The University of New England was deeply saddened to learn of the passing of undoubtedly one of Australia’s most successful and best loved Australian poets, Bruce Dawe, this month.

While he loomed large in the literary landscape and national imagination in a way very few achieve, particularly in their own lifetime, he did so through experiencing, and speaking to the experience, of everyday Australians.

Sophie Masson, renowned children’s author, PhD graduate and casual lecturer in writing at UNE, shares some reflections on Bruce Dawe’s poetry and her own experience of his generosity:

“Bruce Dawe was a wonderful poet, whose engaging work is full of sharp yet compassionate observation, clarity of purpose, great wordplay and a lovely touch of humour. His poetry spoke to Australians across all generations and backgrounds, highlighting the ordinary and extraordinary moments of life and what it’s like to be human, in our joys, our sorrows, and our absurdities. It’s no wonder that, along with Les Murray, he was one of our most loved and admired poets ever.

“But Bruce wasn’t just a wonderful poet; he was a kind, thoughtful mentor to upcoming writers. I experienced that myself, many years ago, before I was published. We’d studied some of his poetry at school, and I’d loved it, so I wrote to him, hoping also to get his advice about some poems I’d written (I also told him I was writing stories). He could have ignored the naïve young writer’s appeal; but instead he sent three pages of clear, constructive critique which I found deeply heartening. I wrote once more after that, to send him revised versions, not to seek more feedback, but as a way of thanking him by showing how much the work had improved because of his suggestions. He responded more briefly this time but with the same grace which had made an aspiring young writer feel that her work was being taken seriously. I have never forgotten it.

“Vale, Bruce Dawe: a wonderful poet, and a wonderful human being.”

Bruce Dawe had a long history as a member and contributor to Australian academia, including obtaining his Bachelor of Letters at the University of New England in 1973, later obtaining a PhD and teaching at the Darling Downs Institute of Advanced Education and the University of Southern Queensland.

We are proud to count Dawe among our very distinguished alumni and to have been able to honour him with a UNE Distinguished Alumni Award in 1996. As an institution dedicated to the teaching and learning of English literature as one of our founding pillars, we add our sincere and personal note of thanks to Bruce Dawe for constantly surprising us with the power, beauty and weight of words.

Bruce Dawe,
15.2.1930-1.4.2020