Guide to the Papers of Nene Gare

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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Copying and publishing of unpublished manuscript material is subject to copyright restrictions.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 Copying of unpublished material for research purposes is permissible 50 years after the death of the creator of the material.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.

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.

Letters from Nene Gare to Frank Gare, 1945-88 (File 1-16) - Box 1

Letters, 1949-76 (File 17) - Box 1

Letters, 1977-80 (File 18) - Box 1

Letters, 1981 (File 19) - Box 2

Letters, 1982 (File 20) - Box 2

Letters, 1983 (File 21) - Box 2

Letters, 1984 (File 22-23) - Box 2

Letters, 1985 (File 24-25) - Box 2

Letters, 1986 (File 26-27) - Box 3

Letters, 1987 (File 28) - Box 3

Letters, 1988 (File 29) - Box 3

Letters, 1989 (File 30-31) - Box 3

Letters, 1990 (File 32) - Box 4

Letters, 1991 (File 33-34) - Box 4

Letters, 1992 (File 35) - Box 4

Letters, 1993 and undated letters (File 36) - Box 4

Letters to Frank Gare, undated (File 37-38) - Box 4

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.

Frank Gare, 1940-44 (File 1) - Box 5

Frank Gare, 1945 (File 2) - Box 5

Frank Gare, 1946 (File 3) - Box 5

Frank Gare, 1947-54 (File 4) - Box 5

Frank Gare, 1957-87 and undated (File 5) - Box 5

Thelma, 1971-87 (File 6-7) - Box 5

Mary and John Wadham, 1943-59 (File 8) - Box 5

Mona, 1946-77 (File 9) - Box 6

Peg, 1943-87 (File 10) - Box 6

Shelley Balme (nee Gare), undated (File 11) - Box 6

Leif Gare, undated (File 12) - Box 6

Other family correspondence, 1943-78 and undated (File 13) - Box 6

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.

Allen and Unwin, 1988-90 (includes Gare's answers to interview questions) (File 1) - Box 6

Allen and Unwin, 1982-91 (also Methuen Haynes) (File 2) - Box 6

Angus and Robertson, 1975-88 (File 3) - Box 6

Antipodes, 1990-92 (File 4) - Box 6

Australian Book Review, 1975-91 (File 5) - Box 6

Australian Broadcasting Corporation, 1977-91 (File 6) - Box 6

Canberra Times, 1976-78 (File 7) - Box 6

Curtis Brown, 1978-93 (File 8) - Box 7

Dent, 1988 (File 9) - Box 7

Geoffrey Dutton, 1976-89 (File 10) - Box 7

Suzanne Falkiner, 1983-93 (File 11) - Box 7

Fellowship of Australian Writers, 1987-93 (File 12) - Box 7

Fremantle Arts Centre Press, 1982-92 (File 13) - Box 7

Film Australia, 1992 (includes transcript of 1976 interview with Hazel De Berg) (File 14) - Box 7

Max Harris, 1962-80 (File 15) - Box 7

William Heinemann, 1961-90 (File 16) - Box 7

Florence James, 1957-92 (and Ursula Winant of Winant, Tower Ltd) (File 17) - Box 7

Macmillan, 1977-92 (File 18) - Box 8

Meanjin, 1975-78 (File 19) - Box 8

Pascoe Publishing, 1987-92 (File 20) - Box 8

Penguin, 1981-90 (File 21) - Box 8

Dale Spender, 1987-89 (File 22) - Box 8

University of Queensland Press, 1976-84 (File 23) - Box 8

University of Sydney, 1967-85 (File 24) - Box 8

University of Western Australia, 1984 (File 25) - Box 8

Vogue, 1986-87 (File 26) - Box 8

Who's Who of Australian Women, 1973-85 (File 27) - Box 8

Correspondence with students and teachers, 1978-82 (File 28) - Box 8

Correspondence with writers and students, 1980-91 (File 29) - Box 8

Public Lending Right, 1975-92 (File 30) - Box 9

Miscellaneous business correspondence, 1943-79 (File 31) - Box 9

Miscellaneous business correspondence, 1961-88 (File 32) - Box 9

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.

Manuela Cannatelli, 1990-93 (File 1) - Box 9

Charities, 1980-91 (File 2) - Box 9

Victor France, 1989 (File 3) - Box 9

Denise Gutteres, 1992-93 (File 4) - Box 9

Joan Long, 1982-92 (File 5) - Box 10

Derek Van Abbé, 1956-58 (File 6) - Box 10

Correspondence, 1941-49 (File 7) - Box 10

Correspondence, 1953-59 (File 8) - Box 10

Correspondence, 1960-65 (File 9) - Box 10

Correspondence, 1966-69 (File 10) - Box 10

Correspondence, 1970-74 (File 11) - Box 10

Correspondence, 1975-78 (File 12) - Box 11

Correspondence, 1980-90 (File 13) - Box 11

Undated correspondence (File 14-15) - Box 11

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.

Notebooks (File 1-2) - Box 11

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.

Personal documents (File 1-3) - Box 12

Series 7a. Novels, 1953-93 - Fringe dwellers, 1961-93

Published by Sun Books, 1961. Filmed by Bruce Beresford, 1986.

Corrected typescript marked “original draft” (File 1) - Box 12

Corrected typescript (File 2-3) - Box 12

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

Correspondence and legal documents relating to the film rights for The fringed wellers, 1978-85 (File 6) - Box 13

Scripts for the screenplay (File 7-8) - Box 13

Notebook, autograph book and other papers (File 9) - Box 13

Cuttings relating to Bruce Beresford and the film of The fringed wellers, 1984-92 (File 10) - Box 14

Series 7b. Novels, 1953-93 - Green gold, 1953-64

Published by Heinemann, 1963.Working title “Green bananas”.

Undated corrected typescripts (File 1-6) - Box 14, 15

Cuttings used for researching Green gold, 1953-61 (File 7) - Box 15

Cuttings and reviews, 1963-64 (File 8) - Box 15

Series 7c. Novels, 1953-93 - A house with verandahs, 1975-80

Published by Macmillan, 1980.Working title “Barefoot days”.

Corrected typescripts, one dated 12 Sept. 1975 (File 1-8) - Box 15, 16

Typescripts with typesetting annotations (File 9) - Box 16

Page proofs, 19 Sept. 1979 and 15 Nov. 1979 (File 10-11) - Box 17

Cuttings, 1980 and paperback cover (File 12) - Box 17

Series 7d. Novels, 1953-93 - An island away, c. 1980-82

Published by Macmillan, 1981. Working titles “Help in the house” and “Sangu”.

Bound, corrected typescript entitled “Help in the house” (File 1-2) - Box 17

Corrected typescripts entitled “Sangu” (File 3-6) - Box 17, 18

Corrected proofs; cuttings, 1982 and paperback cover (File 7) - Box 18

Series 7e. Novels, 1953-93 -”Kate Kempster”, 1987-89

Unpublished novel. Other working title “The quintessential family”.

Possibly an early draft of “Kate Kempster” (File 1) - Box 19

Early corrected typescript drafts (File 2-7) - Box 18, 20

Corrected typescripts. Folders 14 and 15 include correspondence with publishers, 1987-89 (File 8-15) - Box 20, 21, 22, 23

Series 7f. Novels, 1953-93 - “Are husbands human?”

Unpublished novel.

Undated typescript drafts (File 1-2) - Box 23

Series 8a. Short stories, 1945-c. 1990 - Bend to the wind, 1977-79

Published by Macmillan, 1978.

Annotated typescripts and notes (File 1-5) - Box 23, 24

Typescript with typesetting annotations, 1978 (File 6) - Box 24

Page proofs, 16 Dec. 1977 (File 7) - Box 24

Cuttings, reviews and rejected design for book cover, 1977-79 (File 8) - Box 24

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

Typescript short stories for “Kent Town stories” and others (to be published as “The maid and magpie” by Wakefield Press at the time of Gare's death). (File 2-6) - Box 25

Typescript of other stories, some reworked chapters from her novels (File 7-10) - Box 26

Series 9. Miscellaneous manuscripts, 1961-90

Typescripts, notes, cuttings and other papers relating to reviews, articles, scripts and other writings by Gare.

Miscellaneous (File 1-3) - Box 26

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.

Papers relating to exhibitions by Gare at Red Cross Art Show, 1969-71; the garden of Marianne and Ferry Korwill, 1976; and Gallery Fifty Two, 1980 (File 1) - Box 27

Canning Art Award, 1971-78 (File 2) - Box 27

Canning Art Centre Exhibition, 1990 (File 3) - Box 27

Miscellaneous art papers, 1964-81 (File 4) - Box 27

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.

Course papers, Murdoch University (File 1-3) - Box 27

Series 12. Invitations, 1939-87

Invitations received by Nene and Frank Gare.

Invitations (File 1-2) - Box 28

Series 13. Photographs, 1956-68

Photographs of Gare, social functions and other subjects.

Photographs (File 1) - Box 28

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.

Newspaper articles and reviews (File 1-2) - Box 28

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.

Publications (File 1-2) - Box 28

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

Family papers (File 1-5) - Box 29

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.

Other papers (File 1-4) - Box 29


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