Rosemary Wighton
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6 January 1925
Rosemary Wighton | |
|---|---|
 Rosemary Blackburn in 1943 | |
| Born | Rosemary Neville Blackburn 6 January 1925 St Peters, Adelaide, South Australia |
| Died | 7 February 1994 (aged 69) North Adelaide, South Australia |
| Pen name | Martha Lemming |
| Alma mater | University of Adelaide |
| Notable works |
|
| Notable awards | John Howard Clark prize |
| Relatives | Arthur Seaforth Blackburn (father) |
Rosemary Neville Wighton AO (6 January 1925 – 7 February 1994) was an Australian literary editor, author and adviser to the South Australian government on women's affairs.
Rosemary Neville Wighton was born on 6 January 1925, the third child of Arthur Seaforth and Rose Ada (née Kelly) Blackburn. Her father was the first South Australian to be awarded the Victoria Cross.[1]
She was educated at the Wilderness School before attending the University of Adelaide, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts (honours).[2]
Career
Following graduation, Wighton tutored in English at the University of Adelaide in 1946. Wighton married Dugald Wighton in St Peter's College Chapel on 22 May 1948.[3] After her marriage, between 1950 and 1958, she tutored part-time at the university.[2]
In 1961, she and Max Harris became founding editors of the Australian Book Review,[4] while from 1963 she was joint editor of Australian Letters until its closure in 1968.[5] From 1971 to 1979, Wighton lectured at the Salisbury College of Advanced Education, specialising in children's literature.[2]
She was appointed to the Literature Board in 1974[6] and chaired it from 1984 to 1988.[2]
In 1979 she wrote the introduction to a facsimile edition of A Mother's Offering to her Children by Charlotte Barton. This book is believed to be the first Australian book for children, originally published in 1841.[7]
From 1979 to 1984 she was adviser on women's affairs to the South Australian premier.[2][8] In July 1983 she was appointed member of the Family Law Council by Attorney-General Gareth Evans.[9]
