Helen Milroy presents: Gladys Milroy shows you’re never too old to write your story
Born in 1927, Gladys Milroy was taken to the Parkerville Orphanage at two years old and spent the next 14 years separated from her mother, Daisy. Gladys say, ‘I think the thing is about growing up in an orphanage is that you live in a story all the time because that’s the way you survive.’
Now in her tenth decade, Gladys says she getting more stories than ever before. ‘A lot of stories I get at night when I’m dreaming … it’s all in colour and I’m part of it … that’s what I love about it. It’s like I’m in this beautiful story that I’m writing.’
Of writing books for children she says, ‘I think people have to be very honest and truthful with their kids. Don’t dress it up and fancy it up. They need to see the truth … We’re all part of each other, we all belong to each other and we’re all part of nature.’
Topics discussed
Aboriginal storytelling
Connecting to nature through stories
Dreaming and writing in full colour
Illustrating an entire story in one image
Where do stories come from?
Show Notes
About the host
Dr Helen Milroy is a descendant of the Palyku people of the Pilbara region of Western Australia. She was born and educated in Perth and has a passionate interest in health and wellbeing, especially for children. She is currently a professor at the University of Western Australia, a consultant child and adolescent psychiatrist, and Commissioner with the National Mental Health Commission. Her books have been shortlisted for the Western Australian Premier’s Book Awards (2019, 2020), the Readings Children’s Book Prize (2020) and the Speech Pathology Australia Book of the Year (2020).
Backyard Bugs, Backyard Birds and Wombat, Mudlark and Other Stories are available in all good bookstores and online.
About the guest
Gladys Milroy is from the Pilbara region in Western Australia. She was born in Perth in 1927 and grew up at the Parkerville Children’s Home. Her people’s country is the Palyku country in the eastern Pilbara.
Eagle, Crow and Emu is available in all good bookstores and online.
Original music‘Steel Cap Serenade’ by Aidan D’Adhemar, © 2021
Sound engineeringAidan D’Adhemar, Fremantle PA Hire
Produced byClaire Miller, Fremantle Press Marketing and Communications Manager
This podcast was produced in Walyalup in Whadjuk Boodja, on the lands of the Noongar people.
