Amy Mack facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Amy Eleanor Mack
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| Born | 6 June 1876 Port Adelaide, Australia |
| Died | 4 November 1939 (aged 63) Sydney |
| Occupation | Journalist, writer |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Novel |
| Notable works | Bushland stories (1910), Scribbling Sue (1914) |
| Spouse | Launcelot Harrison |
| Relatives | Louise Mack |
Amy Eleanor Mack (born June 6, 1876, in Port Adelaide – died November 4, 1939, in Sydney), also known as Amy Eleanor Harrison, was a well-known Australian writer, journalist, and editor. She was especially famous for her children's books like Bushland Stories (1910) and Scribbling Sue (1914). She also worked as an editor for the Sydney Morning Herald newspaper.
Life of Amy Eleanor Mack
Amy Eleanor Mack was born on June 6, 1876, in Port Adelaide, Australia. She was one of thirteen children in her family. Her father, Rev. Hans Hamilton Mack, was a Wesleyan minister from Ireland. Her mother, Jemima, was also from Ireland.
Because of her father's job, the family moved often. They lived in different places in South Australia and New South Wales. In 1882, they finally settled in Sydney. Amy went to Sydney Girls High School. Her older sister, Louise Mack, and younger sister, Gertrude, also became writers.
On February 29, 1908, Amy married Professor Launcelot Harrison. They did not have any children. In 1914, they moved to London so her husband could study more at Cambridge. During World War I, Amy's husband served in the Middle East. Amy stayed in London and worked for the government.
In 1919, the Harrisons returned to Australia. They lived in Gordon, New South Wales. From 1920 to 1923, Amy was an important secretary for the National Council of Women of New South Wales. She was also the first woman on the council of the Institute of Journalists in New South Wales. She was even the only woman ever chosen as a vice-president of the institute.
Amy Eleanor Mack passed away on November 4, 1939, in St. Vincent's Hospital in Sydney.
Amy Mack's Writing and Journalism
After finishing high school, Amy Mack started working as a freelance journalist. This means she wrote articles for different newspapers and magazines. In 1907, she became the editor of the 'Women’s Page' for the Sydney Morning Herald. She held this job until 1914.
In 1909, Amy published her first book, A Bush Calendar. This book was a collection of her articles about nature that had appeared in the Sydney Morning Herald.
In 1910, Amy Mack released three collections of short stories for children. These were Waterside Stories, Birdland Stories, and Bushland Stories. These books were so good that schools started using them for reading lessons. They were considered some of the best children's books from Australia at that time.
Even though the publisher wasn't sure if children's books would sell well, Amy's books became very popular. This was especially true because schools had recently started teaching about nature. Bushland Stories was so loved that it was printed eleven more times by 1940.
In 1911, another collection of her essays for adults, Bush Days, was published. In 1914, she released Scribbling Sue, a children's book that became just as popular as Bushland Stories. By 1930, over 80,000 copies of both books had been sold!
During World War I, Amy worked in London for the government. She helped with public relations for the welfare section of the Ministry of Munitions. Later, she was a publicity officer for the Ministry of Food in London. In 1922, Amy published another book for adults called The Wilderness.
After her husband passed away in 1928, Amy continued to write articles now and then. Her books can be found in libraries all over the world, including the National Library of Australia and the British Library.
Books
- A Bush Calendar (1909)
- Bushland Stories (1910, volume 1)
- Birdland Stories (1910, volume 2)
- Waterside Stories (1910, volume 3)
- Bush Days (1911)
- Scribbling Sue and Other Stories (1914)
- The Tom-Tit's Nest (1914)
- The Wilderness (1922)
- The Fantail's House (1928, volume 1)
- The Gum Leaf That Flew: And Other Stories of the Australian Bushland (1928, volume 2)
- Why the Spinebill's Beak is Long (1928, volume 3)
- The Little Black Duck (1928)
- The Flower Fairies (1928)
- The Bird’s Concert (1928)
