Language English Alma mater University of Sydney Died 30 July 2013 Education University of Sydney | Nationality Australian Notable works Dying: a memoir (2007) Spouse Donald Horne | |
Born Myfanwy Gollan
23 July 1933
Newcastle, New South Wales ( 1933-07-23 ) Occupation Journalist, writer, reviewer, and book editor Genre non-fiction, book reviews, social commentary, biography | ||
Myfanwy Horne (23 July 1933 – 30 July 2013) was an Australian journalist, writer, reviewer and book editor.
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Early life
Myfanwy Gollan was born in Newcastle on 23 July 1933 to Ross and Valmai Gollan (née Clack). Myfanwy attended Canberra Girls' Grammar School and completed her schooling at Sydney Girls' High School. She graduated from the University of Sydney in 1951.
Career
In 1953 Myfanwy Gollan joined The Sydney Morning Herald as a cadet journalist. She contributed to newspapers, magazines and books as a reviewer, columnist and social commentator. Myfanwy met fellow writer Donald Horne at a party thrown by Michael Baume in Kings Cross, Horne proposed a week later over dinner at the Chelsea, a restaurant in Kings Cross. In 1960, after marrying Donald Horne, she resigned from The Sydney Morning Herald as married women were restricted from occupying full-time positions at the newspaper.
She continued to work as a freelance journalist using her maiden name, including writing a column, For the Consumer in The Observer magazine as well as contributing essays, book reviews and restaurant reviews to various magazines and newspapers.
A politically active citizen, Myfanwy organised Struggle for Democracy in Australia 1788-1977 a historical exhibition at the Sydney Town Hall in 1977. The exhibition focused on the human rights struggles of Aboriginal people and women and the freedom of the press and religion in Australia supporting the republican movement. Together with her husband Donald Horne she was active in the constitutional reform movements in Australia.
Myfanwy took on the role of editor for Donald Horne, working on all of his books, including The Lucky Country. She co-authored and edited his final book Dying: A Memoir, completing it after his death.
Works
Personal life
Myfanwy and Donald Horne had two children, Julia and Nick. Myfanwy died on 30 July 2013.