Emily Hemans Bulcock (née Palmer) OBE (1877–1969) was an Australian poet and journalist.

Emily Bulcock

Emily Bulcock
Emily Bulcock
BornEmily Hemans Palmer
(1877-07-28)28 July 1877
Tinana, Queensland, Australia
Died4 September 1969(1969-09-04) (aged 92)
Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
OccupationPoet, journalist
Years active1889–1969
RelativesVance Palmer (brother)

Career edit

She contributed poetry to newspapers throughout her life, beginning with a poem published by The Queenslander newspaper when she was aged 11.[1]

Bulcock was appointed teacher at a newly built school at Blackall in 1896[2] where she remained until she resigned as headmistress shortly before her marriage in 1903.[3]

In the 1920s she worked as a freelance journalist for the Graziers' Journal and Farmers' Gazette.[4]

Bulcock was a foundation member of the Queensland Authors' and Artists' Association, subsequently renamed the Fellowship of Australian Writers (Queensland). She served on its committee from 1925 and was elected vice president in 1936. She was granted life membership in 1965.[4] She was also a foundation member of the Queensland branch of the Country Women's Association.[4]

Honours and recognition edit

Bulcock was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 1964 New Year's Day Honours for “service to literature and poetry”.[5]

Emily Bulcock Crescent, in the Canberra suburb of Gilmore, is named in her honour.[4]

Works edit

Poetry edit

  • Jacaranda Blooms and other poems, Queensland Book Depot (1923)
  • From Quenchless Springs: New poems, Economy Printers Pty. Ltd. (1944)
  • From Australia to Britain and other specially selected poems, W.R. Smith & Paterson (1961)

Nonfiction edit

  • Queensland's Wonderland of National Parks, Lands Department, Queensland (1932)

Personal edit

Emily Hemans Palmer was born on 28 July 1877 at Tinana (near Maryborough), the daughter of Henry Burnett Palmer and his wife Mary Jane (née Carson).[6][7]

Bulcock married Robert Albert Bulcock at St Paul's Church, Cleveland in Queensland on 13 April 1903.[8][9]

Bulcock died in Brisbane on 4 September 1969 and was cremated. Her husband predeceased her in 1924.[10] She was survived by her two children, Roy Palmer Bulcock and Marjorie Isabel Puregger (née Bulcock).

References edit

  1. ^ "Children's Corner". Queenslander (Brisbane, Qld. : 1866–1939). 8 June 1889. p. 1078. Retrieved 6 February 2020.
  2. ^ "Razorback". Queensland Times, Ipswich Herald and General Advertiser (Qld. : 1861–1908). 13 October 1896. p. 3. Retrieved 6 February 2020.
  3. ^ "L'ETERNEL FEMININ". Queensland Figaro. Queensland, Australia. 4 December 1902. p. 10. Retrieved 7 February 2020 – via Trove.
  4. ^ a b c d "Commonwealth of Australia Gazette. Periodic (National : 1977–2011) 15 May 1987 p18". Trove. Retrieved 6 February 2020.
  5. ^ "Emily Hemans Bulcock". It's an Honour. Retrieved 6 February 2020.
  6. ^ Godbold, Christina E. (25 March 2022). "Emily Hemans Bulcock: the working poet of Caloundra". John Oxley Library Blog. State Library Of Queensland. Retrieved 28 March 2022.
  7. ^ "Birth registration: Emily Hemans Palmer". Births, deaths, marriages and divorces. Queensland Government. Retrieved 28 March 2022.
  8. ^ "Record details of Robert Albert Bulcock". www.familyhistory.bdm.qld.gov.au. Retrieved 6 February 2020.
  9. ^ "Orange Blossoms". Queensland Times, Ipswich Herald and General Advertiser (Qld. : 1861 - 1908). 25 April 1903. p. 8. Retrieved 6 February 2020.
  10. ^ "Family Notices". Brisbane Courier (Qld. : 1864 - 1933). 6 September 1926. p. 6. Retrieved 6 February 2020.

Further reading edit