Liz Byrski
Elizabeth Ann Byrski is an Australian writer and journalist.
Biography
After graduating from Notre Dame Convent in Lingfield, Surrey, in 1960, Byrski attended the Crawley College of Further Education and the Wall Hall College of Education. Her journalism career began when she started as a journalist in 1962 on the Horley Advertiser, in Horley, Surrey. She moved to Australia in 1981.Byrski was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia in the 2023 Australia Day Honours.
Journalism
As a freelance journalist Byrski's work has appeared in the Australian Financial Review, The West Australian, The Australian, The Age, the San Francisco Chronicle, the San Francisco Examiner, and The Dominion, Homes and Living, New Idea, Cosmopolitan, SkyWest In-Flight, Building Magazine, and Portfolio.In 1988 to 1990 and from 1993 to 1996 she was a broadcaster and executive producer at ABC 720 6WF in Perth. This period included co-presenting the Grapevine program with then-television newsreader Peter Holland. She was also an occasional book reviewer for the ABC.
In 1987 she was a panelist on the daily Channel 7 program Beauty and the Beast.
She has won several awards for her journalism, including the Radio Prize at the 1996 WA Media Awards and the CSIRO WA Award for Excellence in Science Journalism.
From 1983 to 1989 she wrote the weekly Viewpoint column in Perth's Community Newspapers group.
She has been an occasional guest presenter for the School of Isolated and Distance Education TV program Our Side Your Side.
She has also been a policy advisor to the Government of Western Australia and is a past-President of the WA Women's [Advisory Council to the Premier]. Her past honorary positions include board memberships with the WA Alzheimer's Association and the Family Planning Association of WA.
Books
Novels
Gang of Four Food, Sex & Money Belly Dancing for Beginners Trip of a Lifetime Bad Behaviour Last Chance Cafe In the Company of Strangers Family Secrets The Woman Next Door A Month of SundaysGang of Four was published in France in 2007 as La bande des quarters by Les Presses de la Cite, and in Germany by Mohrbooks in 2008. Food, Sex & Money was published in France by Presses de la Cite in 2009 and in Germany in 2010.
Anthologies
Sunscreen and Lipstick Just Between Us Summer Lovin'- ''Purple Prose''
Non-fiction
Behind the Bedroom Door: Alcoholism, the family disease Workwise: Getting a job and starting out Pills, Potions, People: Understanding the drug problem Under the Influence: Growing up in alcoholic families Facing Cancer: Searching for solutions The Grapevine Quick & Easy Cookbook Spectacular Australian Sea Rescues The Way Ahead: Prominent Australians talk about the future of our nation Western Australia – Land of Contrasts Speaking Out: Australian women talk about success Remember Me Getting On: Some Thoughts on Women and Ageing In Love and War: nursing heroes- ''Women of a Certain Rage: Life stories''
Academia
Byrski is an Associate Professor and the Director of the China Australia Writing Centre at Curtin University.From 1996 to 2003 she was an Adjunct Teaching Fellow at Curtin, teaching Professional Writing, Journalism and Media Ethics.
From 1984 to 1988 she was a sessional tutor in print journalism at the-then Western Australia Institute of Technology.