Judith Arundell Wright Australian poet Date of Birth: 31.05.1915 Country: Australia

1. Australian poet, environmentalist, and activist
2. Early Life and Education
3. Literary Career
4. Personal Life
5. Environmental Activism
6. Personal Relationship with Herbert Cole Coombs
7. Legacy and Death

Australian poet, environmentalist, and activist

Judith Arundell Wright, an Australian poet, environmentalist, and advocate for the rights of indigenous peoples in Australia, was born on May 31, 1915, in Armidale, New South Wales. She was the eldest daughter of Phillip Wright and his first wife, Ethel Wright. Although she was born in Armidale, Judith spent most of her childhood and youth in Brisbane and Sydney.

Early Life and Education

After the early death of her mother, Judith lived with her aunt. In 1929, when her father remarried, she was sent to the New England Girls' School in Armidale. After completing her schooling, Judith studied philosophy, English, psychology, and history at the University of Sydney. However, when World War II broke out, she returned to her father's sheep farm, where a shortage of labor due to the war led her to work there. It was during this time that she began to experience hearing loss, which eventually left her completely deaf by 1992.

Literary Career

Judith Wright's first poetry collection, "The Moving Image," was published in 1946 while she was a research fellow at the University of Queensland. She also worked for the literary journal "Meanjin" with Clement Christesen, its founder and editor for 34 years. Her poetry reflects a keen attention to Australian nature, the lives of indigenous people, and the relationship between humans and the natural world. Her works have been translated into Italian, Japanese, and Russian.

Personal Life

In 1950, Wright moved to Mount Tamborine, Queensland, with novelist and philosopher Jack McKinney, with whom she had a daughter named Meredith. They married in 1962, but Jack passed away four years later, leaving Judith widowed. For the last 30 years of her life, she resided in the small historic town of Braidwood, New South Wales, with a population barely exceeding 1100 people.

Environmental Activism

Together with Australian naturalist David Fleay, naturalist and writer Kathleen McArthur, and British landscape designer Brian Clouston, Judith Wright co-founded the Wildlife Preservation Society of Queensland in 1964. She served as its president from 1964 to 1976. Wright became the second Australian to be awarded the Queen's Gold Medal for Poetry in 1992.

Personal Relationship with Herbert Cole Coombs

An article by Australian writer and educator Fiona Capp, titled "In the Garden," revealed the 25-year-long secret love affair between Judith Wright and Herbert Cole Coombs. Coombs, an economist and influential public servant, was a highly respected figure in Australian politics and culture. Judith moved to Braidwood to be closer to Canberra, where Coombs resided. Although Coombs was married, he and his wife had been separated for a long time. Despite their deep affection for each other, they never publicly acknowledged their relationship. When Coombs passed away in 1997, Judith did not attend his funeral as their relationship remained undisclosed. According to Wright's daughter, Judith was even more determined to keep their secret than Coombs, as she felt responsible for the pain it would cause his family. All of Coombs' letters to Judith began with the words "My dearest woman."

Legacy and Death

Judith Wright passed away on June 26, 2000, at the age of 85 in Canberra, where she had spent her final years due to her frail health. Her legacy as an influential poet, environmentalist, and advocate for indigenous rights continues to inspire generations.