Puberty Blues co-writer passes away: An Australian author's life and legacy at age 64
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It is with sadness that we share the news that the exceptional Australian author and co-writer of the iconic coming-of-age novel Puberty Blues, Gabrielle Carey, has passed away at the age of 64.
The tragic loss was revealed by Gabrielle’s fellow co-writer and good friend, Kathy Lette, who paid tribute to her lost friend on social media.
Kathy wrote on Twitter: ‘I’m deeply saddened by the tragic news about my old friend Gabrielle Carey. I have such happy memories of our teenage years. They were halcyon, heady days full of love, laughter and adventure.’
‘We made some mischief and broke some barriers by writing Puberty Blues – our raw, earthy take on the brutal treatment of young women in the Australian surfing scene, which is, sadly, still so relevant,’ she continued.
Gabrielle co-wrote Puberty Blues with Ms Lette, an Australian-British author, in 1979 during their teen years. It was the first published book in the country to be written by teenagers. It was adapted into a film two years later. In 2012, it was turned into a television show which aired for two seasons.
‘My heartfelt condolences to her family and friends,’ Kathy said.
The cause of her death has not been revealed, but her life and legacy can still be celebrated by all.
Puberty Blues depicted the lives of two 13-year-old girls, Deb and Sue, who navigated life in 1970s Australian surf and youth culture in Cronulla. It received huge critical and popular acclaim for its candid depictions of sexism and featured young adult themes such as love, sex and identity.
Kylie Minogue said she remembered ‘devouring’ the novel as a teenager, while Germaine Greer called it a ‘profoundly moral story’.
Daughter of another prominent Australian writer, Alex Carey, Gabrielle went on to write more books across multiple genres, such as biography, autobiography, memoirs, essays and articles.
Her 1984 book Just Us was her personal account of her real-life relationship with a prisoner at Parramatta Jail. It was adapted into a telemovie in 1986. According to reports, Gabrielle fell in love with Terry Haley, who was serving 27 years for abduction and rape, when she visited the jail. She married him while he was still in prison.
Another book, Moving Among Strangers, was the joint winner of the 2014 Prime Minister’s Award for Non-Fiction and was short-listed for the 2015 National Biography Award.
Her most recent book, Only Happiness Here: In Search Of Elizabeth Von Arnim, was published in 2020. It was also shortlisted for the Nib Literary Award.
She was working on a book about James Joyce before her untimely passing.
The author also taught writing at various universities for more than 20 years, including the University of Canberra, the University of Western Sydney, the University of Sydney and the University of Technology Sydney.
Gabrielle was also a regular contributor to The Australian, among other publications.
Geordie Williamson, The Australian’s chief literary critic, paid tribute to the author as well. He wrote: ‘Her life has been cut short, cruelly. In other cultures, an author of Gabrielle Carey’s gifts would have been widely feted. Instead, like so many Australian writers before her, she laboured for decades in relative anonymity and with only scant support.’
Fellow authors also paid tribute to her on social media, expressing their love and amazement at her five-decade writing career.
‘Such sad, sad news about Gabrielle Carey. A superb writer, over five decades, who never felt feted enough. She was so good,’ Nikki Gemmell wrote.
Another author, Alice Grundy, wrote: ‘Terribly sad to hear about Gabrielle Carey. I first met her at a Bloomsday event at the Old Clare nearly twenty years ago — her passion for Joyce and performance vibrated through the crowded pub.’
‘We met only a few times; I knew her in the way an editor and reader knows a writer. I greatly admired her non-fiction, so much of which was about the wild imaginative connections between books and readers,’ said book editor Catriona Menzies-Pike.
She is survived by her daughter and son.
The Seniors Discount Club would like to extend its sincere condolences to the friends, family and colleagues of Gabrielle Carey – an Australian writing icon who will be missed. We thank her for her legacy and applaud the life that she lived.
The tragic loss was revealed by Gabrielle’s fellow co-writer and good friend, Kathy Lette, who paid tribute to her lost friend on social media.
Kathy wrote on Twitter: ‘I’m deeply saddened by the tragic news about my old friend Gabrielle Carey. I have such happy memories of our teenage years. They were halcyon, heady days full of love, laughter and adventure.’
‘We made some mischief and broke some barriers by writing Puberty Blues – our raw, earthy take on the brutal treatment of young women in the Australian surfing scene, which is, sadly, still so relevant,’ she continued.
The novel was a breakthrough for both Gabrielle and Cathy. Credit: KathyLette/Twitter
Gabrielle co-wrote Puberty Blues with Ms Lette, an Australian-British author, in 1979 during their teen years. It was the first published book in the country to be written by teenagers. It was adapted into a film two years later. In 2012, it was turned into a television show which aired for two seasons.
‘My heartfelt condolences to her family and friends,’ Kathy said.
The cause of her death has not been revealed, but her life and legacy can still be celebrated by all.
Puberty Blues depicted the lives of two 13-year-old girls, Deb and Sue, who navigated life in 1970s Australian surf and youth culture in Cronulla. It received huge critical and popular acclaim for its candid depictions of sexism and featured young adult themes such as love, sex and identity.
Kylie Minogue said she remembered ‘devouring’ the novel as a teenager, while Germaine Greer called it a ‘profoundly moral story’.
Puberty Blues received critical and popular acclaim at the time of its publishing. Credit: Suzy Hazelwood/Pexels
Daughter of another prominent Australian writer, Alex Carey, Gabrielle went on to write more books across multiple genres, such as biography, autobiography, memoirs, essays and articles.
Her 1984 book Just Us was her personal account of her real-life relationship with a prisoner at Parramatta Jail. It was adapted into a telemovie in 1986. According to reports, Gabrielle fell in love with Terry Haley, who was serving 27 years for abduction and rape, when she visited the jail. She married him while he was still in prison.
Another book, Moving Among Strangers, was the joint winner of the 2014 Prime Minister’s Award for Non-Fiction and was short-listed for the 2015 National Biography Award.
Her most recent book, Only Happiness Here: In Search Of Elizabeth Von Arnim, was published in 2020. It was also shortlisted for the Nib Literary Award.
She was working on a book about James Joyce before her untimely passing.
The author also taught writing at various universities for more than 20 years, including the University of Canberra, the University of Western Sydney, the University of Sydney and the University of Technology Sydney.
Gabrielle was also a regular contributor to The Australian, among other publications.
Geordie Williamson, The Australian’s chief literary critic, paid tribute to the author as well. He wrote: ‘Her life has been cut short, cruelly. In other cultures, an author of Gabrielle Carey’s gifts would have been widely feted. Instead, like so many Australian writers before her, she laboured for decades in relative anonymity and with only scant support.’
Fellow authors also paid tribute to her on social media, expressing their love and amazement at her five-decade writing career.
‘Such sad, sad news about Gabrielle Carey. A superb writer, over five decades, who never felt feted enough. She was so good,’ Nikki Gemmell wrote.
Another author, Alice Grundy, wrote: ‘Terribly sad to hear about Gabrielle Carey. I first met her at a Bloomsday event at the Old Clare nearly twenty years ago — her passion for Joyce and performance vibrated through the crowded pub.’
‘We met only a few times; I knew her in the way an editor and reader knows a writer. I greatly admired her non-fiction, so much of which was about the wild imaginative connections between books and readers,’ said book editor Catriona Menzies-Pike.
She is survived by her daughter and son.
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