Great Australian writer makes emotional donation to library
AFTER a lifetime dedicated to literature, veteran writer Thomas Shapcott is glad his beloved collection has found a home in Toowoomba.
The author and poet passed on 70-plus boxes worth of dedicated works and special copies close to his heart at the weekend. Speaking at the launch of his and wife Judith Rodriguez’s collection at the Australian Cultural Library on Ruthven St, Mr Shapcott was happy to pass on his legacy of literature.
The donation, according to Mr Shapcott’s daughter Kate, contains all the novels published by Australian authors from the 1940s to the 1990s.
“I was sad to lose them,” Thomas Shapcott said.
“When I was a professor of creative writing in Adelaide many of my pupils had novels published and they gave me copies.”
A slew of literature lovers packed the library on Saturday, where a number of poetry readings took place in celebration of the influence Mr Shapcott has had on Australian writing.
“Just finding a home for them (was hard),” Kate Shapcott said.
“They were valuable and this library values them.
“Many are inscribed by the authors and many and most are first editions.”
ACL president Steve Towson said the donation had been “the most intense experience”.
“The family knew the things they loved most would be cherished here,” he said.
“The works would have been so precious to them.”