Maurice Saxby

Henry Maurice Saxby (26 December 1924 – 30 November 2014) was an Australian educator, author, critic, reviewer and authority on Australian children's literature.

Early life Henry Maurice Saxby was born on 26 December 1924 in Botany, New South Wales. His father was Maurice Henry Saxby and his mother was Nettie Thompson. They had three sons, Henry Maurice, Geoffrey, Richard and a daughter, Helen. Saxby attended and won awards at Leeton High School and completed his Leaving Certificate in 1941 at Fort Street Boys' High School, later studying at the Metropolitan Business College. including as an army medic in the 4th Field Ambulance

Teaching Maurice Saxby trained as a teacher at Balmain Teachers College from 1948–49. He spent five years teaching in infants, primary and high schools in New South Wales including setting up a library in North Sydney School, appointment to Forest Lodge Demonstration School as a teacher-librarian, and Picton High School teaching English. He was associated with the NSW School Library Service working with Joyce Fardell.

Saxby completed his Masters of Education at the University of Sydney before lecturing in the Bachelor of Education course. He was appointed as a lecturer in English at Newcastle Teachers College, lectured at Alexander Mackie College and continued to lecture at various colleges and universities in Australia and overseas. He moved to Kuring-gai College of Advanced Education where he lectured in English, Librarianship and Children's Literature 1998

Saxby was recognised internationally as an authority on children's literature and on Australian children's writing in particular. He was affectionately referred to as "the Godfather of Australian Children's Literature." His masters thesis on the history of Australian children's literature was later published as "A history of Australian children's literature 1841 to 1941". He continued researching and surveying the history of Australian children's literature

Maurice turned me not just into a children's writer, but with his kindness and insight, made me the one I am now. So much of the strength and diversity of Australian children's literature is due to him...But his true legacy will last as long as stories are told to young people in Australia. salign=right

— ~ Jackie French,

Children's Book Council of Australia Maurice Saxby was the first national president of the Children's Book Council of Australia in 1958, served as a judge for the CBCA book of the year awards. He became a Trustee of the NSW Branch.

International Board on Books for Young People Maurice Saxby served twice on the international jury for the Hans Christian Andersen Awards. He was nominated by Ena Noël, and elected to the jury in 1984 and 1986. In his second term the two Hans Christian Andersen medals were presented to Australians the first time both awards had ever gone to the same country. The 1986 Awards were presented at the IBBY Congress in Tokyo. The award for writing was presented to Patricia Wrightson and the award for illustration was presented to Robert Ingpen. In recognition of his achievements he was made a life member of the IBBY Australia organisation.

NSW Premier's Literary Awards Saxby also served as judge for the NSW Premier's Literary Awards.

Works Surveying the history of children's literature in Australia

Children's literature

Teaching reading

Anthologies

Picturebooks

Awards 1983 Dromkeen Medal 1986 Rotary International Award for vocational excellence 1989 Lady Cutler Award (CBCA NSW) 1991 Children's Book Council of Australia National Council Citation 1991 Australian School Library Association Citation 1995 Appointed Member of the Order of Australia (AM) 2002 Nan Chauncy Award for contributions to Australian Children's Literature 2005 Primary English Teachers Association Australia Life Member

Personal life Saxby married Joyce Boniwell, who was the first children's editor at Angus & Robertson book publisher in 1963. A memorial service was arranged on Monday 19 January 2015 in the Great Hall at Sydney University. A memory book with contributions by children's authors, illustrators, publishers as well as friends and former students was compiled.