Sally Morgan (artist) facts for kids

Sally Jane Morgan (born in 1951) is an Aboriginal Australian author, playwright, and artist. Her amazing artworks are shown in many private and public collections around Australia and the world.

Early Life and Family

Sally Morgan was born in Perth, Western Australia, in 1951. She was the oldest of five children. Her mother, Gladys, and her grandmother, Daisy, raised her.

Her mother was a member of the Bailgu people from the Pilbara region. She grew up in a children's home as part of the Stolen Generations. This was a time when many Aboriginal children were taken from their families. Sally's father, William, was a plumber. He faced difficult experiences after the war.

Sally has several talented siblings. Her sister, Jill Milroy, is a university expert. Her sister, Helen Milroy, is a child psychiatrist. Helen was the first Aboriginal Australian to become a medical doctor. Her brother, David, writes plays. Her brother, William, has worked in important government roles.

Discovering Her Heritage

As a child, Sally noticed she looked different from other kids at school. They often asked about her family. Her mother told her they were from India and Bangladesh.

However, when Sally was 15, she learned the truth. She and her siblings were actually of Aboriginal descent. This discovery was a very important moment in her life.

Education and Marriage

After school, Sally worked as a clerk and then a laboratory assistant. She later went to the University of Western Australia. In 1974, she earned a degree in psychology. She also completed other studies in counselling, computing, and library science.

In 1972, Sally married Paul Morgan, a teacher she met at university. They later divorced. They have three children: Ambelin, Blaze, and Ezekiel Kwaymullina. All her children have worked with Sally on her books.

A Famous Author

Sally Morgan is best known for her 1987 book, My Place. This book tells the story of her family's past and her journey to discover her Aboriginal heritage. It sold over half a million copies in Australia. It has also been published in many other countries.

My Place shared a story that many people did not know. It spoke about children being taken from their mothers. It also talked about the challenges and fears faced by people because of their skin colour.

Sally Morgan's second book, Wanamurraganya, was about her grandfather's life. She has also worked with artist Bronwyn Bancroft on children's books. One of these is Dan's Grandpa, published in 1996.

Sally Morgan is a director at the Centre for Indigenous History and the Arts. This centre is at the University of Western Australia.

Awards for Her Work

Sally Morgan has received many awards for her writing and art:

• In 1987, My Place won the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission humanitarian award.
• It also won the Western Australia Week literary award for non-fiction in 1988.
• In 1990, it received the Order of Australia Book Prize.
• In 1993, her print Outback was chosen by art experts. It was one of 30 artworks used on a stamp to celebrate the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Recognitions and Collections

Sally Morgan has won several awards for her important contributions:

• 1987 – Human Rights Literature and Other Writing Award for My Place
• 1989 – Human Rights Literature and Other Writing Award for Wanamurraganya, the story of Jack McPhee
• 1989 – Winner, FAW Patricia Weickhardt Award to an Aboriginal Writer
• 1990 – Winner, Order of Australia Book Prize
• 1993 – Joint winner Fremantle Print Award
• 1998 – Notable Book, Children's Book Council of Australia
• 2012 – Notable Book, Children's Book Council of Australia
• 2022 – Co-Winner Picture fiction, Environment Award for Children's Literature

In 2023, The West Australian newspaper named Sally Morgan as one of the 100 people who shaped Western Australia. This list included other important figures like Senator Jo Vallentine and politician Carmen Lawrence.

Art in Collections

Sally Morgan's art is held in several important collections:

• Robert Holmes à Court collection
• Dobell Foundation
• Australian National Gallery
• Muscarelle Museum of Art

See also

In Spanish: Sally Morgan para niños