Pauline Neura Reilly
Encyclopedia
Pauline Neura Reilly, OAM
(5 December 1918 - 22 April 2011) was an Australian author
and ornithologist.
. Her family moved to Melbourne
where she attended Korowa Anglican Girls' School
and Melbourne Girls Grammar School
until 1934. Before the Second World War
she worked as a secretary, then served from 1942 to 1944 as a gunner in the Women's Auxiliary Australian Air Force
, as well as working for Australian Army Intelligence
. She married Arthur Reilly in 1943.
(RAOU) in 1956, which she served as Publicity Officer 1966-1967, on the Field Investigations Committee 1969-1972, as President 1972-1975, and as the Chair of the Atlas Committee 1976-1982. From 1969 to 1970 she was President of the Bird Banders' Association of Australia
. From 1964 to 1981 she was the Honorary Regional Victorian Organiser of the Australian Bird and Bat Banding Scheme
. One of her main achievements with the RAOU was the instigation, leadership and successful conclusion of the RAOU's first Atlas of Australian Birds project, fieldwork for which ran from 1 January 1977 to 31 December 1981.
Reilly was actively involved in ornithological fieldwork for many years, especially in studies of Little Penguin
s. In 1968 she founded the Penguin Study Group of the Victorian Ornithological Research Group
. In 1973 she led an expedition to the Great Australian Bight
to carry out penguin research. In 1978-79 she became the first woman to spend the summer research season on subantarctic Macquarie Island
in order to band
penguins. She was invited to open the Second International Penguin Conference in August 1992.
In later years Reilly moved to Aireys Inlet
on the Victorian coast where she concentrated on writing a series of scientifically accurate children's books
about Australian birds and other animals, mainly illustrated first by Will Rolland and later by Kaylene Traynor.
Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
(5 December 1918 - 22 April 2011) was an Australian author
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
and ornithologist.
Early Years
Reilly was born (as Pauline Duncan) in AdelaideAdelaide
Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth-largest city in Australia. Adelaide has an estimated population of more than 1.2 million...
. Her family moved to Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
where she attended Korowa Anglican Girls' School
Korowa Anglican Girls' School
Korowa Anglican Girls' School is an independent, Anglican, day school for girls, located in Glen Iris, a suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia....
and Melbourne Girls Grammar School
Melbourne Girls Grammar School
Melbourne Girls Grammar School , is an independent, Anglican, day and boarding school for girls, located in South Yarra, an inner city suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia....
until 1934. Before the Second World War
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
she worked as a secretary, then served from 1942 to 1944 as a gunner in the Women's Auxiliary Australian Air Force
Women's Auxiliary Australian Air Force
The Women's Auxiliary Australian Air Force was formed in March 1941 after considerable lobbying by women keen to serve and by the Chief of the Air Staff who wanted to release male personnel serving in Australia for service overseas. The WAAAF was the first and largest of the World War II...
, as well as working for Australian Army Intelligence
Australian Army Intelligence Corps
The Australian Intelligence Corps is a corps within the Australian Army. It was formed on 6 December 1907 and provides intelligence personnel in every formation headquarters in the Army. The corps currently consists of 169 officers and 232 other ranks....
. She married Arthur Reilly in 1943.
Ornithology
Reilly joined the Royal Australasian Ornithologists UnionRoyal Australasian Ornithologists Union
The Royal Australasian Ornithologists Union, also known as Birds Australia, was founded in 1901 to promote the study and conservation of the native bird species of Australia and adjacent regions. This makes it Australia's oldest national birding association. It is also Australia's largest...
(RAOU) in 1956, which she served as Publicity Officer 1966-1967, on the Field Investigations Committee 1969-1972, as President 1972-1975, and as the Chair of the Atlas Committee 1976-1982. From 1969 to 1970 she was President of the Bird Banders' Association of Australia
Australian Bird Study Association
The Australian Bird Study Association was first formed as the Bird Banders Association in 1962 of a group of people interested in bird-banding and other aspects of field ornithology in Australia....
. From 1964 to 1981 she was the Honorary Regional Victorian Organiser of the Australian Bird and Bat Banding Scheme
Australian Bird and Bat Banding Scheme
The Australian Bird and Bat Banding Scheme , a combination of the former Australian bird banding and bat banding schemes, is managed by the Department of the Environment and Heritage, Australia.-History:...
. One of her main achievements with the RAOU was the instigation, leadership and successful conclusion of the RAOU's first Atlas of Australian Birds project, fieldwork for which ran from 1 January 1977 to 31 December 1981.
Reilly was actively involved in ornithological fieldwork for many years, especially in studies of Little Penguin
Little Penguin
The Little Penguin is the smallest species of penguin. The penguin, which usually grows to an average of in height and in length , is found on the coastlines of southern Australia and New Zealand, with possible records from Chile.Apart from Little Penguins, they have several common names...
s. In 1968 she founded the Penguin Study Group of the Victorian Ornithological Research Group
Victorian Ornithological Research Group
The Victorian Ornithological Research Group is a small project-focused ornithological group of amateurs and professionals based in Victoria, Australia. It was formed in 1962. It publishes a bulletin, VORG Notes...
. In 1973 she led an expedition to the Great Australian Bight
Great Australian Bight
The Great Australian Bight is a large bight, or open bay, off the central and western portions of the southern coastline of mainland Australia.-Extent:...
to carry out penguin research. In 1978-79 she became the first woman to spend the summer research season on subantarctic Macquarie Island
Macquarie Island
Macquarie Island lies in the southwest corner of the Pacific Ocean, about half-way between New Zealand and Antarctica, at 54°30S, 158°57E. Politically, it has formed part of the Australian state of Tasmania since 1900 and became a Tasmanian State Reserve in 1978. In 1997 it became a world heritage...
in order to band
Bird ringing
Bird ringing or bird banding is a technique used in the study of wild birds, by attaching a small, individually numbered, metal or plastic tag to their legs or wings, so that various aspects of the bird's life can be studied by the ability to re-find the same individual later...
penguins. She was invited to open the Second International Penguin Conference in August 1992.
In later years Reilly moved to Aireys Inlet
Aireys Inlet, Victoria
Aireys Inlet is a small coastal inlet and town located on the Great Ocean Road, southwest of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Aireys Inlet is located between Anglesea and Lorne, and joined with Fairhaven to the west. At the 2006 census, Aireys Inlet had a population of 1,148.Many surfers holiday in...
on the Victorian coast where she concentrated on writing a series of scientifically accurate children's books
Children's literature
Children's literature is for readers and listeners up to about age twelve; it is often defined in four different ways: books written by children, books written for children, books chosen by children, or books chosen for children. It is often illustrated. The term is used in senses which sometimes...
about Australian birds and other animals, mainly illustrated first by Will Rolland and later by Kaylene Traynor.
Honours
- 1981 - elected a Fellow of the RAOURoyal Australasian Ornithologists Union FellowsThe Royal Australasian Ornithologists Union may elect somebody to the position of Fellow, the highest grade of membership, for service to the RAOU and to ornithology. Fellows of the RAOU are entitled to use the letters FRAOU after their name. There is a limit to the number of Fellows that may...
- 1987 and 1992 - received Whitley Book AwardWhitley Awards (Australia)The Whitley Awards have been awarded annually since 1979 by the Royal Zoological Society of New South Wales . They commemorate Gilbert Whitley, an eminent Australian ichthyologist, and are presented for outstanding publications, either printed or electronic, that contain new information about the...
s for Best Children's Series from the Royal Zoological Society of New South WalesRoyal Zoological Society of New South WalesThe Royal Zoological Society of New South Wales was formed in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia in 1879 as the New South Wales Zoological Society. A Royal Charter was granted in September, 1908, leading to a change to the current name on 10 February 1909... - 1994 - awarded the Medal of the Order of AustraliaOrder of AustraliaThe Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
(OAM) for service to ornithology - 1994 - awarded the Wilderness SocietyThe Wilderness Society (Australia)The Wilderness Society is an Australian, community-based, not-for-profit non-governmental environmental advocacy organisation. Its purpose is to protect, promote and restore wilderness and natural processes across Australia for the survival and ongoing evolution of life on Earth.It is a...
Award for Children's Literature (non-fiction) - 2001 - awarded the RAOU's John Hobbs MedalJohn Hobbs MedalThe John Hobbs Medal may be awarded annually by the Royal Australasian Ornithologists Union for "outstanding contributions to ornithology as an amateur scientist". It commemorates John Hobbs and was first awarded in 1995...
for contributions to amateur ornithology in Australia - 2005 - awarded the W. Roy Wheeler MedallionW. Roy Wheeler MedallionThe W. Roy Wheeler Medallion for excellence in field ornithology was created on the occasion of the centenary of the founding of Bird Observation & Conservation Australia to commemorate Roy Wheeler MBE, FRAOU, , an amateur ornithologist with a long association with the Club, as well as with the...
for contributions to field ornithology by Bird Observation & Conservation Australia
Published works
- Reilly, Pauline N. (1983). Fairy Penguins and Earthy People. Lothian Publishing Co: Melbourne, Australia. ISBN 0-85091-160-5
- Blakers, Margaret; Davies, S.J.J.F.; & Reilly, Pauline N. (1984). The Atlas of Australian Birds. Melbourne University Press: Carlton, Australia. ISBN 0-522-84285-2
- Reilly, Pauline N. (1988). The Lyrebird. A natural history. Australian Natural History Series. NSW University Press: Kensington, Australia. ISBN 0-86840-083-1
- Reilly, Pauline N. (1988). Private Lives. Ages, mates and movements of some Australian birds. Kangaroo Press: Kenthurst, Australia. ISBN 0-86417-149-8
- Reilly, Pauline N. (1994). Penguins of the World. Oxford University Press: South Melbourne, Australia. ISBN 0-19-553547-2
- Dann, Peter; Norman, Ian; & Reilly, Pauline. (Eds). (1995). The Penguins: Ecology and Management. Surrey Beatty & Sons: Chipping Norton, Australia. ISBN 0-949324-58-2
- Reilly, Pauline. (2001). Cannabis and Cancer: Arthur's Story. Scribe Publications: Australia. ISBN 0-908011-61-X
Children's books
- Reilly, Pauline. (1988). The Emu That Walks Towards the Rain. Kangaroo Press.ISBN 0-86417-059-9
- Reilly, Pauline. (1988). The Kookaburra That Helps at the Nest. Kangaroo Press.ISBN 0-86417-119-6
- Reilly, Pauline. (1988). The Lyrebird That is Always Too Busy to Dance. Kangaroo Press. ISBN 0-86417-086-6
- Reilly, Pauline. (1989). Australian Birds – True Life Stories. Kangaroo Press. ISBN 0-86417-269-9
- Reilly, Pauline. (1993). Frillneck: An Australian Dragon. Kangaroo Press. ISBN 0-86417-414-4
- Reilly, Pauline. (1993). Kangaroo. Kangaroo Press. ISBN 0-86417-538-8
- Reilly, Pauline. (1993). The Tasmanian Devil. Kangaroo Press. ISBN 0-86417-207-9
- Reilly, Pauline. (1993). The Wombat. Kangaroo Press. ISBN 0-86417-148-X
- Reilly, Pauline. (1994). Platypus. Kangaroo Press. ISBN 0-86417-391-1
- Reilly, Pauline. (1994). Sugar Glider. Kangaroo Press. ISBN 0-86417-590-6
- Reilly, Pauline. (1995). The Penguin That Walks at Night. Kangaroo Press. ISBN 0-86417-034-3
- Reilly, Pauline. (1995). The Galah. Kangaroo Press. ISBN 0-86417-346-6
- Reilly, Pauline. (1995). Kiwi. Kangaroo Press. ISBN 0-86417-488-8
- Reilly, Pauline. (1995). The Koala. Kangaroo Press. ISBN 0-86417-243-5
- Reilly, Pauline. (1995). Malleefowl: The Incubator Bird. Kangaroo Press. ISBN 0-86417-317-2
- Reilly, Pauline. (1995). Python. Kangaroo Press. ISBN 0-86417-698-8
- Reilly, Pauline. (1996). Bilby. Kangaroo Press. ISBN 0-86417-737-2
- Reilly, Pauline. (1996). Brolga. Kangaroo Press. ISBN 0-86417-719-4
- Reilly, Pauline. (1996). Penguin. Kangaroo Press. ISBN 0-86417-826-3)
- Reilly, Pauline. (1996). Pobblebonk the Frog. Kangaroo Press. ISBN 0-86417-802-6
- Reilly, Pauline. (1997). Echidna. Kangaroo Press. ISBN 9780864172853
- Reilly, Pauline. (1997). Kangaroo. Kangaroo Press. ISBN 0-86417-538-8
- Reilly, Pauline. (1997). Pelican. Kangaroo Press. ISBN 0-86417-830-1
- Reilly, Pauline. (1998). Boobook the Owl. Kangaroo Press. ISBN 0-86417-966-9
- Reilly, Pauline. (1998). Emperor the Magnificent Penguin. Bristlebird Books. ISBN 0864179073
- Reilly, Pauline. (2000). Arcto the Seal. Bristlebird Books. ISBN 0957778910
- Reilly, Pauline. (2000). Hippocampus the Seahorse. Bristlebird Books. ISBN 0957778902
- Reilly, Pauline. (2001). Aquila the Eagle. Bristlebird Books. ISBN 0957778929
- Reilly, Pauline. (2005). Crocodylus the Freshwater Crocodile. Bristlebird Books. ISBN 097512711X
- Reilly, Pauline. (2008). Varanus the Gardening Goanna. Bristlebird Books. ISBN 0975127160