Vale Anne Hanzl

Anne Hanzl 1937 – 2015

The children’s literature world was saddened to learn of Anne’s death early in January 2015. Anne had a wide and profound influence in the area of children’s literature in many ways and over many years.

Anne’s early professional life did not suggest that children’s literature would become her great love and her professional focus. Anne was born in England and emigrated to Australia with her parents in 1950, arriving here not long after her 13^th birthday.  After leaving school she began nursing training, first in Sydney and then in Melbourne following her family’s move there. She didn’t finish the full training, however, as she married and, as was the rule then, was required to leave. She qualified as a nursing aide and worked as a nurse/receptionist, until the birth of her first child. When her four children had all started school, she went on to study teaching at the then State College of Victoria in Coburg from which she graduated at the age of 38 in 1976. She had found her real forte and went on to study for a Graduate Diploma of Librarianship, subsequently working as a teacher/librarian. All of this was done at a time when there was very little social support for working mothers. By 1980, however, she had returned to Coburg on secondment to teach children’s literature and language method. Demonstrating the love of learning which was so characteristic of her, Anne went on to undertake both a BEd and an MEd at Latrobe University.  The State College of Victoria at Coburg was changing too, becoming Phillip Institute and subsequently part of RMIT University. Anne remained employed there, becoming a senior lecturer, until her retirement. During that time she inspired countless students with her love for and knowledge of children’s literature.

The title of Anne’s MEd thesis: An examination of the nature and purpose of “approved” Aboriginal dreaming stories published for children, and of the basis on which such stories are approved for use in schools gives an indication of another of Anne’s concerns. She was keenly interested in Indigenous Dreaming stories and the way these stories could be used legitimately and with cultural respect. She was convenor of the 1993 children’s literature pre-conference institute ‘The Dreaming and Beyond: Literature for the World’s Children from Aboriginal Australia’ which ran prior to the Australian Reading Association’s First International Conference held in Melbourne. She was also on the program committee for the main ARA conference.

Her involvement in the world of literature for young people went far beyond her teaching, however. She was the inaugural President of the Dromkeen Society, a position she held for three years. During that time she worked closely with the Society committee members, leading the important activities held at Dromkeen such as the annual Dromkeen Dinner, open days and other literary events held there. Her gracious hosting of such events was legendary.

The Children’s Book Council of Australia was another important part of Anne’s professional life. She contributed to the organisation in a number of ways over many years. Between 1982 and 1989 she served as either Vice President or President of the Victorian Branch of the CBC.  When the National Executive of the CBCA was based in Melbourne in 1993-1994, Anne was elected National Secretary. All of those on the National Executive benefitted from her wise counsel in this role. During that time, the Second National Conference of the CBCA was held in Melbourne and Anne was part of the organising committee for that event.

Anne was an author and editor of renown as well. She has a formidable publication list. As well as reviewing children’s literature in a variety of journals, she edited collections of stories and poems for children, was co-editor with Margot Hillel of Celebrate!  a selection of extracts from winners and honour books to celebrate the 50^th birthday of the Children’s Book Council of Australia, published articles in professional and scholarly journals on using children’s literature and interviews with authors.

In 2007 Anne was awarded the Leila St John Award for her outstanding services to children’s literature in Victoria. On her certificate, the judges noted that Anne’s ‘commitment to children’s literature and the importance of early literacy, made her a worthy recipient of the 2007 Leila St John Award’. Anne spent her life celebrating the wealth of literature for young people and bringing children and books together. The world of children’s literature in Australia was much richer for Anne’s involvement and she will be greatly missed.