Henry Maurice Saxby was born on 26 December 1924 in Botany, New South Wales. His father was Maurice Henry Saxby and his mother was Nettie Thompson. They had three sons, Henry Maurice, Geoffrey, Richard and a daughter, Helen. Saxby attended and won awards at Leeton High School and completed his Leaving Certificate in 1941 at Fort Street Boys' High School, later studying at the Metropolitan Business College.
Maurice Saxby trained as a teacher at Balmain Teachers College from 1948–49. He spent five years teaching in infants, primary and high schools in New South Wales including setting up a library in North Sydney School, appointment to Forest Lodge Demonstration School as a teacher-librarian, and Picton High School teaching English. He was associated with the NSW School Library Service working with Joyce Fardell. Saxby completed his Masters of Education at the University of Sydney before lecturing in the Bachelor of Education course. He was appointed as a lecturer in English at Newcastle Teachers College, lectured at Alexander Mackie College and continued to lecture at various colleges and universities in Australia and overseas. He moved to Kuring-gai College of Advanced Education where he lectured in English, Librarianship and Children's Literature until his retirement as Head Teacher of Education.
Children's literature
Saxby was recognised internationally as an authority on children's literature and on Australian children's writing in particular. He was affectionately referred to as "the Godfather of Australian Children's Literature." His masters thesis on the history of Australian children's literature was later published as "A history of Australian children's literature 1841 to 1941". He continued researching and surveying the history of Australian children's literature in a second volume which he completed as a PhD thesis at the University of Technology Sydney and published as "Images of Australia 1940 to 1970" and a third volume "The Proof of the Puddin'". Saxby reviewed Australian children's books for a range of publications including Magpies, Reading Time, Viewpoint, Literature Base and Orana.
Maurice Saxby was the first national president of the Children's Book Council of Australia in 1958, served as a judge for the CBCA book of the year awards. He became a Trustee of the NSW Branch. He remained associated with the Children's Book Council of Australia for more than 60 years and was granted life membership in recognition of his achievements, also receiving a Children's Book Council National Council Citation in 1991.
International Board on Books for Young People
Maurice Saxby served twice on the international jury for the Hans Christian Andersen Awards. He was nominated by Ena Noël, and elected to the jury in 1984 and 1986. In his second term the two Hans Christian Andersen medals were presented to Australians the first time both awards had ever gone to the same country. The 1986 Awards were presented at the IBBY Congress in Tokyo. The award for writing was presented to Patricia Wrightson and the award for illustration was presented to Robert Ingpen. In recognition of his achievements he was made a life member of the IBBY Australia organisation.
Saxby married Joyce Boniwell, who was the first children's editor at Angus & Robertson book publisher in 1963. Joyce died of cancer in 1964. He married Norma Jean Bateson on 14 December 1972. Norma died of cancer in 1990. Henry Maurice Saxby died on 30 November 2014 in Hunters Hill, New South Wales. A memorial service was arranged on Monday 19 January 2015 in the Great Hall at Sydney University. A memory book with contributions by children's authors, illustrators, publishers as well as friends and former students was compiled.
Memorials
The Maurice Saxby Award presented by the School Library Association of New South Wales honours an individual, team or organisation that has displayed excellence and passion in promoting reading and/or writing for young people in New South Wales.
The Maurice Saxby Lecture presented by the Children's Book Council of Australia acknowledges the contribution made to the CBCA by lecturer, writer and mentor Dr Maurice Saxby AM.
