Wendy Richardson

Wendy Richardson, OAM (born 1933) is one of Australia's most popular playwrights, best known as the author of Windy Gully. Richardson lives in Mount Kembla near Wollongong, New South Wales. She is very active in the local community, working with disabled and disadvantaged youth, assisting those in need, teaching Sunday School and participating in historical and literary events.

Richardson describes herself:

The anniversary of the disaster is commemorated annually with a church service at the Mount Kembla Soldiers and Miners Memorial Church, a parade and Mining Festival. Richardson was later to serve on the committee to organise the Mount Kembla Mining Disaster Centenary Commemoration in 2002. Songs from Windy Gully are published at the Mount Kembla Mining Heritage website and Illawarra Unity the journal of the Illawarra Branch of the Australian Society for the Study of Labour History.

Windy Gully was followed by Slacky Flat written in 1988, which toured the South Eastern Region of New South Wales and was performed at Theatre South and at the Regional Theatre Festival in Penrith.

Des Davis writes "She is more popular in the Illawarra than David Williamson and Shakespeare." and in 2006 she was honoured in the Illawarra Australia Day Awards for her contribution to the Arts. Her plays have also been produced by the Riverina Theatre Company and heard on ABC Radio. She was made a lifetime member of Theatre South and the South Coast Writers' Centre.

Performed works

For Theatre South- Windy Gully (1987) Slacky Flat (1988) On the Coal (1988) Lights Out, Nellie Martin (1990) The Last Voyage of the Gracie Anne (1993) ...That Christmas of '75 (1995) Vida (1996) Alma and Ivy, Molly and Merle (1997) The Season of Emily Jane (1999) This Other Eden (2001) The Season of Emily Jane and This Other Eden are two parts of a trilogy. Soft Target (2002) Horse Shoe Bend (1992) – for Maitland Repertory Society Alma (1993) – for Sydney Festival and Carnivale Under the House (1993)- for the Faculty of Creative Arts, University of Wollongong. Valerie Paterson – Where can She Live? (1995)- for The Illawarra Christian Performing Arts Company The Year 2000– Coming, Ready or Not (1999) – for Community Group Recreation Illawarra The script for the re-enactment of the landing of the "Tom Thumb" at Towradgi – for the Wollongong City Council Heritage Committee. The soundscape for the Bulli Miner's cottage – for the Bulli Miner's Cottage Committee Four Kembla Women, a monologue (2006) – for the launch of Heritage Week in the Illawarra

Reference

Published works Windy Gully, Currency Press, (1989). Three Illawarra Plays, Australian Playwright Signature Series, University of Wollongong, (1997),