About Mavis Thorpe Clark: Awards and Recognition

Member of the Order of Australia (AM)

On Friday 4th October 1996, Mavis Thorpe Clark was invested with the Order of Australia "for service to the arts as the author of children’s literature and as an active member of writers’ organisations in Australia".

The presentation was made by the honourable Richard E. McGarvie A.C., Governor of Victoria, at Government House in Melbourne.

Award-Winning Novels

The Brown Land was Green

  • "Highly Commended" by the Australian Children's Book Council "Book of the Year" in 1956-57.

The Min-Min

  • "The Children's Book of the Year" by The Children's Book Council of Australia in 1966-67.

Blue Above the Trees

  • "Commended" by The Children's Book Council of Australia in 1967-68.
  • Appeared on the Select List of the American Library Association in 1969.

Spark of Opal

  • The German edition won a place on the Deutscher Jugendbuchpreis (German Children's Book Award) in 1971.

Iron Mountain

  • The German edition won a place on the Deutscher Jugendbuchpreis (German Children's Book Award) in 1973.

The Sky is Free

  • Film and Television Rights purchased by Walt Disney in 1976.

Life Member of the Children's Book Council of Australia

In 1990 the Victorian Branch of the Children's Book Council of Australia acknowledged Mavis' contribution to the Australian publishing industry by awarding her a Life Membership. This marked the 60th anniversary of her publishing career.

Fellowship of Australian Writers National Literary Award

The "Mavis Thorpe Clark Award" is awarded for the winning entry of an anthology of sustained quality and distinction by an Australian student.

Fuchsia: Mavis Thorpe Clark

A fuchsia developed by fellow author Colin Thiele was named in her honour. The "Mavis Thorpe Clark" was registered with the American Fuchsia Society in 1998.

The flower is described as being predominantly soft lilac and violet when mature with magenta filament, dark red anther, very pale pink pistil and yellow stigma. The bud is almost round with a point.

Continues ... On Books and Writing

MTC holding the official documentation.

Order of Australia, 1996.

Cover of 1982 edition of The Min-Min showing award stamp from Children's Book Council.

Award-winning The Min-Min.

Hand-written certificate: The Children's Book Council of Australia, Victorian Branch, welcomes Mavis Thorpe Clark as a Life Member of our Association. Our Congratulations on the 60th anniversary of your publishing career. Pamela Horsey, President 1990.

Life Membership of the Children's Book Council of Australia, Victorian Branch, 1990.

Unassuming document, number 4022 states: Your fuchsia Mavis Thorpe Clark has met all the requirements for registration with the International Registration Authority and is hereby accepted.

Certificate of Registration for the "Mavis Thorpe Clark" fuchsia.