Jack Bedson

Who is Jack Bedson?

John William "Jack" Bedson is an Australian writer, poet, children's picture book author, and former university librarian.

Bedson was born in the Sydney suburb of Redfern and raised in Sydney's inner suburbs. He went to preschool at Blackfriar's Public School in Chippendale, primary school at St Benedict's Broadway, and secondary at De La Salle College, Marrickville. He worked briefly as a stage hand at TCN9 Willoughby, and was accepted to the National Institute of Dramatic Art production course but declined in favour of an Arts degree at the University of New South Wales, graduating with First Class Honours in 1973 then completing a Diploma in Librarianship in 1974.

Bedson pursued librarianship in Tasmania where he also qualified as a ticketwriter, and began publishing poetry. He travelled for three years in Asia and Europe with his partner Margaret Bain before returning to settle in Armidale, New South Wales where he worked at the library of the University of New England. He acted as University Librarian in 2000 and 2007-9.

His best-selling children's picture books Don't Get Burnt and SheepDogs, illustrated by Peter Gouldthorpe, are classic Australian tales of the city and the bush. His adult poetry is salted with aphorisms, as in Karma, Sorta: