John Morrison

John Gordon Morrison (29 January 1904 – 11 May 1998) was a British-born Australian novelist and short story writer.

Life John Morrison was born in Sunderland, England on 29 January 1904. His interest in flora and the natural world saw him begin work at the Sunderland Museum and Winter Gardens at the age of 14. After two and a half years there he went to work as a learner-gardener for a wealthy shipowner at East Boldon

His first wife was Frances Jones (?-1967). They had two children: John, and Marie. An Aussie digger exiled to a shabby London rooming house lives and dies with no comfort other than the scent of smouldering eucalyptus leaves. He subsequently joined the Communist Party of Australia. He worked as a gardener at Caulfield Grammar School from 1950 to 1963.

Writer He published his first stories under the name of "Gordon", and later as "John Morrison", in trade union publications during this time. He was later a member of the Realist Writers Group and went on to publish a number of short stories in newspapers, two novels, four collections of stories and a book of essays.

After leaving the waterfront he worked as a jobbing gardener based in Mentone. He later worked as a gardner at Caulfield Grammar School until 1963, when he became a full-time writer; publishing also book reviews and journalism.

Morrison, “likened the writer to the man who comes across an interesting rock or stone and puts it in his pocket. For months, perhaps years, he carries it about, rolling it in his hands from time to time until it is polished. His stories, he said, were like these stones.”

His literary friends and associates included John Behan, Alan Marshall, Frank Dalby Davison, Frank Hardy and Judah Waten. He was a member of the Realist Writers Group.

Awards He won a number of short story competitions.

He was awarded a Commonwealth Literary Fund grant in both 1948 and 1949, the Gold Medal of the Australian Literature Society in 1963, and the Patrick White Literary Award in 1986. He was made a Member of the Order of Australia in the 1989 Queens Birthday Honours List.