Photograph courtesy of Jeremy Bannister
Jill Blee has written three novels, The Pines Hold Their Secrets, about the infamous penal settlement of Norfolk island, Brigid, about the Irish Potato Famine, and The Liberator’s Birthday, a novel set in the Irish community of Ballarat in 1875. All three were published by Indra Publishing.
Jill’s histories include From the Murray to the Sea: A History of Catholic Education in the Ballarat Diocese which was commissioned in 2002 by the Catholic Education Office in Ballarat.
Other histories have all been published in the Little Red Book Series produced by Exisle Publishing. The first of these, Eureka was published in April 2007, and two more Gold and Australian Aviation were released in October 2007.
JIll has also been involved in editing and producing two books for the Ballarat Mechanics' Institute. The first, Ballarat Punch at the Mechanics, which she edited with Rex Bridges combines extracts from the institute's collection of Ballarat Punch with recent writing from selected writers. The second, Under Minerva's Gaze, which Jill edited with Phil Roberts, tells the story of the Ballarat Mechanics' Institute from its beginnings to the present day.
Jill usually has a number of writing projects on the go. She is currently working on an adult novel set in Moonee Ponds in 1902. At the same time she is editing the first of her stories for children set in the great cathedrals of the world. She is also awaiting news of the progress of her journey into the unkown story called Dorrington's Extraordinary Journey.
When she is not writing Jill teaches writing at the Council of Adult Education in Melbourne and History at U3A.
Jill is a past chairperson of Ballarat Writers and a Director of the Ballarat Mechanics’ Institute.
Jill’s histories include From the Murray to the Sea: A History of Catholic Education in the Ballarat Diocese which was commissioned in 2002 by the Catholic Education Office in Ballarat.
Other histories have all been published in the Little Red Book Series produced by Exisle Publishing. The first of these, Eureka was published in April 2007, and two more Gold and Australian Aviation were released in October 2007.
JIll has also been involved in editing and producing two books for the Ballarat Mechanics' Institute. The first, Ballarat Punch at the Mechanics, which she edited with Rex Bridges combines extracts from the institute's collection of Ballarat Punch with recent writing from selected writers. The second, Under Minerva's Gaze, which Jill edited with Phil Roberts, tells the story of the Ballarat Mechanics' Institute from its beginnings to the present day.
Jill usually has a number of writing projects on the go. She is currently working on an adult novel set in Moonee Ponds in 1902. At the same time she is editing the first of her stories for children set in the great cathedrals of the world. She is also awaiting news of the progress of her journey into the unkown story called Dorrington's Extraordinary Journey.
When she is not writing Jill teaches writing at the Council of Adult Education in Melbourne and History at U3A.
Jill is a past chairperson of Ballarat Writers and a Director of the Ballarat Mechanics’ Institute.