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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