Guide to the Papers of Michael Noonan

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MS 6185

National Library of Australia View Catalogue Record

Collection Summary

Creator
Noonan, Michael, 1921-2000
Title
Papers of Michael Noonan
Date Range
1891-1997 (bulk 1945-1997)
Collection Number
MS 6185
Extent
15.96 metres (114 ms boxes + 1 small folio box + 1 packet + 2 map folios + 3 sound/av carriers + 9 digital carriers)
Physical Facet
Legacy extent derived from Hume 1 & 2 combined locations spreadsheet.
Language of Materials
English
Repository
Special Collections (Manuscripts)

Introduction

Scope and Contents

The papers comprise Michael Noonan's literary output as a scriptwriter for radio, television and film and as a novelist and biographer from the 1940s until the publication of his autobiography in 1995. The literary papers include drafts, plot outlines, film treatments, notebooks, research materials and business correspondence. The collection also includes family and general correspondence, personal documents, legal papers and photographs. Major correspondents include Bill and Ann Moloney, Harvey Unna (agent), Kurt Hellmer (agent), Nadine Hopkins, Catherine Ingall, Chips Rafferty, Harry Rosengrave and Ted Willis.

Conditions Governing Access

Access conditions may apply to this collection, please refer to the collection's catalogue record for further information (http://nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn2594532).

Conditions Governing Use

Copying and publishing of unpublished manuscript material is subject to copyright restrictions. Photocopying for research purposes is permissible 50 years after the death of the creator of the material. In order to publish such material, however, written permission to publish must first be obtained from the copyright holder(s).

Preferred Citation

Items from this collection should be cited as '[Title or description of manuscript item], Papers of Michael Noonan, National Library of Australia, MS 6185, [series/file number]'.

Provenance

The papers were acquired by the Library from Michael Noonan in three instalments in 1979, 1992 and 1998.

An oral history interview with Michael Noonan by Hazel de Berg is held by the Library at ORAL DeB 217, 218.

Arrangement

The papers have been organised into 12 series by Library staff. While some of the material found in the series was kept together by Noonan, the order of folders has been imposed by the Library.

Separated Materials

Manuscripts of plays by Michael Noonan are held by the Fryer Library, University of Queensland.

Biographical Note

Michael John Noonan was born on 19 September 1921 at Sumner (near Christchurch), New Zealand, the son of Eileen Sarah Moloney and John Patrick Noonan. He was educated at local co-educational primary and secondary schools before working in a bank in Christchurch for a year. In August 1940 Noonan left New Zealand to join the Franciscan Monastery at Waverley, Sydney (and later at Campbelltown). He left the monestary after seven months, and in 1941 obtained employment as a copy and continuity writer at Radio 2UE.

In December 1941 Noonan was called up to the AIF and posted to Clarence in the Blue Mountains. It was here that he started writing his first children's book, The golden forest. Later he was posted to New Guinea as an ordnance officer in Lae where he wrote In the land of the talking trees. Noonan developed ongoing health problems while in New Guinea, including malaria and a drug resistent form of tuberculosis. On his return to Australia he was stationed at Army Land Headquarters in Melbourne which enabled him to attend writing classes and study drawing at the National Art Gallery School (fellow students included Fred Williams, Harry Rosengrave, David Boyd and Ian Armstrong). Noonan studied English literature at the University of Sydney between 1946 and 1949.

After his discharge from the army, Noonan became a scriptwriting associate to his uncle, William Matthew Moloney, a prominent radio writer. Between 1946 and 1957 he wrote hundreds of radio plays and serial episodes as well as comic book scripts. In 1957 Noonan moved to London to work at the Associated British Corporation studios in Elstree. Between 1957 and 1979 he worked on numerous radio, television and film scripts as well as publishing several novels for children and adults including his trilogy Patchwork hero (1958), December boys (1963) and The pink beach (1969) and his Flying doctor series of adventure novels.

Noonan returned to live in Brisbane in 1979 where he continued to write novels, a biography of E.J. Banfield and an autobiography In with the tide. He married Jan Pearce in 1993. Noonan died in Brisbane on 4 March 2000.

Item Descriptions

Series 1. Family correspondence, 1940-1977

Correspondence received by Noonan from his family including his father John Noonan, his stepmother Gillian Noonan; his brother Stephen Noonan, his sisters Nora Beveridge and Patricia Smith; and his aunt and uncle Bill and Ann Moloney. There is also correspondence from other members of his extended family including Madge and Jackson Moloney, B.W. Moloney, Peggy Waring, Patricia Waring and Barbara Lawlor.

The series includes originals and copies of letters written by Noonan to his parents and Ann and Bill Moloney. The letters to his parents describe his voyage across the Tasman to Australia in 1940, his first impressions of Sydney, his seven months in the Franciscan Monastery at Waverley, and the impact of the Second World War.

Letters and an account entitled 'Trip across the Tasman', 1940-1945 (File 1_2)

Letters to Ann and Bill Moloney, parents and others, 1957-1976 (File 3)

Ann and Bill Moloney correspondence, 1953-1954 (File 4)

Ann and Bill Moloney correspondence, 1955 (File 5)

Ann and Bill Moloney correspondence, 1956 (File 6)

Ann and Bill Moloney correspondence, 1957 (File 7)

Ann and Bill Moloney correspondence, 1958 (File 8)

Ann and Bill Moloney correspondence, 1959 (File 9)

Ann and Bill Moloney correspondence, 1960 (File 10)

Ann and Bill Moloney correspondence, 1961 (File 11)

Ann and Bill Moloney correspondence, 1962 (File 12)

Ann and Bill Moloney correspondence, 1963-1964 (File 13)

Ann and Bill Moloney correspondence, 1965-1966 (File 14)

Ann and Bill Moloney correspondence, 1967-1968 (File 15)

Ann and Bill Moloney correspondence, 1969-1971 (File 16)

Ann and Bill Moloney correspondence, 1972-1974 (File 17)

Ann and Bill Moloney correspondence, 1975-1979 (File 18)

Ann and Bill Moloney- undated correspondence (File 19)

Family correspondence, 1954-1959 (File 20)

Family correspondence, 1960-1963 (File 21)

Family correspondence, 1964-1966 (File 22)

Family correspondence, 1967-1969 (File 23)

Family correspondence, 1970-1971 (File 24)

Family correspondence, 1972-1974 (File 25)

Family correspondence, 1975-1977 (File 26)

Undated family correspondence (File 27)

Series 2. Business correspondence, 1947-1977

Correspondence received from publishers, agents, film companies and others relating to the production of Noonan's works for television and film and the publication of his books. Correspondents include his agents Kurt Hellmer (USA) and Harvey Unna, publishers Brockhampton Press and Hodder and Stoughton, Trans Pacific Film Enterprises, Australian Broadcasting Commission (Phillip Mann), Press Feature Service, and Ted Willis. The series also includes some carbon copies of letters by Noonan.

Other business correspondence may be found with papers relating to particular works in series 5-9.

Harvey Unna, 1958-1977 (File 1_3)

Kurt Hellmer, 1957-1968 (File 4)

Correspondence with publishers, 1962-1977 (File 5)

Mainly Hodder and Stoughton and Brockhampton Press

Australian Broadcasting Commission, 1962-1966 (File 6)

Mainly Phillip Mann correspondence

Legal correspondence relating to 'The space game', 1965-1969 (File 7)

Press Feature Service, 1957-1966 (File 8)

Business correspondence, 1947-1968 (File 9_10)

Series 3. General correspondence, 1943-1985

General correspondence with friends and associates including Morva Cogan, Nadine Hopkins, Catherine Ingall, Ian Mackay, Eily O'Callaghan, Chips Rafferty, Harry Rosengrave, Sydney Tomholt and Ted and Audrey Willis. There are also some letters of appreciation from readers of his books and copies of letters from Noonan to Harry Rosengrave.

Nadine Hopkins, 1962-1976 (File 1)

Catherine Ingall, 1966-1971 (File 2)

Chips Rafferty, 1960-1971 (File 3)

Letters from Noonan to Harry Rosengrave (copies), 1943-1985 (File 4)

Harry Rosengrave, 1952-1978 (File 5_7)

Ted and Audrey Willis, 1958-1978 (File 8)

Correspondence with "prominent/interesting" people, 1952-1978 (File 9)

General correspondence, 1953-1958 (File 10)

General correspondence, 1959-1961 (File 11)

General correspondence, 1962-1964 (File 12)

General correspondence, 1965-1967 (File 13)

General correspondence, 1968-1971 (File 14)

General correspondence, 1972-1974 (File 15)

General correspondence, 1975-1978 (File 16)

Undated correspondence (File 17)

Birthday and Christmas cards (File 18)

Postcards (File 19_20)

Series 4. Personal documents, 1891-1978

Family papers including letters of recommendation, a birth certificate of his father, John Noonan and a family tree. Other items relate to Noonan's childhood and youth in New Zealand including certificates and references, as well as material dating from his time in the Army.

Family papers, 1891-1913 (File 1)

Early personal papers, 1921-1941 (File 2)

Personal papers including Army and university, 1941-1957 (File 3)

Biographical material, 1958-1978 (File 4)

Family tree (folio), 1967 (File 5)

Series 5. Publications, 1945-1997

Published books written by Noonan including children's literature, young adult fiction, biography and an autobiography. The series contains drafts of the works as well as notebooks, research materials, illustrations, photographs and business correspondence.

See series 10 for unpublished novels.

Subseries 5.1. Land of the talking trees, c.1945-1946

Children's book written while Noonan was on active service in New Guinea. The book was published by Angus and Robertson in 1946 with illustrations by David Hunter Gilmore. The papers include a typescript draft, originals of 13 of the 14 colour plates, black and white artwork and a drawing and photo of the mess building at the ammunition depot outside Lae (New Guinea) where Noonan did most of the writing of this book.

Typescript and agreement (File 1)
Artwork (File 2_3)

Subseries 5.2. The golden forest: the story of Oonah the platypus, 1946-1948

Children's book commenced by Noonan while serving with the AIF at Clarence, NSW. The illustrator, Douglas Albion, was also stationed at Clarence and helped Noonan run a canteen for the unit. Noonan continued the draft after being posted to New Guinea and completed the work shortly after receiving his discharge. The work was initially titled 'Percy the platypus' and was published as The golden forest by Angus and Robertson in 1947.

The papers include a typescript and publisher's agreement, illustrations (including the original cover), and a photograph of Noonan and Albion delivering the typescript and artwork to the publisher.

Typescript and publisher's agreement, 1946 (File 1)
Colour cover illustrations (File 2)
Photographs, illustrations and magazine, 1948 (File 3)

Subseries 5.3. The patchwork hero, 1951-1990

The patchwork hero is the first book in Noonan's young adult fiction trilogy. The novel was originally written in 1951. It was published by Heinemann in 1959 and later republished in revised editions in 1981 by the Australian Broadcasting Commission and in 1990 by University of Queensland Press.

The papers comprise the 1951 typescript, galleys, proofs and revisions.

Original typescript, 1951 (File 1)
Galleys (File 2)
Proofs, 1981 (File 3)
Typescripts, revised edition, 1989 (File 4_7)
The patchwork hero and The December boys- revised edition, 1990 (File 8_9)

Subseries 5.4. The December boys, 1963-1990

Part 2 of Noonan's young adult fiction trilogy. The December boys was first published in 1963 by Heinemann and reprinted in a revised edition by University of Queensland Press in 1990.

The papers comprise the original typescript, editor's and author's corrections, proofs, a working sketch of the inlet where the novel is set and other papers.

See also subseries 5.3/8-9 for material relating to the 1990 revised edition of The December boys.

Sketch and typescript (File 1)
Corrected typescripts (File 2_3)
Uncorrected proof, 1963 (File 4)
Typescript - revised edition, 1990 (File 5_6)
Galleys - revised edition, 1990 (File 7_8)
Papers re revised edition, 1987-1992 (File 9)

Subseries 5.5. The pink beach, 1968-1969

The third book in Noonan's young adult fiction trilogy. The novel was published by John Hale in 1969.

The papers comprise typescripts, notes, uncorrected proofs and other papers.

Typescript drafts and proofs, 1968 (File 1_4)
Notes and manuscript drafts (File 5_6)
Correspondence, 1967-1968 (File 7)

Subseries 5.6. Flying doctor, 1961

Flying doctor was originally conceived by Noonan as a television screenplay (see series 7/2-14) but was eventually produced as a BBC radio series (see series 6/57-58, 65-67). Noonan later wrote a series of six flying doctor adventure novels for children. The first novel, Flying doctor, was published by Hodder and Stoughton in 1961.

Typescripts (File 1_2)

Subseries 5.7. Flying doctor on the Great Barrier Reef, 1962

Published by Hodder and Stoughton in 1962.

Typescripts and proofs, 1962 (File 1_4)

Subseries 5.8. Flying Doctor and the secret of the pearls, 1962

Published by Hodder and Stoughton in 1962.

Typescripts (File 1_2)

Subseries 5.9. Flying doctor shadows the mob, 1964

Published by Hodder and Stoughton in 1964.

Typescripts, proofs and other papers (File 1_5)

Subseries 5.1. Flying doctor hits the headlines, 1965

Published by Hodder and Stoughton in 1965.

Typescripts and proofs (File 1_3)

Subseries 5.11. Flying doctor under the desert, 1969

Published by Brockhampton Press in 1969.

Typescript and cuttings (File 1)

Subseries 5.12. Air taxi, 1964-1967

Air taxi was first developed as a possible half hour television series, initially called 'Kylie's kite' (see series 7/2/2). Noonan rewrote the story into a children's adventure novel which was published by Brockhampton in 1967.

Typescripts (File 1_2)
Notes, correspondence and research material, 1964-1966 (File 3)

Subseries 5.13. The sun is God, 1966-1977

Noonan began writing a fictional account of the life of the painter J.M.W. Turner as a radio play. The story evolved first into a film treatment, then into a novel (published by Barrie and Jenkins in 1973) and in 1975 as a full draft screenplay. As the radio, film and novel forms of the story are so closely related, they have been kept together in this sub-series.

Notebooks, research material, 1967-1970 (File 1)
Radio program, research materials, notes (File 2)
Film treatment of original story (File 3)
'Eye of the storm' : original film treatment and research materials (File 4)
Film treatment: 'The seven wonders of the sun' (File 5)
Film treatment: 'The sun is God' (File 6_7)
Correspondence, notes, outlines for radio program, film, novel, 1974 (File 8)
The sun is God : reviews, correspondence, later film treatment, notes, 1970-1974 (File 9)
The sun is God : correspondence, agreements, 1966-1977 (File 10)
The sun is God (novel) - typescripts, 1971-1973 (File 11_17)
The sun is God (novel) - proofs, 1973 (File 18)

Subseries 5.14. The invincible Mr Az, 1972-1978

Adventure fantasy novel which began in 1975 as a film treatment. The novel was published by Methuen in 1978.

Proofs and cover proofs (File 1)
Film treatment (File 2)
Telegrams, book lists, cuttings, notes, 1972-1978 (File 3)
Publisher's correspondence and typescript, 1976-1977 (File 4)
Typescripts (novel), 1975-1978 (File 5_12)

Subseries 5.15. Bird of strange plumage, 1970-1979

This novel was started by Noonan in 1958. It was published by John Hale in 1979.

Plot outline and correspondence, 1970-1979 (File 1)
Research material (File 2)
Typescript drafts (File 3_11)
Printer's copy (File 12)
Proof (File 13)

Subseries 5_16. Magwitch, 1980-1987

A historical novel about the convict Magwitch in Charles Dickens' Great expectations, published by Hodder and Stoughton in 1982. Noonan was awarded a special purpose grant by the Literature Board of the Australia Council in 1979 to complete the research and writing of the novel. In 1982 Noonan's agent submitted a revised typescript to the ABC-TV drama department for consideration as a mini-series. In 1985 the ABC proceeded with a production 'Great expectations- the untold story', written by another scriptwriter and Noonan took legal action.

The papers include research material, drafts of the novel, publisher's correspondence, reviews and papers relating to the legal case and settlement awarded to Noonan.

Research material (File 1)
Research material and correspondence, 1980-1986 (File 2)
Research material, notes and drafts (File 3)
Publishers' correspondence, 1981-1985 (File 4)
Profiles and reviews, 1982-1983 (File 5)
Typescript drafts, 1980-1982 (File 6_13)
Uncorrected proofs, 1982 (File 14)
Litigation material, 1984-1987 (File 15_27)
'The great expectation of Abel Magwitch'- six part mini-series by Tim Burstall, 1983 (File 28)
Video of Great Expectations, episode 2 (File 29)
Great Expectations episode 2 (Item NLA.MS-VID000984) - Shelf-Tall OH1-18-015
1 item, Consumer formats - VHS, S-VHS etc.

Subseries 5.17. A different drummer: the story of E. J. Banfield, the beachcomber of Dunk Island, 1979-1991

Biography of E.J. Banfield published by the University of Queensland Press in 1983 and 1986. The biography was first conceived by Noonan as an outline for a 60 minute documentary film (see series 8/54-64) based on Banfield's book The confessions of a beachcomber. In 1980 Noonan was awarded an Australia Council one year fellowship to write the biography. Noonan also wrote a stage play based on the biography (series 9/5-16).

The papers comprise research materials, notebooks, manuscript and typescript drafts, illustrations, and correspondence.

Research materials (File 1_6)
Notebooks 1-19 (File 7_12)
Manuscript first draft (File 13)
Typescript drafts, 1982-1983 (File 14_20)
Corrected galleys, 1983 (File 21)
Corrected proofs, 1986 (File 22_23)
Index and illustrations (File 24)
A different drummer, , 1983-1986 (File 25)

Original 1983 hardback edition marked up for 1986 paperback edition.

Correspondence on copyright, 1979-1984 (File 26)
Permissions to reproduce, 1980-1982 (File 27)
Reviews, 1987-1988 (File 28)
Reviews and other papers, 1979-1991 (File 29)
Publisher's correspondence and other papers, 1983-1986 (File 30)

Subseries 5.18. McKenzie's boots, 1986-1991

Junior fiction published by the University of Queensland Press in 1987.

The series includes correspondence, reviews, notebooks, drafts and other papers.

Correspondence, 1985-1992 (File 1_2)
Drafts and notebooks (File 3)
Typescript drafts (File 4_13)
Page proofs (File 14)
Galley proofs (File 15)
Bound proof (File 16)
Reviews, interviews and cuttings, 1987-1991 (File 17_18)
Miscellaneous papers, including photographs, 1986-1989 (File 19)
Title lists and catalogues (File 20)

Subseries 5.19. The gentle art of beachcombing: a collection of writings, 1986-1990

Anthology of little known writings of E.J. Banfield edited by Michael Noonan. It was published by the University of Queensland Press in 1989.

Research materials (File 1_5)
Drafts, 1988 (File 6_12)
Page proofs and galleys (File 13)
Correspondence, notes, reviews and other papers, 1986-1990 (File 14_16)

Subseries 5.2. In with the tide: memoirs of a storyteller, 1993-1997

Autobiography of Michael Noonan published by the University of Queensland Press in 1995. The early draft of the autobiography ('Memoirs of a disqualified monk') was three volumes in size and had to be extensively revised for publication in a single volume.

Notebooks A1-A3 (File 1)
Notebooks A4-A6 (File 2)
Notebooks A7-A9 (File 3)
Notebooks A10-A12 (File 4)
Notebooks A13-A15 (File 5)
Notebooks A16-A18 (File 6)
Notebooks A19-A21 (File 7)
Notebook A22 and 2 other notebooks (File 8)
Notebooks (File 9_11)
'Memoirs of a disqualified monk'- outline (File 12)
Typescripts of early drafts, 1993 (File 13_35)
First revision, 1993 (File 36_39)
Second revision, 1994 (File 40_43)
Laser original (File 44_45)
'Autobiography'- typescript (File 46_48)
Proofs (File 49_50)
Index (File 51)
Corrections (File 52)
Photographs and ilustrations (File 53_55)
Computer disks (File 56)
Vol II Part 10-12. ('In With the Tide') (Item NLA.MS-DM005331) - Digital-Carriers-Box 106
1 item, DATACE MD2HD, 5.25 inch floppy disk
Vol I Part 1-9. ('In With the Tide') (Item NLA.MS-DM005330) - Digital-Carriers-Box 106
1 item, DATACE MD2HD, 5.25 inch floppy disk

Details on floppy disc cover

M Noonan Parts 11-21. ('In With the Tide') (Item NLA.MS-DM005329) - Digital-Carriers-Box 106
1 item, Verbatim MD2-HD, 5.25 inch floppy disk

WordPerfect 5.1

M Noonan Parts 1-10. ('In With the Tide') (Item NLA.MS-DM005328) - Digital-Carriers-Box 106
1 item, Verbatim MD2-HD, 5.25 inch floppy disk

WordPerfect 5.1

Noonan to Noonan 9 incl. ('In With the Tide') (Item NLA.MS-DM005327) - Digital-Carriers-Box 106
1 item, TDK M2HD, 5.25 inch floppy disk
Michael Noonan Disk 3. Parts 6AAA, 10, 8, Temps. X. ('In With the Tide') (Item NLA.MS-DM005326) - Digital-Carriers-Box 106
1 item, TDK M2HD, 5.25 inch floppy disk
Michael Noonan Disk 2. Parts -12. ('In With the Tide') (Item NLA.MS-DM005325) - Digital-Carriers-Box 106
1 item, TDK M2HD, 5.25 inch floppy disk
Michael Noonan Disk 1. Parts 1-6. ('In With the Tide') (Item NLA.MS-DM005324) - Digital-Carriers-Box 106
1 item, TDK M2HD, 5.25 inch floppy disk
Correspondence, reviews and other papers, 1993-1997 (File 57)

Series 6. Radio scripts, 1946-1982

Noonan began his career in radio during the time when it was the principal medium of entertainment in Australia. In 1944-1957 Noonan wrote hundreds of episodes for radio serials and numerous radio plays.

The series comprises scripts written by Noonan, some with supporting papers. The scripts are arranged roughly chronologically. There are also 2 reels of 'An old lady goes upstairs' (Caltex Theatre, 1952).

'Officer Crosby', 1946 (File 1_3)

'Dr Mac', 1946 (File 4)

Radio scripts, 1946-1959 (File 5)

'The red carpet' (radio play, 1946); 'Public enemy' (1946); and 'The man with green fingers' (1947-59).

'Mantle of greatness', 1947 (File 6_8)

'Twilight ranger', 1948 (File 9_16)

'Drama of the courts', 1948 (File 17)

'Sunny Sunrich', 1948 (File 18)

'The phantom ranger', 1949 (File 19)

Various radio series and serials (1/4 hour), 1950 (File 20)

Includes 'Drama of medicine', 1950

'Famous fortunes', 1952 (File 21_23)

'A dog's life', 1952 (File 24)

'Lady under a cloud', 1952 (File 25)

'Ace of space', 1953 (File 26)

'Drama with a challenge' ('Mission to the nation'), 1953 (File 27_29)

'Undercover Carson', 1953 (File 30_32)

Radio scripts, 1953 (File 33)

'Dark wind' (1953); 'My heart's a broken music-box' (1953); 'Simon Black' (1953)

'The grey goose', 1953 (File 34)

'Strange last words', 1953 (File 35)

'Space patrol', 1953 (File 36_41)

'Big city', 1955 (File 42)

'Tim Barr', 1955 (File 43_48)

'Brand of Justice', 1955 (File 49_55)

'The man who changed the wind', 1958 (File 56)

'Flying doctor', 1961-1967 (File 57_58)

'Clancy of the outback', 1964 (File 59_64)

'Flying doctor in Africa', 1976 (File 65_67)

'The castle of sleeping beauty', 1982 (File 68)

Various radio series and serials (1/4 hour) (File 69_71)

Various radio series (1/2 hour) (File 72_73)

Radio plays (1/2 hour and 1 hour) (File 74_77)

Radio publicity (File 78)

'An old lady goes upstairs', 1964 (File 79)

2 x 7" reels (recorded in 1964) of a one hour radio play for Caltex Theatre, written in 1952

An Old Lady Goes Upstairs (Caltex Theatre) Dubbed from "OLD" 16" disc by DWB [?] 11/5/64, 7 1/2 Monophonic [audio magnetic reel], 1964 (Item NLA.MS-SAV000228) - Shelf-Short OH2-1-001
1 item
An Old Lady Goes Upstairs (Caltex Theatre) Dubbed from "OLD" 16" disc by DWB [?] 11/5/64, 7 1/2 Monophonic, Parts 1&2. [audio magnetic reel], 1964 (Item NLA.MS-SAV000229) - Shelf-Short OH2-1-001
1 item

Series 7. Television scripts, 1942-1986

In 1957 Noonan moved to London to gain experience in working in television at the Associated British Picture Corporation studios in Elstree. He had been 'discovered' by Ted Willis during a visit to Australia and offered a contract, the first Australian writer to have been engaged by a British film studio.

The papers comprise scripts of television plays and episodes, together with related material including correspondence, cuttings and plot outlines.

Arrangement

The series has been organised into two sequences- works that were produced (arranged by the date in which they were broadcast) and unproduced works (arranged alphabetically).

Subseries 7.1. Produced works, 1942-1986

'Angry flower', 1959 (File 1)
'Flying doctor', 1942-1959 (File 2_14)

Includes episodes 1-28 (1957-58), various episodes from 1959, correspondence and other papers. See also subseries 5.6-5.11 for adventure novels written by Noonan based on the flying doctor theme.

'Violent stranger', 1960 (File 15)
'Boy on the telephone', 1961 (File 16)

ITV Christmas play networked on New Year's Eve 1960 starring the Australian actor Sean Scully.

'The music upstairs', 1962 (File 17)
'The winds of green Monday', 1965 (File 18_21)
'Riptide', 1964-1969 (File 22_35)

Hour length telvision series first conceived in 1964 (and titled 'Charterboat'). The series was produced in 1969 and 26 episodes were filmed.

'Patchwork hero'- notebooks (File 36)
'Patchwork hero'- episodes 1-6 (File 37_49)
'Patchwork hero'- publicity, 1980-1986 (File 50)
'Patchwork hero'- correspondence, cuttings and other papers, 1974-1986 (File 51_54)
'Patchwork Hero' - video (File 55)
The Patchwork Hero - Michael Noonan (Item NLA.MS-VID000985) - Shelf-Tall OH1-18-016
1 item, Hitachi, Consumer formats - VHS, S-VHS etc.

Subseries 7.2. Unproduced works, 1963-1975

'003 1/2' (File 1)
'Air taxi', 1967-1969 (File 2)

See also material relating to the novel Air taxi at subseries 5.12.

'The bells go under the stairs' (File 3)
'Black beauty', 1972 (File 4)
'The blue-eyed dog', 1965 (File 5)
'Bug-eyed' (File 6)
'Coast watcher' (File 7)
'The December boys' (File 8_12)
'The four legged stowaway', 1963 (File 13_14)
'The jungle book' (File 15)
'The man with three eyes' (File 16)
'Overture for pneumatic drill and pile driver' (File 17)
'O'Malley's bookshop' (File 18)
'Sergeant Cork', 1963 (File 19)
'Mr Tumbleweed', 1973 (File 20)
TV formats, outlines, ideas, 1964-1975 (File 21_25)

Series 8. Film projects, 1960-1992

Film projects worked on by Noonan. Only a few of the projects, 'Down in the forest' (1954), 'Reef' (1978) and the documentaries 'Pacific Lifetimes' and 'I'd rather go sailing' (1974-75) were actually screened. The series includes outlines for stories, film treatments, correspondence and screenplays.

Arrangement

The series is arranged roughly chronologically, with miscellaneous material at the end.

'Patchwork hero', 1960 (File 1_5)

'Billy Turner', c1965-1966 (File 6)

'Boomer', 1966-1967 (File 7_15)

'Sleeping beauty', 1972 (File 16_21)

'Inchalla', 1973 (File 22_25)

'Capricornia', 1974-1975 (File 26_32)

'Pacific lifetimes'/'I'd rather go sailing', 1974-1976 (File 33)

Football story, 1975-1992 (File 34_42)

Papers concerning a film and novel relating to a replay by veterans of a disputed rugby match between the All Blacks and the British Lions. Drafts of the work are included under the titles 'The lion from Wales' (1972, film), 'Up down under' (1975, film), 'The game' (film), 'The match' (novel), 'Old, gold, red and bold' (novel) and 'A game for hooligans' (1989, novel). The series also inlcues papers relating to legal action taken by Noonan against South Pacific Pictures for producing a film with a similar story line.

'The reef', 1972-1977 (File 43_53)

Documentary film produced in 1978.

'A different drummer', 1979-1988 (File 54_64)

Screenplay based on the life of E.J. Banfield. Noonan first became interested in Banfield while researching for his documentary 'The reef'. His first substantial work on the subject was an outline, treatment and script for a 60 minute documentary film based on Banfield's book Confessions of a beachcomber. See also subseries 5.17 for material relating to Noonan's biography of Banfield and series 9 for material relating to the stageplay performed in 1988.

'Unicorn', 1983-1985 (File 65_70)

'Them, me and it'; 'The fifth wheel', n.d. (File 71)

Documentary film material, 1957-1977 (File 72)

Film ideas, 1959-1972 (File 73_76)

Series 9. Plays, 1974-1988

Stage plays written by Noonan. Only three plays written by Noonan were performed: 'Magic Kennel' (1971), 'Voyage of discovery' (1974) and 'A different drummer' (1988). The series includes scripts, correspondence, notebooks and other papers.

'Voyage of discovery', 1974 (File 1_2)

Scenario in words and music in honour of the bicentenary of the birth of Matthew Flinders. Performed at Queen Elizabeth Hall, London, 1 March 1974.

'The invisible dog', 1975-1977 (File 3_4)

'A different drummer', 1987-1988 (File 5_16)

The production of 'A different drummer' was based on a biography of E.J. Banfield published by Noonan in 1983. It was performed by the Royal Queensland Theatre Company in 1988 starring Ray Barrett. See also series 8/54-64 and subseries 5.17 for other projects relating to Banfield.

Miscellaneous stage play material, n.d. (File 17_18)

Series 10. Other writings, 1935-1985

Other writings by Noonan including poems, short stories, comic texts and unpublished novels. Folder 3 contains a workbook in which Noonan recorded all jobs completed between 1946 and 1952, whether for radio, film, or short stories.

See also series 8/34-42 for draft novels 'Old, gold, red and bold' and 'A game for hooligans'

Early poetry, 1935-1942 (File 1)

Short stories, 1944-1946 (File 2)

Poems; notebook containing a list of writings, 1946-1952 (File 3)

Children's stories, 1946-1950s (File 4)

Early draft material for a children's book, 1947 (File 5)

Road safety material, 1947-1951 (File 6_7)

Stories and road safety material, n.d. (File 8)

Short stories, 1947-1959 (File 9_10)

Early draft material for a children's book, 1948-1949 (File 11)

Comic book material, 1949 (File 12_13)

Ideas and notes for plays, stories and other writings, 1949-1953 (File 14)

'The stoning of Private Harlow' (novel), 1957 (File 15)

'Tower of babble', 1957-1985 (File 16_23)

Unpublished novel, set in 1953, concerning the golden age of radio in Australia. Highly commended by the Sydney Morning Herald Novel Competition of 1956/57.

Notes and ideas for writings, 1959-1974 (File 24)

'Angel in disguise' (magazine serial), n.d. (File 25)

'The wild colonial mouse' (File 26_27)

'Jill and Jackaroo' (File 28)

'Dog overboard', 1977-1978 (File 29_31)

Series 11. Photographs, 1920-1990

The photographs include portraits of Noonan, his family and friends.

Other photographs can be found in subseries 5.2, 5.18 and 5.20.

Photographs, c.1920-1939 (File 1)

Photographs, 1940-1945 (File 2_3)

Photographs, 1945-1957 (File 4)

Photographs, 1957-1961 (File 5_6)

Photographs, 1962-1970 (File 7_9)

Photographs, 1971-1978 (File 10)

Photographs, 1979-1990 (File 11_13)

Negatives (File 14)

Series 12. Other papers, 1937-1991

The series comprises invitations, papers on the centenary of Sumner School (N.Z.), reviews, papers on Noonan's involvement in authors' societies such as the Australian Writers' Guild (including memorabilia on his AWGIE award for Patchwork hero), a cassette tape, and two portraits of Michael Noonan by Barbara Newman and Patricia Smith (Noonan's half sister).

Invitations, 1960-1991 (File 1)

Sumner School centenary, 1976-1977 (File 2)

Reviews, 1947-1974 (File 3_6)

Society of Australian Writers, 1973-1976 (File 7)

Australian Writers' Guild and AWGIE award, 1960-1981 (File 8)

Miscellaneous papers, 1937-1978 (File 9_11)

Cassette tape, 1974 (File 12)

MIKE - 4.30 - 5/10/74 / JAZZ [cassette tape], 1974 (Item NLA.MS-SAV000195) - Cassette-Box 14
1 item

Original artworks (folio), 1967 (File 13)

Container List

Box Series Subseries File
1 1 1-6
2 1 2-14
3 1 15-20
4 1 21-27
5 2 1-6
6 2 7-10
6 3 1-2
7 3 3-8
8 3 9-15
9 3 16-20
9 4 1
10 4 2-4
Plan Cabinet 4 5
10 5 1 1-3
11 5 2 1-3
11 5 3 1-2
12 5 3 3-8
13 5 3 9
13 5 4 1-5
14 5 4 6-9
15 5 5 1-4
16 5 5 5-7
16 5 6 1-2
16 5 7 1
17 5 7 2-4
17 5 8 1-2
17 5 9 1
18 5 9 2-5
18 5 10 1
19 5 10 2-3
19 5 11 1
19 5 12 1-3
20 5 13 1-5
21 5 13 6-10
22 5 13 11-14
23 5 13 15-18
24 5 14 1-5
25 5 14 6-9
26 5 14 10-12
26 5 15 1-2
27 5 15 3-6
28 5 15 7-10
29 5 15 11-13
29 5 16 1-3
30 5 16 4-8
31 5 16 9-12
32 5 16 13-19
33 5 16 20-26
34 5 16 27-29
35 5 17 1-4
36 5 17 5-6
37 5 17 7-11
38 5 17 12-15
39 5 17 16-18
40 5 17 19-21
41 5 17 22-25
42 5 17 26-30
42 5 18 1-2
43 5 18 3-6
44 5 18 7-10
45 5 18 11-13
46 5 18 14-19
47 5 18 20
47 5 19 1-2
Folio run 5 19 3
48 5 19 4-9
49 5 19 10-14
50 5 19 15-16
50 5 20 1-4
51 5 20 5-9
52 5 20 10-15
53 5 20 16-21
54 5 20 22-24
55 5 20 25-31
56 5 20 32-36
57 5 20 37-41
58 5 20 42-47
59 5 20 48-51
60 5 20 52-57
61 6 1-6
62 6 7-12
63 6 13-19
64 6 20-25
65 6 26-31
66 6 32-36
67 6 37-41
68 6 42-47
69 6 48-53
70 6 54-59
71 6 60-65
72 6 66-72
73 6 73-78
Folio box 6 79
74 7 1 1-4
75 7 1 5-9
76 7 1 10-15
77 7 1 16-21
78 7 1 22-27
79 7 1 28-31
80 7 1 32-35
81 7 1 36-42
82 7 1 43-49
83 7 1 50-55
84 7 2 1-6
85 7 2 7-12
86 7 2 13-19
87 7 2 20-25
88 8 1-6
89 8 7-10
90 8 11-15
91 8 16-21
92 8 22-26
93 8 27-31
94 8 32-37
95 8 38-44
96 8 45-50
97 8 51-56
98 8 57-64
99 8 65-70
100 8 71-76
101 9 1-6
102 9 7-13
103 9 14-18
103 10 1-2
104 10 3-7
105 10 8-12
106 10 13-16
107 10 17-20
108 10 21-25
109 10 26-30
110 10 31
110 11 1-3
111 11 4-7
112 11 8-12
113 11 13-14
113 12 1-4
114 12 5
Folio box 12 6
114 12 7-12
Plan cabinet 12 13

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