Grace Perry
Dr. Grace Perry (3 February 1927 — 3 July 1987) was an Australian poet, playwright, and founder and editor of the South Head Press and "Poetry Australia" magazine. Her press and magazine provided launching pads for many noted Australian poets such as Bruce Beaver, Les Murray, John Tranter and John Millett. She was born in Melbourne and educated in Queensland and Sydney. She graduated in medicine from the University of Sydney in 1951. She split her time between pediatrics and literary affairs as poet, editor, publisher. She was a member of the Australian Society of Authors. She organised poetry  workshops and writing schools in Sydney. At Berrima, where she lived in her last years, she ran a 2000-acre property and maintained an interest in stud breeding. Editorship. Perry controlled her magazine, "Poetry Australia", and was committed to publishing diverse styles and subjects. Perry aimed for international significance while maintaining a strong Australian presence. The work of many international writers, including translations, appeared in Poetry Australia. Unusually, most issues did not identify the contributors' nationalities. International contributors included Ezra Pound, Ted Hughes, Seamus Heaney, Louis Simpson, Robert Peters and Margaret Atwood. Translations included early Russian poets (by Rosemary Dobson  and David Campbell), Laurence Springarn's translations from Portuguese and Mark Scrivener's translations of German classics. Poetry Australia published special issues of New Zealand, Canadian, Italian, Japanese, Dutch and Flemish, American, Gaelic, French, Austrian, Swedish and Papua New Guinean poetry. Awards and Accolades. In 1985 Perry won the NSW Premier's Special Literary Award for services to literature. In 1986 she was made Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for "service to Australian literature, particularly as editor of "Poetry Australia"". Australia Fund. This fund was instrumental in the establishment in 2002 of the magazine Blue Dog: Australian Poetry , which editor Ron Pretty declared was in "direct line of succession from "Poetry Australia"". The Grace Perry Memorial Award recognises achievements by Australian poets. Further reading. Dorothy Jensen, "The Remarkable Grace Perry: Poet and Publisher of Poetry Australia Paediatrician and breeder of Simmental Bulls" (2020).