Cross, Zora Bernice May (1890-1964)

Field of activity
Actor, Author, Journalist, Poet, Print Journalist and Teacher; actor (stage); children's author; columnist; journalist; novelist; poet; speech teacher; theatre critic
NLA Persistent Identifier
http://nla.gov.au/nla.party-630836

Biographies

CROSS, ZORA BERNICE MAY (1890-1964), writer, was born on 18 May 1890 at Eagle Farm, Brisbane, daughter of Ernest William Cross, a Sydney-born accountant, and his wife Mary Louisa Eliza Ann, née Skyring, whose parents were early settlers at Moreton Bay. Zora inherited literary aspirations from both parents: a strong sense of poetic mission from her mother, and a strain of Celtic fantasy from her father, the son of an Irish printer. She was educated at Gympie and Ipswich Girls' Grammar School, and from 1905 in Sydney at Burwood Superior Public School and Sydney Girls' High School. In 1909-10 she attended the Teachers' College, Sydney. She started primary teaching but left the service to give birth to a daughter who died. On 11 March 1911 she married Stuart Smith, an actor, but refused to live with him and the marriage was dissolved on 10 September 1922. The child of a further mysterious love affair Norman Garvin (b.1914) was adopted later by Zora's de facto husband David McKee Wright, editor of the 'Red Page' of the Bulletin; they had two daughters.

View the full record at Australian Dictionary of Biography Online

Zora Cross was, among other things, a poet and author of children’s verse. She wrote for the Brisbane Daily Mail as a freelance journalist, and was drama critic for the magazines Green Room and the Lone Hand.

The daughter of Australian-born parents, accountant Ernest William Cross and his wife Mary Louisa Eliza Ann (née Skyring), Zora Cross was educated in Sydney from 1905. She began work as a primary school teacher, but left the profession to give birth to a daughter who died as an infant. She married actor Stuart Smith in 1911, but insisted upon living separately. The marriage was dissolved in 1922. Zora gave birth to a son, Norman Garvin, in 1914, after a ‘mysterious love affair’ (ADB), and later had two daughters – Davidina and April – to her de facto husband, Bulletin ‘Red Page’ editor David McKee Wright. The eldest, Davidina, predeceased her mother in 1941.

Zora’s first book of poems, A Song of Mother Love, was published in Brisbane in 1916. That same year she attempted publication of her first novel, on an Aboriginal theme, but was unsuccessful. In 1917 she published a second collection of poetry, Songs of Love and Life, comprising sixty love sonnets: ‘the first sustained expression in Australian poetry of erotic experience from a woman’s point of view’ (ADB). A number of poems were published in the Bulletin. The Lilt of Life, published in 1918, ran along similar lines, but the inspiration behind the poems – Zora’s relationship with David Wright, who had four sons to Margaret Fane – was the stuff of scandal. Zora also wrote verse for children, including The City of Riddle-mee-ree in 1918, and Elegy on an Australian Schoolboy, in memory of her soldier brother, in 1921.

When David Wright died suddenly in 1928, Zora supported herself and her three children by working as a freelance journalist (particularly for the Brisbane Daily Mail), teacher of elocution, actor and drama critic. She attempted to write a trilogy of novels on a Roman theme, but never completed the work. She died of heart disease in the home she had shared with Wright at Glenbrook, in the Blue Mountains, and was buried at Emu Plains.

  • c. 1930 - c. 1960 Career in journalism active

View the full record at Australian Women's Register

Related people and organisations

Resources for Zora Bernice May Cross

Selected resources (11)

Australian Dictionary of Biography Online

Australian Women's Register

  1. Cross, Zora Bernice May (1890 - 1964)Australian Dictionary of Biography Online : Cross, Zora Bernice May (1890 - 1964)
    Green, Dorothy
    [2006]
    Published: Australian National University
    Series: http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/biogs/A080175b.htm
  2. The Hectic Age
    Cross, Zora
    [1944]
    Published: London Book
  3. Songs of Love and Life
    Cross, Zora
    [1917]
    Published: Angus & Robertson
  4. The Lilt of Life
    Cross, Zora
    [1918]
    Published: Angus & Robertson
  5. Elegy on an Australian Schoolboy
    Cross, Zora
    [1921]
    Published: Angus & Robertson
  6. Daughters of the Seven Mile: the love story of an Australian woman
    Cross, Zora
    [1924]
    Published: Hutchinson
  7. The City of Riddle-me-ree
    Cross, Zora
    [1918]
    Published: Angus & Robertson
  8. The Women's Pages: Australian Women and Journalism since 1850
    Australian Women's Archives Project
    [2008]
    Published: Australian Women's Archives Project
    Series: http://www.womenaustralia.info/exhib/cal/cal-home.html
  9. 200 Australian Women: A Redress Anthology
    Radi, Heather
    [1988]
    Published: Women's Redress Press
  10. State Library of Victoria: Papers of William Peter Hurst (1800 - 1936)
    William Hurst was a journalist. He was editor of The Australasian, Melbourne, 1920-1935, and editor of the Argus, Melbourne, 1935-1937: A collection of the papers of W.P. Hurst, which include the correspondence of Henry Gullett, a former editor of The Australasian (1872-1885). The papers consist mainly of correspondence with Australian authors, the two largest groups of which are the papers of Zora Cross (1921-1936) and 73 letters of Roy Bridges (1927-19##). Smaller sections include articles by Rolf Boldrewood. Also a volume containing early 19th century autograph letters and envelopes (shelved at MS FB 6). Also a press cuttings volume containing articles written by W.P. Hurst, January - May 1913 (shelved at MS FB 11 (EX BOX 486/2)).
    MS 6107, MS 7856, M 6058

Resources by Zora Bernice May Cross (10)

  1. Daughters of the Seven Mile : the love story of an Australian woman / by Zora Cross
    Cross, Zora, 1890-1964
    [ Book : 1920-1930 ]
    At 23 libraries
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 16.566)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 16.566)

  2. An introduction to the study of Australian literature / by Zora Cross
    Cross, Zora, 1890-1964
    [ Book : 1920-1922 ]
    At 20 libraries
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 11.934)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 11.934)

  3. The city of Riddle-Me-Ree / by Zora Cross ; illustrated by Olive Crane
    Cross, Zora, 1890-1964
    [ Book : 1918 ]
    At 18 libraries
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 11.933)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 11.933)

  4. Elegy on an Australian schoolboy / by Zora Cross
    Cross, Zora, 1890-1964
    [ Book : 1921 ]
    At 13 libraries
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 11.912)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 11.912)

  5. Songs of love and life : a book of verse / Zora Cross
    Cross, Zora, 1890-1964
    [ Book : 1917-1930 ]
    At 5 libraries
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 8.647)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 8.647)

  6. This hectic age : a new novel / by Zora Cross
    Cross, Zora, 1890-1964
    [ Book : 1944 ]
    At 5 libraries
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 8.611)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 8.611)

  7. Songs of love and life / by Zora Cross
    Cross, Zora Bernice May, 1890-1964
    [ Book : 1917 ]
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 6.209)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 6.209)

  8. The victor / by Zora Cross
    Cross, Zora, 1890-1964
    [ Book : 1933 ]
    At State Library of VIC
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 5.228)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 5.228)

  9. The lute-girl of Rainvale : a story of love, mystery and adventure in North Queensland / by Zora Cross
    Cross, Zora, 1890-1964
    [ Book : 1925 ]
    At State Library of QLD
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 5.19)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 5.19)

  10. This hectic age : a novel / by Zora Cross
    Cross, Zora, 1890-1964
    [ Book : 1944 ]
    At State Library of QLD
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 5.155)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 5.155)

No Comments for this person

 

Add a comment



Possibly related

Digitised newspapers and more

Searching...

Minimise

Diaries, letters, archives

Searching...

Minimise

Archived websites (1996 – now)

Searching...

Minimise

Pictures, photos, objects

Searching...

Minimise

Books

Searching...

Minimise

Music, sound and video

Searching...

Minimise

People and organisations

Searching...

Minimise

Journals, articles and data sets

Searching...

Minimise

Maps

Searching...

Minimise

Lists

Searching...

Minimise
  1. Zora Cross poetry
    Created by Perry.Middlemiss, 80 items.

    A catalogue of poems by Zora Cross, including those by her pseudonym "Bernice May".

  2. Music resources theme - Under the Southern Cross
    Created by MusicAustraliaAdmin, 11 items.

    The Southern Cross was a guiding star for European explorers and remains a symbol of our national identity. Discover songs that first represented the idea of our nation. Curated by National Library of...

  3. Red Cross
    Created by damienjw, 23 items.

  1. Cross, Zora Bernice May (1890-1964)
    ... CROSS, ZORA BERNICE MAY (1890-1964), writer, was born on 18 May 1890 at Eagle ...
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 0.298)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 0.298)

  2. Cross, Zora (1890-1964)
    This resource is likely to be relevant to your query (score: 0.205)

    This resource is likely to be relevant to your query (score: 0.205)

  1. Website: 200 Australian Women
    www.200australianwomen.com
    Matching pages:
    • Zora Bernice May Cross - 5/11/2007
    • ... [Zora Bernice May Cross]Zora Cross 1890 - 1964 writer Zora Bernice May Cross (1890-1964), writer, was...
    This resource is likely to be relevant to your query (score: 0.124)

    This resource is likely to be relevant to your query (score: 0.124)

  2. Website: Australian Women's Archives Project
    www.womenaustralia.info
    Matching pages:
    View 9 matching archived pages
    This resource is likely to be relevant to your query (score: 0.081)

    This resource is likely to be relevant to your query (score: 0.081)

  3. Website: Australian Science and Technology Heritage Centre
    www.austehc.unimelb.edu.au
    Matching pages:
    View 4 matching archived pages
    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.003)

    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.003)

Maps

No results

Minimise
  1. Luta of Lutetia
    Wright, David McKee, 1869-1928
    [ Unpublished : 1800-1999 ]
    At State Library of NSW
    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.221)

    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.221)

  2. Deved Photograph Collection
    Thorne Studio
    [ Unpublished ]
    View online (access conditions)
    This resource may only be vaguely related to your query: matching terms may only have been found in the full text contents of the resource (score: 0.004)

    This resource may only be vaguely related to your query: matching terms may only have been found in the full text contents of the resource (score: 0.004)

  3. Hardy, Rosezella Dalton Photograph Collection
    Rosezella Dalton Hardy
    [ Unpublished : 1906 ]
    View online (access conditions)
    This resource may only be vaguely related to your query: matching terms may only have been found in the full text contents of the resource (score: 0.003)

    This resource may only be vaguely related to your query: matching terms may only have been found in the full text contents of the resource (score: 0.003)

  1. The lilt of life / by Zora Cross
    Cross, Zora, 1890-1964
    [ Book : 1918 ]
    At 27 libraries
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 2.676)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 2.676)

  2. Songs of love and life / by Zora Cross
    Cross, Zora, 1890-1964
    [ Book : 1917 ]
    At 28 libraries
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 2.625)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 2.625)

  3. The lute-girl of Rainyvale : a story of love, mystery, and adventure in North Queensland / by Zora Cross
    Cross, Zora, 1890-1964
    [ Book : 1925 ]
    At 13 libraries
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 1.748)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 1.748)

  4. An introduction to the study of Australian literature / by Zora Cross
    Cross, Zora Bernice May, 1890-
    [ Book : 1922 ]
    read online at Open Library/Internet Archive
    View online
    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.226)

    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.226)

  1. The fairies' fair : for mixed chorus / words by Zora Cross ; music by Alfred Hill
    Hill, Alfred, 1869-1960
    [ Sheet music : 1935 ]
    At 5 libraries
    This resource is likely to be relevant to your query (score: 1.657)

    This resource is likely to be relevant to your query (score: 1.657)

  2. The fairies' fair : trio for female voices / words by Zora Cross ; music by Alfred Hill
    Hill, Alfred, 1869-1960
    [ Sheet music : 1936 ]
    At 4 libraries
    This resource is likely to be relevant to your query (score: 1.017)

    This resource is likely to be relevant to your query (score: 1.017)

  3. Four songs from Australian women poets / by John A. Nickson
    Nickson, John Arthur R
    [ Sheet music : 1988 ]
    At 2 libraries
    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.391)

    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.391)

  1. "ZORA CROSS" Federal Pension Granted
    The Canberra Times (ACT : 1926 - 1954) Friday 27 July 1928 p 4 Article
    ... 'ZORA CROSS" Federal Pension Granted A notification, that the Executive Council has approved the ... pension of 10/- per week to the well-known Australian poetess, "Zora Cross," is contained in the cur- rent Issue of the Commonwealth Gov- ernment Gazette. ' The real name of the poetess Is Zora Bernice ... 67 words
    This resource may have relevance to your query (score: 0.024)

    This resource may have relevance to your query (score: 0.024)

  2. A THOUGHT
    The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954) Saturday 6 September 1941 p 11 Article
    ... A THOUGHT -BERNICE MAY. Spilt light such magic throws, may we not see God's revelation yet in darkest night? Who knows but Death illumes the Inner sight When the spent soul mirrors eternity? I -BERNICE MAY. | ... 37 words
    This resource may have relevance to your query (score: 0.023)

    This resource may have relevance to your query (score: 0.023)

  3. CONTENT.
    The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954) Saturday 10 November 1934 p 11 Article
    ... MAY. Give me nor fame Nor fortune. The same Unto me praise Or blame these days. Good sleep, sound health, I have true wealth. A herb plot, a rose, My own door to close. BERNICE MAY. ... 38 words
    This resource may have relevance to your query (score: 0.023)

    This resource may have relevance to your query (score: 0.023)

  1. The Moon shows "her" true colors.(STEPHEN JAMES O'MEARA'S SECRET SKY)(Brief article)
    O'Meara, Stephen James
    Astronomy
    [ Article : 2007 ]
    View online (conditions apply)
    This resource may only be vaguely related to your query: matching terms may only have been found in the full text contents of the resource (score: 0.001)

    This resource may only be vaguely related to your query: matching terms may only have been found in the full text contents of the resource (score: 0.001)

  2. Manatee County Property Transfers.(SUNDAY REAL ESTATE)
    Sarasota Herald Tribune
    [ Article : 2005 ]
    View online (conditions apply)
    This resource may only be vaguely related to your query: matching terms may only have been found in the full text contents of the resource (score: 0)

    This resource may only be vaguely related to your query: matching terms may only have been found in the full text contents of the resource (score: 0)

  3. OBITUARIES & MEMORIALS
    The Denver Post (Denver, CO)
    [ Article : 2011 ]
    View online (conditions apply)
    This resource may only be vaguely related to your query: matching terms may only have been found in the full text contents of the resource (score: 0)

    This resource may only be vaguely related to your query: matching terms may only have been found in the full text contents of the resource (score: 0)

  4. The Audies[R] 2011
    AudioFile Magazine
    [ Article : 2011 ]
    View online (conditions apply)
    This resource may only be vaguely related to your query: matching terms may only have been found in the full text contents of the resource (score: 0)

    This resource may only be vaguely related to your query: matching terms may only have been found in the full text contents of the resource (score: 0)