Lucy Frances Harvey "Lu" Rees (19 September 190123 January 1983) was an Australian bookseller, book collector and

children's literature Children's literature or juvenile literature includes stories, books, magazines, and poems that are created for children. Modern children's literature is classified in two different ways: genre or the intended age of the reader. Children's ...

advocate. She founded the

National Centre for Australian Children's Literature The National Centre for Australian Children's Literature, formerly known as the Lu Rees Archives, is a not-for-profit study and research centre housed at the University of Canberra. The founding donation was by Lu Rees. Its director in 2018 was ...

Life and career

Rees was born Lucy Frances Harvey Waugh at Guy Fawkes Station in

Armidale, New South Wales Armidale is a city in the Northern Tablelands, New South Wales, Australia. Armidale had a population of 24,504 as of June 2018. Estimated resident population, 30 June 2018. It is the administrative centre for the Northern Tablelands region. It ...

on 19 September 1901. She was interested in literature from an early age, reading poetry and the classics in her father's collection. Rees married in October 1925 and moved to

Bogan Gate Bogan Gate is a small village in Parkes Shire of the Central West of New South Wales, Australia. At the , Bogan Gate and the surrounding area had a population of 307. Bogan Gate is derived from the local Aboriginal word meaning "the birthpl ...

. She and her husband, Wilfred Rees, moved together to

Brisbane Brisbane ( ) is the capital and most populous city of the states and territories of Australia, Australian state of Queensland, and the list of cities in Australia by population, third-most populous city in Australia and Oceania, with a populati ...

in 1931, where Rees opened an office of the

Australian War Memorial The Australian War Memorial is Australia's national memorial to the members of its armed forces and supporting organisations who have died or participated in wars involving the Commonwealth of Australia and some conflicts involving pe ...

. In Brisbane she also became a member of the Queensland Bibliographic Society, the group responsible for establishing the John Oxley Library as a centre for studies relating specifically to Queensland. Rees and her family moved to

Canberra Canberra ( ) is the capital city of Australia. Founded following the federation of the colonies of Australia as the seat of government for the new nation, it is Australia's largest inland city and the eighth-largest city overall. The ci ...

in 1938 and she became a research assistant to Dr Graham Butler, writer of the official history of the Australian Army Medical Services. She opened Cheshire's bookshop in

Garema Place Garema Place is a paved outdoor area in Civic, Canberra, Australia, with a number of shops, restaurants and cafes with outdoor dining. As a central point within the CBD, many community events including protests and festivals are held at the l ...

in 1955. In 1950 she had been appointed the first secretary of the Canberra branch of the

Fellowship of Australian Writers The Fellowship of Australian Writers (FAW) was established in Sydney in 1928, with the aim of bringing writers together and promoting their interests. The organisation played a key role in the establishment of the Australian Society of Authors in ...

. She stayed with the fellowship until 1975. In 1957 Rees founded the Canberra Children's Book Council, becoming its first president. The Council's first meeting in October 1957, at University House, saw more than 20 Canberra organisations represented, including the parents and citizens' associations of most Canberran schools and other children's and community bodies. Rees and her husband divorced in 1962. Rees left her position as manager of Cheshire's bookshop in January 1968, with plans to go on a trip abroad before setting up an Australian book information service. In mid-1968 she embarked on a three-month world tour with her youngest son Lauron; it was Rees' first time overseas. They visited Israel, Istanbul, Greece, Italy, Germany, Switzerland, the Netherlands, England, Canada and the United States. In 1980, having amassed a collection of more than 1500 children's books, Rees officially deposited the collection in the Canberra College of Advanced Education Library. Rees died on 23 January 1983 in Canberra.

Awards

Rees was appointed a

Member of the Order of the British Empire The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding contributions to the arts and sciences, work with charitable and welfare organisations, and public service outside the civil service. It was established o ...

in 1964. She was made a

Member of the Order of Australia The Order of Australia is an honour that recognises Australian citizens and other persons for outstanding achievement and service. It was established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, on the advice of the Australian Gove ...

in 1983. Her collection of children's books and manuscripts became the Lu Rees Archives, which is now known as the

. Posthumously, Rees was awarded the

Dromkeen Medal The Dromkeen Medal is a literary prize awarded annually by the Courtney Oldmeadow Children's Literature Foundation for those who have advanced children's literature in Australia. The Medal was established by bookseller, Joyce Oldmeadow in 1982, ...

for services to children's literature. Rees' family presented her medals to the University of Canberra in June 2005 so that the medals could be stored at the

Lu Rees Archives The National Centre for Australian Children's Literature, formerly known as the Lu Rees Archives, is a not-for-profit study and research centre housed at the University of Canberra. The founding donation was by Lu Rees. Its director in 2018 was ...

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Rees, Lu 1901 births 1983 deaths Australian public servants Australian women public servants People from Armidale Australian Members of the Order of the British Empire Members of the Order of Australia Australian booksellers