Joyce Nicholson facts for kids
Joyce Nicholson (born Thorpe) (June 1, 1919 – January 30, 2011) was an amazing Australian author and businesswoman. She was born in Melbourne, Australia. She went to Methodist Ladies' College, Melbourne and the University of Melbourne for her education.
Joyce's father, D.W. Thorpe, was a publisher. She later became the managing director and then the owner of his company, D.W. Thorpe Pty Ltd. She ran the company from 1968 until 1987. Joyce wrote more than 25 books! Many of her books were about children and women.
In 1983, Joyce Nicholson received a special award called the Member of the Order of Australia (AM). This award was given to her for her great work in literature and the book publishing world. She was married to Harvey Nicholson and they had four children: Peter, Hilary, Wendy, and Michael.
Joyce also helped create the Joyce Thorpe Nicholson Collection at Melbourne University. This is a special collection of books written by and about Australian women. It includes some very old and rare books. There's also an award named after her, the Joyce Thorpe Nicholson Hall of Fame Award. This award celebrates designers who have done a lot to improve book design in Australia.
Joyce Nicholson's Journey
Here are some important moments in Joyce Nicholson's life:
- 1935–1946: She started working at her father's company, D W Thorpe Pty Ltd, as a typist and secretary.
- 1940: She was the vice-president of the Student Representative Council at the University of Melbourne.
- 1943: She married George Harvey Nicholson. They had four children together.
- 1957: She helped organize the very first Children's Book Week in Victoria. This event helps kids discover new books!
- 1968–1980: She became the managing director and owner of D W Thorpe Pty Ltd. She also edited the Australian Bookseller magazine.
- 1974: She was a founding member of the National Book Council. This group helps promote books and reading.
- 1979–1980: She helped start Sisters Publishing Ltd, a company focused on publishing books by women.
- 1998: She received the Lloyd O'Neil Award for her amazing contributions to the book industry.
Books by Joyce Nicholson
Joyce Nicholson wrote many different kinds of books. Here are some of them:
- How to play auction bridge (1930s)
- How to play solo (around 1945) – A guide to playing the card game Solo.
- You can run a library (1948)
- Our first overlander (1956)
- The Children's Party and Games Book (1957) – This book has over 100 games from the 1950s!
- Kerri and Honey (1962)
- A mortar-board for Priscilla (1963)
- Freedom for Priscilla (1974)
- Cranky – The baby Australian Camel (1983)
- Why women lose at bridge (1985)
- Man against mutiny : the story of Vice-Admiral Bligh (1961)
- Successful parties and social evenings (1950s)
- Ringtail the possum (1965) – With photos by Gordon De Lisle.
- What society does to girls (1975) – Illustrated by Mary Leunig.
- The little green tractor (1950) – With illustrations by Max B. Miller.
- The little blue car (undated) – Also with illustrations by Max B. Miller.
- Sir Charles and the lyrebird (1966) – With photos by Brian McArdle.
- Woop the wombat (1968) – With photos by L. H. Smith.
- Yap the penguin (1967) – With illustrations by L. H. Smith.
- A life of books : the story of D.W. Thorpe Pty Ltd. (2000) – Written with her father, Daniel Thorpe. This book tells the story of their family's publishing company.
- The Heartache of Motherhood (1983) – A very honest book about her feelings as a mother.
- Daughter to Bligh (2012) – The story of Mary Bligh, who was the daughter of William Bligh.
