The Black Dress – 2006 History Prize
October 9th, 2006Congratulations to Pamela on winning the Premier’s History Award for 2006 in the Young People’s History Prize category for The Black Dress – a book about the childhood of Mary McKillop. A just recognition for over 5 years of work (and worth money as well!).
For those who don’t know, Mary McKillop is the nearest thing Australia has to a saint. She has been beatified (or, as the tabloids would have it, beautified) making her officially the Blessed Mary McKillop. Sainthood is the next step.
Mary McKillop is an interesting character – one of the strong women of Australia’s 19th century history. She founded an educational order of nuns (the Josephites or, in the vernacular, the Joeys), committed to the education of children in far flung areas. She was always in trouble with the Establishment of the church. One bishop even went so far as to excommunicate her for a while.
The formative years of her childhood are fascinating. But don’t just take my word for it – go buy the book and read it.
The Black Dress: Mary McKillop’s Early Years by Pamela Freeman, Black Dog Press 2005
Awards and Commendations
Shortlisted for NSW Premier’s History Award
Children’s Book Council Notable Book 2006
Reviews
The Catholic Leader
Catholic Voice
Catholic Weekly
Compass
Good Reading
Inside a dog
Read Alert
Interviews
Catholic Weekly: Conversation with Pamela Freeman
Bookshop Notes and Reviews
Abbeys 50 Best Books of 2005
Abbeys Review
Credo
Dymocks
Publishing Stuff
Publishers(Black Dog Books) (includes teachers’ notes)
Australian Licensing Corporation