THE next Kogarah Historical Society monthly meeting on July 9 will focus on May Gibbs, the author known to generations of Australian children for Snugglepot and Cuddlepie, the charming gumnut babies — and the not-so-charming Big Bad Banksia Men.
Guest speaker Stewart Reed (pictured) will talk about Gibbs' life and work.
Mr Reed has worked in a number of cultural organisations and is currently doing a PhD at the University of Sydney where he also runs a course on "the unknown May Gibbs" at its Centre for Continuing Education.
In his spare time he is cataloguing her artworks and her comic strip themes.
According to Mr Reed the gumnuts were only part of her work.
In her 92 years she produced paintings, comic strips, satirical illustrations, calendars and postcards. Her first published work was at the age of 12 and her last was at 90.
"May Gibbs always considered herself an artist rather than a writer or illustrator," Mr Reed said.
"This talk will introduce her remarkable output along with the major events in her life, from her birth in England to her years in Sydney [and] childhood in WA."
The talk starts at 2pm at the Kogarah School of Arts.
Admission is $2 and includes afternoon tea. All welcome.