Bill Scott (author) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Bill Scott
Bill Scott
Born	William Neville Scott (1923-10-04)4 October 1923 Bundaberg, Queensland
Died	22 December 2005(2005-12-22) (aged 82) Warwick, Queensland
Occupation	Author, Folklorist, Poet
Nationality	Australian

William Neville Scott (born October 4, 1923 – died December 22, 2005) was an Australian writer, storyteller, and poet. He loved collecting and sharing old Australian folk songs and stories, especially those about life in the bush. He wrote many books, including the very popular The Complete Book of Australian Folklore, which came out in 1976.

In 1992, Bill Scott received a special award called the Order of Australia for his amazing work in sharing Australian traditions, music, and stories. People thought of him as a national treasure because his books and collections helped keep Australia's history alive.

Growing Up and Early Work

Bill Scott was born in Bundaberg, Queensland. He spent his childhood in places like Caboolture and Brisbane. He started writing poems when he was serving in the Royal Australian Navy during World War II. His very first poem was published in a magazine called The Bulletin in 1944, when he was just 21 years old.

After the war, Bill traveled all over Queensland and tried many different jobs. He worked as a sugar cane cutter, made umbrellas, drove steam engines, and even looked for gold! He also worked in metal factories in Mount Isa and as a sailor on a lighthouse supply ship in the 1950s. Later, he started working at a company that published books.

From 1974 onwards, Bill Scott became a full-time writer. In 1976, he put together The Complete Book of Australian Folklore. This book has been so popular that it has almost always been available to buy since it was first published. He also helped create The Second Penguin Australian Songbook. Bill wrote a total of 51 books, including stories, poems, and biographies. He was well-known for collecting and writing down Australian folk tales and songs. Some of his poems and short stories were also included in other collections.

Later in his life, Bill moved from Brisbane to Warwick in the Darling Downs area. He lived there for his last 18 years. He loved writing long letters to his friends, sharing stories, news, and even weather reports from his favorite Condamine River. He often sent small gifts like tapes, books, and even a special rock from the Snowy Mountains, which reminded him of his gold prospecting days.

What Bill Scott Achieved

Many of Bill Scott's poems are still very famous today, and schoolchildren often learn and recite them. Bill also helped start the Queensland Folk Federation, which now organizes the big Woodford Folk Festival. A radio host named Ian McNamara once said that everyone is better off because of Bill's creative spirit.

One of his songs, Hey Rain, even became the name of a documentary about his 50-year career as a "folkie" (someone who loves folk music and stories). The documentary was shown on ABC, a national TV channel. The show described Bill as someone who continued the tradition of famous Australian bush poets like Henry Lawson and Banjo Paterson. The documentary mostly took place at the Woodford Folk Festival, where Bill was a popular performer. It was a warm look at a kind man with many wonderful memories. The documentary's notes said, "He's a story teller, he's Bill Scott, and this is his song."

After he passed away, a magazine called Folklore suggested a line from his poem "The Old Man's Song" as a perfect saying for his tombstone: "What good is your life if it isn't a song?"

Hey Rain Documentary

The documentary Hey Rain was first shown on the ABC in 2005. It celebrates Bill Scott's life and all his amazing work. The film explores how Bill was fascinated by Australian folklore throughout his life. It shows how he collected, loved, and shared these stories and songs with more and more people. The documentary features Bill's poems, stories, and songs, and includes performances by other artists like Dave de Hugard, Penny Davies and Roger Ilott. It also has a song dedicated to Bill by the talented performer, Ted Egan.

Bill Scott's Books

Bill Scott wrote many different kinds of books. Here are some of them:

Song Collections

Bill Scott also put together several collections of songs:

• Bushranger Ballads (1976)
• The Second Australian Song Book (1980)
• He made tape-recordings of his songs, including "Hey, Rain!" and "Songbird in Your Pocket."
• A CD of his songs called Opal Miner - The Songs of Bill Scott was recorded by Penny Davies and Roger Ilott in 1999.
• An expanded CD of his songs came with the DVD of the Hey Rain - The Songs and Stories of Bill Scott documentary.

• Ian McNamara, ABC Radio, Australia All Over August 1999
• Obituary 1 December 2006 Folkore