AS her husband paced across the floor, Anna Rose sat diligently at the typewriter.
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A former journalist at The Leader, Mrs Rose has been honoured with the Eric Watson Literary Award at the Australian Country Music Hall of Fame, years after she accepted the award on behalf of her late husband.
“You could call it a stint, I started there when I was 29-years-old and I was the newsroom clerk for six weeks when Ann Newling gave me a job as a casual journalist,” Mrs Rose said.
“I walked out of the building 29 years later.
“I wrote in the newsroom, I wrote features and country music stories, I wrote people stories – I loved every second of it.”
As she accepted the award on Saturday, Mrs Rose was visibly emotional – touched by the memory of her husband and the recognition she herself is an established writer.
Her late husband Jazzer was an inspiration to her both in life and in her career.
As he paced the hallway, Mrs Rose would interject with suggestions here and there, it wasn’t until years later that she realised she was the student and he, her mentor.
“He was subliminally teaching and mentoring me the whole time,” she said.
“Jazzer passed away in 1987, he died of Non-Hogkin Lymphoma and he had that for 17 years, I’d only shared six years of his life with him but there were a precious six because our daughter was born.
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“When I picked up this award for him a few years ago it was special, and now here I am today picking it up for me – it’s a bit scary.”
Over time Mrs Rose has weaved her way into biographical writing after she bought a motor home and traveled Australia.
With two published books and another two on the way, she shows no signs of slowing down.
“I’m working on a chap who’s not even in the music industry, he’s just an ordinary everyday bloke with an extraordinary story,” she said.
Also inducted into The Broadcasters Hall of Fame were Graham Archer and Wally Sparrow.
The Hands of Fame inductees are Robyn McIntosh, Lindsay Waddington, Aleyce Simmonds, Ashley Cook, Gina Timms, Ross McGregor and Ron and Rosie Adsett.
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Madeline Link
Madeline Link is a journalist at the Newcastle Herald, with a focus on Lake Macquarie City Council. To keep up with my stories, follow my Twitter @madeline_link, for tips email madeline.link@newcastleherald.com.au.
Madeline Link is a journalist at the Newcastle Herald, with a focus on Lake Macquarie City Council. To keep up with my stories, follow my Twitter @madeline_link, for tips email madeline.link@newcastleherald.com.au.
