.

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