Peter Skrzynecki letters from Tom Shapcott, Randolph Stow, Patrick White and Judith Wright, 1968-1997

MLMSS 8211

fonds

1968-1997

Textual Records, Clippings

423577

0.17 metres of textual material (1 box)

Peter Skrzynecki was born in 1945 to Feliks and Kornelia Skrzynecki in Germany. He emigrated to Australia in 1949 with his parents on the "General Blatchford". The family lived in a migrant camp in Bathurst for two weeks before being moved on to the Parkes Migrant Centre, a former Air Force Training Base. It is this camp, in central-western New South Wales, that the poet regards as his first home in Australia.

In 1951 the family moved to Sydney. Peter attended the local Catholic school, Saint Peter Chanel's and then, in 1956, began school at St Patrick's College, Strathfield, where he completed his Leaving Certificate in 1963. After an unsuccessful year at Sydney University in 1964, he completed a Primary Teacher Training Course at Sydney Teachers' College in 1965-66 and began teaching in small schools in 1967. During the next three years he taught at Jeogla on the New England Tablelands, Kunghur on the Tweed River and Colo Heights in the Colo River district.

In 1968 he had recommenced his university studies as an external student at the University of New England. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1975. Postgraduate studies include a Master of Arts from the University of Sydney in 1984 and a Master of Letters from the University of New England in 1986.

From 1967 to 1987 Peter Skrzynecki taught in various primary public schools in the western suburbs of Sydney, in the inner-west and the south-west. In 1987 he started teaching at Milperra College of Advanced Education as a Senior Lecturer. His areas of teaching include Introduction to English Studies, American Literature, Australian Literature and he has a special interest in D.H.Lawrence. He has also taught Creative Writing courses.

Peter had his first poems published professionally in Poetry Magazine in 1967 and again in 1968. In 1970 Thomas Shapcott selected his work for inclusion in Australian Poetry Now. Roland Robinson published Skrzynecki's first book, There, Behind the Lids in 1970 with his Lyre-bird Writers Press and also his second book, Headwaters, in 1972. The latter won the Grace Leven Poetry Prize for 1972. These two collections, for the most, were concerned with the poet's experiences during the three years he taught in the country. They were reflective or meditative poems that dealt with the natural world, with the countryside, its people, its fauna and flora.

In 1975, Peter Skrzynecki's third book, Immigrant Chronicle, was published by University of Queensland Press. Though many of the poems carried traces of themes from the two earlier books, by and large, a new note or theme emerged in this collection. For the first time the poet wrote about his European background, his experiences as a migrant in Australia, the problems associated with being an exile, with his parents' dispossession and the difficulties, such as racism, bigotry and resettlement, encountered by them and other immigrants in trying to assimilate to a new life in a new land.

Peter Skrzynecki is married to Kate and has three children, Judith, Andrew and Anna.

Reference:
Peter Skrzynecki's Website: About the Author. http://www.peterskrzynecki.com/biography.htm (accessed January 23, 2012)

Five bound volumes of manuscript and typescript letters. Four volumes with Geoffrey Cains bookplate.

Volumes 1-2
Letters and cards from Tom Shapcott dealing with personal and family news, Shapcott's own work, his opinions about Skrzynecki's poetry, and comments about useful contacts, poetry, etc. Also includes a short story and poem by Shapcott, newspaper clippings, and two colour photographs, 1968-1996

Volume 3
Letters and cards from Randolph Stow, mostly consisting of Stow's opinions about poetry Skrzynecki has sent him, but also about his life in rural England, personal events, and his admiration for Joseph Conrad and Bronislaw Malinowski, 1970-1997

Volume 4
Letters and cards from Judith Wright to Peter Skrzynecki and one to Geoffrey Cains, concerning thank yous for copies of Skrzynecki's poetry, the back country, involvement in conservation, personal and family news. Also includes newspaper and magazine clippings, copies of Wright's poems 'Falls Country' and 'Two Dreamtimes', copy of a letter from Skrzynecki, a personal tribute by Skrzynecki to Judith, and and material relating to her death, 1971-1993

Volume 5
Brief letters from Patrick White thanking Skrzynecki for some poems, Randolph Stow's address, etc. Also includes a letter from Skrzynecki wanting to nominate Roland Robinson for the Patrick White Award, and a letter from Manoly Lascaris thanking Skrzynecki for his sympathy, 1974-1988

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Please acknowledge:: Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales

Information upgraded as part of the Manuscripts Unprocessed eRecords Project 2011-2012