Guide to the Papers of Nene Gare
MS 8294
National Library of Australia View Catalogue Record
Collection Summary
- Creator
- Nene Gare
- Title
- Papers of Nene Gare
- Date Range
- 1939-1994
- Collection Number
- MS 8294
- Extent
- 4.06 metres (29 boxes, 1 folio package)
- Language of Materials
- English
- Repository
- National Library of Australia
Introduction
Scope and Contents
The collection includes letters, correspondence, notebooks, personal documents, invitations, photographs, newspaper cuttings, publications and drafts of short stories and novels including The fringe dwellers, Green gold, A house with verandahs, An island away, Bend to the wind and “Kate Kempster”.
Correspondents include Frank Gare, Manuela Cannatelli, Denise Gutteres, Joan Long, Derek Van Abbé, Sue Haynes, Tim Curnow, Geoffrey Dutton, Suzanne Falkiner, Florence James, Ursula Winant, Dale Spender, Bruce Beresford, Sue Milliken and Macmillan publishers.
Conditions Governing Access
Please refer to the collection's catalogue record for the access conditions (http://nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn657938).
Conditions Governing Use
Copying and publishing of unpublished manuscript material is subject to copyright restrictions. For such material, written permission to publish must be obtained from the copyright holder(s). Copying of unpublished material for research purposes is permissible 50 years after the death of the creator of the material.
Preferred Citation
Items from this collection should be cited as '[Title or description of manuscript item], Papers of Nene Gare, National Library of Australia, MS 8294, [box number and series and/or file number]'.
Provenance
The collection was purchased from Nene Gare in 1993. An addition was received from Frank Gare in 1994.
Related Materials
Other material held by the Library relating to Nene Gare includes an oral history interview with Hazel De Berg held by the Oral History Section at ORAL DeB 914 and a photograph of Gare held by the Pictorial Section at PIC P178 LOC Q92.
Arrangement
The collection has been largely arranged into the present series structure by Library staff. The papers were received in disordered state with the exception of the series of carbon copies of letters by Gare (series 1) and parts of series 2. The contents of files maintained by Gare have been retained in original order.
Biographical Note
Nene Gare (1919-1994) was born Doris Violet May Wadham, the daughter of John Henry Wadham and Mary Wadham (nee Hounslow). She was brought up in Adelaide and educated at Adelaide Art School and Perth Technical School. After graduation, Gare worked as a typist in Adelaide from 1938-39. In 1939 she met Frank Ellis Gare on a visit to Perth and married him in 1941. In 1939-42 she worked as a typist with H.V. McKay Massey Harris Pty Ltd in Perth.
In 1946-8 Gare accompanied her husband to Salamaua, Papua New Guinea, where he was employed as a patrol officer. Later the couple moved to Carnarvon, WA, where they managed a banana plantation. In 1952-54 Frank Gare was employed as a district officer with the Native Welfare Department in Carnarvon, and 1954-62 in Geraldton.
Nene Gare's first published novel was The fringe dwellers (1961) which fictionalised the interaction of Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal communities in Geraldton. Later novels bore a strong biographical element including Green gold (1963) which drew on her experiences when banana growing in Carnarvon, A house with verandahs (1980) relating to the childhood in Adelaide, and An island away (1981), on the life of a patrol officer's wife in Papua New Guinea.
Gare also wrote numerous short stories, some of which were published in Bend to the wind (1978) and in various anthologies. She also contributed stories and reviews to the Bulletin, Meanjin, Overland, the West Australian and the Canberra Times. Her novel The fringe dwellers was filmed by director Bruce Beresford in 1986.
Gare worked as an artist and was awarded prizes in the Canning Art Awards for 1971, 1972, 1976 and 1978. She was also involved in the People for Nuclear Disarmament and was Programme Chair for the Geraldton Branch of the Business and Professional Women's Association.
The Gares had three children, Leif, Arran and Shelley.
Item Descriptions
Series 1. Letters, 1945-93
Mainly typescript carbon copies and some original letters to friends and family, 1949-93. Also includes letters to her husband Frank, 1945-71 including letters written to him while he was in Papua New Guinea, from Carnarvon and from Geraldton. The letters are very detailed and are mainly personal and domestic in nature. The bulk of the letters document the years 1981-92.
Series 2. Family correspondence, 1940-87
The correspondence includes telegrams and originals and photocopies of correspondence from Frank Gare, 1940-87; Nene's parents, John and Mary Wadham; her sisters, Thelma, Mona, Peg, Joan and Phyl; and from her daughters Shelley and Leif.
Series 3. Business correspondence, 1957-93
Files containing mainly correspondence with publishers, agents, professional associations, universities and schools. The letters are primarily of a professional nature although many also have personal elements. Most of the files contain carbon copies of Gare's letters, and some also contain royalty statements, cuttings, manuscripts and other papers. The correspondence spans Gare's professional life and relates to the publication of books, short stories and reviews by Gare as well as book readings, broadcasts, addresses and public appearances.
Major correspondents include Sue Haynes of Macmillan, Methuen Haynes and Allen and Unwin; Gare's agent Tim Curnow of Curtis Brown; Geoffrey Dutton; Suzanne Falkiner; Florence James; Ursula Winant; Dale Spender; and Macmillan publishers.
Series 4. General correspondence, 1941-93
Correspondence files (arranged alphabetically) and loose correspondence (arranged chronologically) of a personal and general nature. The correspondence files contain some carbon copies of letters by Gare and other papers. The correspondence with Manuela Cannatelli and Denise Gutteres includes discussions of Gare's novels and Aboriginal people. Other correspondents include film producer Joan Long, Derek Van Abbé of the University of Adelaide, Dymphna Cusack, and Helen Wechsler.
Series 5. Notebooks, 1940-88
Notebooks containing housekeeping accounts, 1964-76; historical notes on Rottnest Island; French notes, 1940; accounts and rejection lists for short stories, 1943-57; character sketches for stories; pencil sketches and other notes.
Series 6. Personal documents, 1939-94
Job references, 1939-42; literary agreements, 1960-87; and biographical papers including a transcript of a 1986 interview and a biographical file assembled by Frank Gare containing obituaries, letters of condolence on the death of Gare, Who's who entries, copies of self-portraits, a published interview, photographs, publications and cuttings.
Series 7a. Novels, 1953-93 - Fringe dwellers, 1961-93
Published by Sun Books, 1961. Filmed by Bruce Beresford, 1986.
Cuttings and reviews of The fringe dwellers, 1961-66 and published booklet entitled Fringe dwellers (1959) (File 4) - Box 13
Papers relating to the filming of The fringe dwellers including cuttings; correspondence with Bruce Beresford, Rhoisin Beresford, Virginia Beresford, producer Sue Milliken, Ursula Winant and others, 1977-93; crew list; and an account by Gare of her experiences with the filming of the novel (File 5) - Box 13
Series 7b. Novels, 1953-93 - Green gold, 1953-64
Published by Heinemann, 1963.Working title “Green bananas”.
Series 7c. Novels, 1953-93 - A house with verandahs, 1975-80
Published by Macmillan, 1980.Working title “Barefoot days”.
Series 7d. Novels, 1953-93 - An island away, c. 1980-82
Published by Macmillan, 1981. Working titles “Help in the house” and “Sangu”.
Series 7e. Novels, 1953-93 -”Kate Kempster”, 1987-89
Unpublished novel. Other working title “The quintessential family”.
Series 8b. Short stories, 1945-c. 1990 - Other stories, 1945-c. 1990
Cuttings and publications containing early stories, 1945-56. Also includes some typescripts, correspondence and other papers (File 1) - Box 24
Series 9. Miscellaneous manuscripts, 1961-90
Typescripts, notes, cuttings and other papers relating to reviews, articles, scripts and other writings by Gare.
Series 10. Art papers, 1964-93
Papers relating to Gare's career as an artist, including invitations, catalogues, price lists, cuttings, leaflets, publications, prize certificates, and correspondence. The papers relate to exhibitions held by Gare, the donation of artworks to organisations and the donation of proceeds from exhibitions to charities including the Dogs' Refuge Home, WA AIDS Council, Amnesty International and People for Nuclear Disarmament.
Series 11. Course papers, 1980-82
Lecture notes, assignments, course results and other papers relating to Gare's enrolment as an external student at Murdoch University, 1980-81 to study French, literature and semiotics.
Series 14. Newspaper cuttings, 1951-84
Newspaper cuttings including articles on Gare, Bruce Beresford, and other articles of interest collected by Gare.
Reviews and other cuttings relating to Gare's novels and short stories are in series 7 and 8.
Series 15. Publications, 1961-86
Publications including book reviews by Gare published in Australian book review; book catalogues featuring titles by Gare; and articles on and by Gare.
Series 16. Family papers, 1943-83
Exam results, sketches, cuttings, personal documents, letters, school work, graduation records and other papers relating to Arran Gare, 1943-83; correspondence and artwork of Leif Gare; family correspondence of Frank Gare; and correspondence of Shelley Gare, 1969-75
Series 17. Other papers, 1947-81
Includes papers relating to the Geraldton Business and Professional Women's Club, 1955-61; travel papers, 1959-60; poetry and other writings by other authors including Hal Colebatch, Fay Zwicky and Felix Twofold; and miscellaneous papers including catalogues, notes, children's drawings, sketches, and other papers, 1947-81.