Noela Young

Noela Young (1930–2018) was an Australian illustrator and author of children's books. She is best known for her illustrations for The Muddle-Headed Wombat by Ruth Park.

Noela Young
BornNoela Margaret Grace Young
(1930-03-13)13 March 1930
Died3 April 2018(2018-04-03) (aged 88)
Occupation
  • Illustrator
  • children's writer
  • book designer
EducationSydney Girls High School
East Sydney Technical College
GenreChildren's books
Years active1952–2006
Notable worksThe Muddle-Headed Wombat (illustrator)

Early life and education

Noela Margaret Grace Young was born in Sydney on 13 March 1930.[1] She was educated at Sydney Girls High School, completing the Leaving Certificate in 1946. She won a scholarship to East Sydney Technical College despite not studying art at school. There she met her future husband, Walter Cunningham, who taught her book illustration. She graduated in 1951 with a diploma in illustration.[2]

Career

Young worked as a freelancer in 1952 for Ure Smith and the first book she illustrated, David and His Australian Friends, by Enid Bell was described by Tribune as "delightfully illustrated",[3] while the Courier-Mail said it was "charmingly produced and illustrated".[4]

During her career she illustrated books by authors including Emily Rodda, Eve Pownall, Patricia Wrightson, Jean Galbraith, Christobel Mattingley and Eleanor Spence. She is, however, best known for her illustrations for the series of books by Ruth Park, beginning with The Muddle-Headed Wombat in 1962.[1]

She was contracted by Angus & Robertson to redraw the illustrations to a number of the Snugglepot and Cuddlepie books by May Gibbs, her work on the first being described as "sensitive and imaginative".[5] She also colourised Norman Lindsay's drawings for the 30th edition of The Magic Pudding for Angus & Robertson in 1975.[6]

Young worked for The School Magazine, contributing illustrations for stories and poems[7] and also lectured at the National Art School. She designed the cover and made illustrations for the publication to mark the centenary of Sydney Girls High School.[2]

Awards and recognition

In 1995 Young was presented with the Pheme Tanner Award in recognition of her 40-year contribution to Australian children's literature.[8]

  • David and His Australian Friends – joint winner, 1953 Children's Book Week competition[9]
  • Flip, the Flying Possum – commended, 1964 Picture Book of the Year, CBCA Book of the Year Awards[10]
  • John, the Mouse Who Learned to Read – commended, 1970 Picture Book of the Year, CBCA Book of the Year Awards[11]
  • Toby – winner, 1995 COOL Award for Picture Book;[12] shortlisted, 1994 Picture Book of the Year, CBCA Book of the Year Awards[13]
  • Grandpa – honour book, 1999 Picture Book of the Year, CBCA Book of the Year Awards;[14] winner, 1999 Picture Book and Younger Readers, Australian Family Therapists' Award for Children's Literature[1]

Selected works

As author/illustrator
  • Flip, the Flying Possum (1963)
  • Mrs Pademelon's Joey (1967)
  • Keep Out (1975)
  • Torty Longneck (1977)

As illustrator

Personal

Young married Walter Cunningham (1910–1988), one of her lecturers at East Sydney Technical College.[15] She died on 3 April 2018.[16][17]

References
  1. "Noela Young". AustLit: Discover Australian Stories. The University of Queensland. Retrieved 25 March 2023.
  2. Norman, Lilith (1983), The brown and yellow: Sydney Girls' High School 1883–1983, City of Sydney Archives, p. 249, retrieved 26 March 2023
  3. "Children are healthy for hungry books". Tribune. No. 806. New South Wales, Australia. 19 August 1953. p. 8. Retrieved 25 March 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  4. "Books I'd like to give as Christmas presents". The Courier-Mail. No. 5012. Queensland, Australia. 20 December 1952. p. 2. Retrieved 25 March 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  5. "Quick Looks". Papua New Guinea Post-Courier. International, Australia. 23 April 1971. p. 23. Retrieved 25 March 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  6. "It Could Confuse", The Bulletin, John Haynes and J.F. Archibald, 098 (5004): 7, 24 April 1976, ISSN 0007-4039
  7. "JUBILEE for a School Magazine", Walkabout, Australian National Travel Association, 32 (3): 18, 28 February 1966, ISSN 0043-0064
  8. "EUPHEMIA "Pheme" AWARD". La Trobe University. Retrieved 25 March 2023.
  9. "Sydney's Talking About". The Sydney Morning Herald. No. 36, 237. New South Wales, Australia. 11 February 1954. p. 6 (Women's Section). Retrieved 25 March 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  10. "K. Masterman Reviews the Award Winner and Highly Commended Books in the Australian Children's Book Council's 1964 Selections Book of the Year by Eleanor Spence". The Canberra Times. Vol. 38, no. 10, 891. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 4 July 1964. p. 11. Retrieved 25 March 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  11. "Judges' awards". The Canberra Times. Vol. 44, no. 12, 671. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 11 July 1970. p. 16. Retrieved 25 March 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  12. "Jennings still cool, say young ACT readers". The Canberra Times. Vol. 71, no. 22, 106. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 26 October 1995. p. 3. Retrieved 25 March 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  13. "BOOKS Children's Book Council 1994 short list". The Canberra Times. Vol. 69, no. 21, 556. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 23 April 1994. p. 52. Retrieved 25 March 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  14. "Focus on youth". The Riverine Herald. No. 29, 320. Victoria, Australia. 1 September 1999. p. 5. Retrieved 25 March 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  15. "Walter Cunningham". AustLit: Discover Australian Stories. The University of Queensland. Retrieved 25 March 2023.
  16. "Death notice". Manly Daily. 7 April 2018.
  17. "Probate notice". NSW Probate Index. 23 April 2018.
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