Emily Coungeau

Emily Coungeau (3 May 1860 – 26 July 1936) was an English-born Australian poet.

Emily Coungeau
Emily Coungeau in 1930
Emily Coungeau in 1930
BornEmily Howard
(1860-05-03)3 May 1860
Essex, England
Died26 July 1936(1936-07-26) (aged 76)
Brisbane, Queensland
Occupationpoet

Biography

Although only starting to write poetry after the age of 50, Coungeau was a prolific writer whose work was widely published in Australian newspapers, and in four volumes of poetry published between 1914 and 1934.[1]

Her poems were published in the Brisbane Courier from early 1913.[2]

Coungeau's poem, "Love's Reverie", became a song, set to music by Percy Brier in 1913.[3] In 1922 she wrote the libretto for Alfred Hill's romantic opera, Auster!.[4]

In 1935 Coungeau was awarded life membership of Society of British Authors, Playwrights and Composers. She was a foundation member of the Lyceum Club in Brisbane.[5]

Personal

Coungeau married Naoum (Norman) Cougeau at the registry office in Richmond, Victoria on 21 February 1889. They settled in Brisbane and ran a restaurant and wine bar together. Years later they retired to Bribie Island. Coungeau died in Brisbane on 26 July 1936.[1] Her funeral was held at St. John’s Cathedral.[6] Her husband died only weeks later on 6 September.[7] There were no children.

Works

  • Stella Australis: Poems, Verses and Prose Fragments (1914)
  • Princess Mona: A Romantic Poetical Drama, illustrated by D. H. Souter (1916)
  • Rustling Leaves: Selected Poems (1920)
  • Palm Fronds: Poems and Verse (1927)
  • Fern Leaves: Poems and Verse (1934)

References

  1. McKay, Belinda (2005). "'Coungeau, Emily (1860–1936)'". Australian Dictionary of Biography. National Centre of Biography, Australian National University. ISSN 1833-7538. Retrieved 31 August 2018.
  2. "Evolution". The Brisbane Courier. No. 17, 181. Queensland, Australia. 5 February 1913. p. 19 (Courier Home Circle). Retrieved 23 April 2019 via National Library of Australia.
  3. Brier, Percy; Coungeau, E. (Emily) (1913), Love's reverie : song, [s.n], retrieved 23 April 2019
  4. Auster!
  5. "What Women Are Doing". The Australian Women's Weekly. Vol. II, no. 39. Australia. 2 March 1935. p. 18. Retrieved 23 April 2019 via National Library of Australia.
  6. "Family Notices". The Telegraph. Queensland, Australia. 27 July 1936. p. 10 (City Final Last Minute News). Retrieved 23 April 2019 via National Library of Australia.
  7. "Grants of Probate". The Telegraph. Queensland, Australia. 18 December 1936. p. 7 (City Final Last Minute News). Retrieved 23 April 2019 via National Library of Australia.
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