Max Fatchen

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For the Max Fatchen Expressway in Adelaide, South Australia, see Northern Expressway.

Max Fatchen
Walkley Award
(1996)
Spouse
Jean Wohlers
​
(m. 1942)​

Maxwell Edgar Fatchen,

children's writer and journalist
.

Colin Thiele and Rhonnie Thiele with Max Fatchen standing behind at the State Library's 'Colin Thiele Day' in the Mortlock Library on 14 September 2000

Early life

Fatchen was born at "Narma" private hospital,

Angle Vale.[3]

He spent his childhood on an

Gawler High School to have his papers corrected.[citation needed
]

Career

He entered journalism as a copy boy, and after five years in the Australian Army[4] and Royal Australian Air Force[5] during World War II, he became a journalist with The News and later The Advertiser. He covered many major stories in Australia and overseas.[citation needed]

Four decades of writing for children, especially those of primary school age, began in 1966 with The River Kings. His children's poems, such as "Just fancy that", remain popular. He wrote 20 books; his novels appear in seven countries, and his poetry appears throughout the English-speaking world.[citation needed]

The River Kings and Conquest of the River were the basis for a TV mini-series, The River Kings, in 1991.[6]

Later life

He died on 14 October 2012 in his sleep.[7]

Honours and legacy

Stone monument with brass plaque
Plaque on the Fatchen memorial at Angle Vale, South Australia

Bibliography

By Max Fatchen
  • The River Kings (1966) novel set on River Murray paddle steamer in early 20th century
    ISBN 9781862546639
  • Flodens Konger (1966) The River Kings translated into
    ISBN 8700256617
  • Conquest of the River, illustrated by Clyde Pearson, published Methuen & Co. (1970)
    ISBN 0416144802
Note: This and The River Kings above were the basis of the 1991 television series The River Kings
Note: This may be a revised edition of Songs for My Dog and Other People (1980) above
As co-author or contributor
Biography

Andrew Male Other Times Wakefield Press, Adelaide (1997) includes selections from Max's writings, many not previously republished

ISBN 9781862543836[12]

References

  1. ^ "Engagement". The News (Adelaide). Vol. 38, no. 5, 761. South Australia. 13 January 1942. p. 5. Retrieved 27 June 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  2. ^ "Family Notices". The Advertiser (Adelaide). Vol. LXII, no. 19, 063. South Australia. 18 November 1919. p. 6. Retrieved 27 June 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  3. The Express and Telegraph
    . Vol. LVII, no. 17, 108. South Australia. 13 August 1920. p. 3. Retrieved 27 June 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  4. Commonwealth of Australia. Archived from the original
    on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 25 April 2011.
  5. Commonwealth of Australia. Archived from the original
    on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 25 April 2011.
  6. ISBN 0642184623
    .
  7. ^ News.com[permanent dead link]
  8. Commonwealth of Australia. Archived
    from the original on 4 October 2012. Retrieved 25 April 2011.
  9. ^ Votes and Proceedings of the House of Assembly, Wednesday 4 December 1996[permanent dead link]
  10. ^ "Max Fatchen". The School Magazine. NSW Department of Education. Archived from the original on 19 May 2018. Retrieved 19 May 2018.
  11. ^ "Adelaide Festival Awards for Literature: 2020 Guidelines" (PDF).
  12. OCLC 38537334
    .

External links
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