AustLit logo

AustLit

Terence O'Neill Terence O'Neill i(A11413 works by) (birth name: Terence George O'Neill) (a.k.a. Terry O'Neill)
Born: Established: 1940 East Melbourne, East Melbourne - Richmond area, Melbourne, Victoria, ;
Gender: Male
The material on this page is available to AustLit subscribers. If you are a subscriber or are from a subscribing organisation, please log in to gain full access. To explore options for subscribing to this unique teaching, research, and publishing resource for Australian culture and storytelling, please contact us or find out more.

Works By

Preview all
1 Time Without Clocks or ‘Repeat Pattern’ at Hanging Rock? : Joan Lindsay at the Lyceum Club in 1956 Terence O'Neill , 2010 single work criticism

'The pattern [which] had begun to form...was still spreading; still fanning out in depth and intensity, still incomplete ... Unaware of their allotted places in the general scheme of joy and sorrow, light and shade [they] went about their personal affairs as usual, unconsciously weaving and interweaving the individual threads of their private lives into the complex tapestry of the whole' (Picnic at Hanging Rock).

In 1956 Joan Lindsay gave a talk at the Lyceum Club in Melbourne entitled 'Repeat Pattern'. This talk is now completely forgotten, yet it is significant in the development of her thought. In her talk she explained the concept of 'repeat pattern' as follows: 'I believe that the pattern of every human life is like any other pattern, containing at ever recurring intervals what the designer of textiles calls a REPEAT. When the Repeat occurs the design resolves itself and begins all over again, thus fulfilling the original rhythm with which it began. Inch by inch, yard by yard, the pattern of the woven material takes shape. Hour by hour, day by day, the intricate and less easily recognizable tapestry of human life is worked out. The repeat is often at long intervals, often disguised in the complexity of the whole, but it is always there.'

This is almost certainly the first time that Joan Lindsay set down her philosophy on the relationship between human life and time - something she would develop initially in her book of autobiographical reminiscences Time Without Clocks, but especially in Picnic at Hanging Rock.
Since the publication in 1967 of the novel, and especially since the release of the film in 1975, the disappearance of three schoolgirls and their teacher, Miss McCraw, on Hanging Rock on St Valentine's Day 1900 has become a puzzle which many people have tried to solve - there have even been two books published on the subject. Hitherto those trying to solve the puzzle have concentrated mainly on events in the book or film. In this talk I approach the mystery from a different perspective, by looking at a few relevant events in Joan Lindsay's life up to 1956, and also by examining some things of importance to her. What I have chosen are pieces of a 'repeat pattern', which I believe will provide an insight not only into Joan's thinking, but also throw some light on what happened at Hanging Rock on that fateful day in 1900.


The pieces of the 'repeat pattern' which are examined in some detail are:
(a) The role of St Valentine's Day in Joan Lindsay's life
(b) Her friendship with her cousin Martin Boyd (q.v.).
(c) Two strange encounters with nuns which left a lasting impression on her.
(d) A mystery ship or two.
(e) People in an alien landscape, and two paintings at the National Gallery of Victoria.
(f) An article by a Miss McCraw, a teacher at Clyde School, in The Cluthan, the Clyde School magazine.
(g) clocks and watches that stop.
Putting these pieces of the pattern together provides an important clue as to what happened at Hanging Rock - at least on the literal level.

Yet I believe that the novel also has a (hitherto unnoticed) allegorical level, which can be accessed through a knowledge of events in Joan Lindsay's life in the years between the two world wars. During those years she experienced great suffering and sorrow, consisting of the loss of most members of her immediate family and the end of her career as an artist. Her response was a gradual development of an almost mystical view of life, the seeds of which had been planted at quite an early age. This mystical view is expressed in Picnic at Hanging Rock through the character of Miranda, in particular. Through her, Joan Lindsay is in a sense present at Hanging Rock, present with the picnic party. She later commented: 'To me it all happened, it was all terribly real for me'. Writing the book and thereby being present at the Rock was for her a 'repeat pattern', a re-experiencing of events which had caused her profound grief three decades earlier (Author's abstract).
1 A Bibliography of the Works of Joan Lindsay Terence O'Neill , 2009 single work bibliography
— Appears in: The La Trobe Journal , December no. 84 2009; (p. 113-118)
No comprehensive bibliography of the works of Joan Lindsay has been published although a listing of her major works can be found in The Bibliography of Australian Literature (vol 3, K-P) and on AustLit. Included is an interim listing of all known works by her. Much remains to be located, e.g. full details of her contributions to the Melbourne Herald and Sun, and to the Illustrated Tasmanian Mail.
1 Joan Lindsay : A Time for Everything Terence O'Neill , 2009 single work biography
— Appears in: The La Trobe Journal , May no. 83 2009; (p. 41-55)
A detailed biographical study of Joan Lindsay, with new insights to the background behind Lindsay's novel Picnic at Haning Rock.
1 Much to Weep For i "Victoria, I Weep for You", Terence O'Neill , 2009 single work poetry
— Appears in: The Age , 10 February 2009; (p. 24)
1 Martin Boyd Terence O'Neill , 2008 single work criticism
— Appears in: Fifty Books for Fifty Years : Celebrating Half a Century of Collecting 2008; (p. 14-15)
1 3 y separately published work icon The Bibliography of Australian Literature : P-Z John Hay (editor), John Arnold (editor), Kerry Kilner (editor), Terence O'Neill (editor), St Lucia : University of Queensland Press , 2008 Z1542391 2008 single work bibliography

'The Bibliography of Australian Literature P-Z is the fourth and final volume of a major collaborative national bibliographical project recording details of all separately published creative literature by Australian writers from European arrival in Australia to the end of the 20th century.

'Genres covered are poetry, drama, fiction and children's writing. One of the strengths of this unique multi-volume work is that it has no canon, aiming to include all works by all Australian authors regardless of perceived literary merit. For each work details of the first edition are listed, as well as significant new or revised editions and translations. Biographical details, awards and other additional information relevant to an individual author or title is also included.' (Publisher's blurb)

1 2 y separately published work icon The Bibliography of Australian Literature : K-O John Arnold , John Hay , Kerry Kilner , Terence O'Neill , St Lucia : University of Queensland Press , 2007 Z1409986 2007 single work bibliography

'The Bibliography of Australian Literature K-O is the third of a planned five volume bibliography which aims to record details of all separately published published creative literature by Australian writers from European arrival in Australia to the end of the 20th century.

'The Bibliography of Australian Literature records details of all separately published creative literature by Australian writers over the last two centuries. Genres covered are poetry, drama, fiction and children's writing. It has no canon, aiming to include all works by Australian authors regardless of perceived literary merit. For each work details of the first edition are listed, as well as significant new or revised editions and translations. Awards won and additional information pertinent to an individual title or author is also included.' (Publisher's blurb)

1 [Review] Australian Children's Books : A Bibliography : Volume Three Terence O'Neill , 2004 single work review
— Appears in: Bibliographical Society of Australia and New Zealand Bulletin , vol. 28 no. 4 2004; (p. 128-131)

— Review of Australian Children's Books : A Bibliography : Volume Three 1989-2000 2004 single work bibliography
1 4 y separately published work icon The Bibliography of Australian Literature : F-J John Arnold (editor), John Hay (editor), Kerry Kilner (editor), Terence O'Neill (editor), St Lucia : University of Queensland Press , 2004 Z1157777 2004 single work bibliography
1 Remembering Martin Boyd's Story of Bridget Malwyn Terence O'Neill , 2003 single work correspondence
— Appears in: Tain , April-May no. 24 2003; (p. 4)
1 14 y separately published work icon The Bibliography of Australian Literature : A-E Sally Batten , Kerry Kilner , Terence O'Neill , Christopher Wood , John Arnold (editor), John Hay (editor), Kew : Australian Scholarly Publishing , 2001 Z911184 2001 single work bibliography
1 1 y separately published work icon Children's Books : Three Bibliographies Stella Lees , Leonie Burke , Barbara Sandeman , Terence O'Neill , Ted Strehlow , Parkville : University of Melbourne Library , 2000 Z911548 2000 single work bibliography
1 6 y separately published work icon Bibliography of Australian Literature Project : List of Australian Writers 1788-1992 Terence O'Neill , Kerry Kilner , Sally Batten , John Arnold (editor), John Hay (editor), Clayton : Monash University. National Centre for Australian Studies , 1995 Z282170 1995 single work bibliography
1 y separately published work icon German Poetry in Australia 1830-1992 : A Checklist of Literary Translations, Adaptations and Comments by Australian Authors Horst Priessnitz , Sally Batten (editor), Terence O'Neill (editor), Clayton : Monash University. Centre for Bibliographical and Textual Studies , 1995 Z260073 1995 single work bibliography
1 Confessions of a Literary Sleuth Terence O'Neill , 1994 single work criticism
— Appears in: University of Melbourne Library Journal , vol. 1 no. 4 1994; (p. 6-9)
An overview of the rare Australian children's books held in various collections at the Baillieu Library, University of Melbourne.
1 8 y separately published work icon Australian Children's Books to 1980 : A Select Bibliography of the Collection Held in the National Library of Australia Terence O'Neill , Frances O'Neill , Canberra : National Library of Australia , 1989 Z179552 1989 single work bibliography
1 Martin Boyd Memorial Plaque - Little Eversden, Cambridge, England Terence O'Neill , 1988 single work column
— Appears in: Notes & Furphies , October no. 21 1988; (p. 12)
1 From Martin Boyd to Mrs Stacy Waddy : the Confessions of a Literary Sleuth Terence O'Neill , 1988 single work essay
— Appears in: Orana , November 1988; (p. 197-203)
1 O'Neill Bibliography of Australian Children's Books Terence O'Neill , 1988 single work column
— Appears in: Notes & Furphies , October no. 21 1988; (p. 28-29)
1 Literary Cousins : 'Nuns in Jeopardy' and 'Picnic at Hanging Rock' Terence O'Neill , 1982 single work criticism
— Appears in: Australian Literary Studies , May vol. 10 no. 3 1982; (p. 375-378)
X