1940 - 2024

Marion Halligan was an Australian writer and novelist. She was born and educated in Newcastle, New South Wales, and worked as a school teacher and journalist before publishing her first short stories. She wrote twenty-three books, including six works of non-fiction and five short story collections, and one play.

Marion was a founding member of a group of women writers based in Canberra known as the “Canberra Seven” or "Seven Writers". The group began with three members in 1980, growing to seven by 1984. In addition to Marion Halligan, they were Dorothy Johnston, Margaret Barbalet, Sara Dowse, Suzanne Edgar, Marian Eldridge and Dorothy Horsfield. The group essentially disbanded after Marian Eldridge's death in 1997. However, before that they met regularly to critique each other's work, and published a book of short stories called Canberra Tales in 1988. The colourful MARION graphic used across our collateral is an acknowledgment of this important group of tenacious, talented writers. The form is divided into seven; one for each member of the group.

Marion served as chair of the Literature Board of the Australia Council and the Australian National Word Festival. In 2006 she was appointed Member of the Order of Australia (AM), General Division, for services to literature and for her work in promoting Australian writing.

Vale Marion Halligan