Nan Witcomb (1928–2018,) fully Nancy Mary Witcomb, was an Australian poet, broadcaster, and writer best known for her long-running poetry series The Thoughts of Nanushka. She explored themes of love, loss, resilience, and the quiet complexities of everyday life. Her gentle, reflective style made her one of Australia’s most widely read popular poets of the late twentieth century.
Born in Adelaide, South Australia, Witcomb grew up in a creative household and later studied drama and communication, training for a career in broadcasting. She began her professional life as a radio announcer and scriptwriter, working for several Australian stations during the 1950s and 1960s. Her early writing appeared in magazines and radio segments, eventually leading to the publication of The Thoughts of Nanushka (1970,) the first in a series that would become a cultural touchstone.
Subsequent volumes, including The Thoughts of Nanushka Book Two (1972,) Book Three (1974,) and Book Four (1976,) solidified her reputation as a poet whose work resonated with a broad readership. Later collections such as Nanushka Reflects (1980) and Nanushka’s Seasons (1985) continued to expand her audience.
More: Wikipedia • READ: Works by Nan Witcomb
If you dare to be different and do not join the crowd
If they laugh at your honesty and taunt you when you’re proud
When they talk of you in whispers and criticize the things you say and do
Do not fear them but forgive them. They are more afraid than you.
—Nan Witcomb
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