Masters, Olga (1919-1986)

Field of activity
Journalist, Print Journalist and Writer
Libraries Australia
http://nla.gov.au/anbd.aut-an36544191
NLA Persistent Identifier
http://nla.gov.au/nla.party-633117

Biographies

Olga Masters began work as a journalist aged fifteen. Her passion was for human interest stories over and above the drama of front page news. Over the course of her thirty-year career in journalism, Masters also produced three novels, several unpublished plays, and two collections of short fiction. She won nine prizes for her short fiction including the prestigious award of the South Pacific Association for the Study of Language and Literature, shared with Elizabeth Jolley. Masters' first collection of stories, The Home Girls, was published in 1982 when she was 63 years old, and won a National Book Council award.

Olga Masters was raised on the southern coast of New South Wales, between Bega and Moruya. She left school early to help at home, and took on a cadetship with the Cobargo Chronicle. In 1937 she moved to Sydney, where she worked as a shorthand typist and copywriter in advertising for radio. She married schoolteacher Charles Masters in 1940, and, while raising her seven children, lived in a number of small towns in New South Wales. In Lismore she worked as district correspondent for the Northern Star. In the mid-1960s, Masters returned to Sydney. With her children grown, she recommenced her journalistic work in earnest, writing for the St George and Southerland Shire Leader (1966-1969), Liverpool-Fairfield Champion (1968-1971), Land (1969-1971), Manly Daily (1971-1977, then 1979-1983), and Sydney Morning Herald (1984-1986). In 1983, she received a grant from the Literature Board of the Australia Council which allowed her to venture further into fiction writing in the last years of her life.

Masters was fascinated by the study of human nature and derived most enjoyment from writing about people and organisations: weddings, births, deaths, fundraising events, sports days, community groups, concerts. Her biographer, Deirdre Coleman, notes that Masters lived through a time of dramatic change in the structure and dynamic of the Australian family: 'the lives of women past and present, within the home and outside it, form the principal subject matter of much of her journalism and fiction'.

At the Herald, Masters was employed to write the regular 'Style' column for women. Here she broadened her scope, discussing everything from writing, reading, art, housekeeping, fashion, etiquette, domestic economy and family dynamics, to the role of women in wartime. Masters used the column to observe, to reflect, and to provoke. With her trademark irony and dry humour she produced a number of pieces on the unjust lot of women including 'Never fear, housewives – he's here', and 'Don't forget, mothers are human beings too': 'If you read every book on child bearing and rearing from any that came out with the First Fleet through Doctor Spock to the new ones like Making Love After Birth', wrote Masters in September 1985, 'nowhere will you find it stated that part of a woman's brain comes away with the afterbirth'. In her August 1985 column, 'War gave women a first taste of liberation', Masters noted: 'It is true that war shapes our lives. Perhaps truer to say it reshapes them. Truer perhaps of women than men'. She reflected on the change in women since the Second World War:

Not only were we [women] naïve by today's standards, but downright ignorant. Jogging was something we did when the butcher was selling sausages without asking for meat coupons. Heroin would have sounded like the name of a bird. We never knew of a child dying of cancer. The pill was taken for constipation. Gay was the way we felt most of the time, even while twenty-two thousand Australian men and women were prisoners of the Japanese.

Olga Masters' reporting displayed a sympathy with the thoughts and feelings of ordinary people. According to her son, Chris Masters, her career began 'not when her first book was published, but when she started taking an interest in her neighbours'. She died in 1986, aged 67.

  • c. 1934 - c. 1986 Career in journalism active

View the full record at Australian Women's Register

Related people and organisations

Resources for Olga Masters

Selected resources (2)

Australian Women's Register

  1. Olga Masters Reporting Home: Her writings as a journalist
    Coleman, Deirdre
    [1990]
    Published: University of Quensland Press
  2. 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

Resources by Olga Masters (19)

  1. Olga Masters reporting home : her writings as a journalist / selected by Deirdre Coleman
    Masters, Olga, 1919-1986
    [ Book : 1990 ]
    At 55 libraries
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 52.388)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 52.388)

  2. Amy's children / Olga Masters
    Masters, Olga, 1919-1986
    [ Book, Audio book : 1987-1998 ]
    read online at Open Library/Internet Archive
    View online
    At 95 libraries
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 32.734)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 32.734)

  3. The rose fancier / Olga Masters
    Masters, Olga, 1919-1986
    [ Book, Audio book : 1988-1991 ]
    At 78 libraries
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 30.101)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 30.101)

  4. The home girls / Olga Masters
    Masters, Olga, 1919-1986
    [ Book, Audio book : 1982-1990 ]
    At 73 libraries
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 29.883)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 29.883)

  5. Papers
    Masters, Olga, 1919-1986
    [ Unpublished : 1940-1988 ]
    At UQ Library
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 24.642)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 24.642)

  6. Loving daughters / Olga Masters
    Masters, Olga, 1919-1986
    [ Book, Audio book : 1984-1998 ]
    Languages: English, French
    At 93 libraries
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 23.396)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 23.396)

  7. Collected stories / Olga Masters
    Masters, Olga, 1919-1986
    [ Book, Audio book : 1996-2002 ]
    At 56 libraries
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 22.706)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 22.706)

  8. A working man's castle / by Olga Masters
    Masters, Olga, 1919-1986
    [ Book : 1988 ]
    At 50 libraries
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 19.055)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 19.055)

  9. A Long time dying / Olga Masters
    Masters, Olga, 1919-1986
    [ Book, Audio book : 1985-1989 ]
    At 19 libraries
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 18.818)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 18.818)

  10. Interview with Olga Masters, author / interviewer, Diana Ritch
    Masters, Olga, 1919-1986
    [ Sound : 1985 ]
    At National Library
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 17.536)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 17.536)

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Resources about Olga Masters (15)

  1. Olga Masters reporting home : her writings as a journalist / selected by Deirdre Coleman
    Masters, Olga, 1919-1986
    [ Book : 1990 ]
    At 55 libraries
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 51.1)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 51.1)

  2. Olga Masters : a lot of living : the compelling biography of the much-loved writer / by Julie Lewis
    Lewis, Julie, 1925-2003
    [ Book, Audio book : 1991-1992 ]
    At 91 libraries
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 36.541)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 36.541)

  3. Papers
    Masters, Olga, 1919-1986
    [ Unpublished : 1940-1988 ]
    At UQ Library
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 23.924)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 23.924)

  4. [Biographical cuttings on Olga Masters, author, containing one or more cuttings from newspapers or journals]
    [ Published : 1900-1990 ]
    At National Library
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 17.764)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 17.764)

  5. Interview with Olga Masters, author / interviewer, Diana Ritch
    Masters, Olga, 1919-1986
    [ Sound : 1985 ]
    At National Library
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 17.246)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 17.246)

  6. Olga Masters : an autumn crocus : proceedings of the Olga Masters Memorial Conference, 8-10 July 1988 / edited by William McGaw and Paul Sharrad
    Olga Masters Memorial Conference University of Wollongong) (1988 :
    [ Book, Conference Proceedings : 1988-1990 ]
    At 16 libraries
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 17.02)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 17.02)

  7. Olga Masters : an autumn crocus : proceedings of the Olga Masters Memorial Conference, 8-10 July 1988 / edited by William McGaw and Paul Sharrad
    Olga Masters Memorial Conference University of Wollongong) (1988 :
    [ Book, Conference Proceedings : 1988-1990 ]
    At 16 libraries
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 15.634)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 15.634)

  8. The home girls : Olga Masters : NEAP notes / by Jane Tibby
    Tibby, Jane, 1941-
    [ Book : 1997 ]
    At 4 libraries
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 13.532)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 13.532)

  9. Amy's children by Olga Masters / notewriter Bary Dowling
    Dowling, Bary
    [ Book : 1991 ]
    At 3 libraries
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 12.509)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 12.509)

  10. The NEAP guide to The home girls, Olga Masters / NEAP guide by Jane Tibby
    Tibby, Jane, 1941-
    [ Book : 1997 ]
    At 3 libraries
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 11.242)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 11.242)

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  1. Masters, Olga (1919-1986)
    ... Olga Masters began work as a journalist aged fifteen. Her passion was for human interest stories ...
    This resource is likely to be relevant to your query (score: 0.194)

    This resource is likely to be relevant to your query (score: 0.194)

  1. 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: 0.048)

    This resource is likely to be relevant to your query (score: 0.048)

  2. Website: Sydney 2009 World Masters Games
    www.2009worldmasters.com
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    View 12 matching archived pages
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  3. Website: Welcome to Moonee Valley
    www.mvcc.vic.gov.au
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  1. Olga Masters. -An interview-
    Masters, Olga
    Ellison, Jennifer. Rooms of Their Own
    [ Article : 1986 ]
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    This resource may have relevance to your query (score: 0.379)

  2. Chancy times / by Olga Wignall
    Wignall, Olga
    [ Book, Audio book, Conference Proceedings : 1991-2003 ]
    At 13 libraries
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    This resource may have relevance to your query (score: 0.23)

  3. The fiction of Olga Masters
    Jones, Dorothy
    Scarp
    [ Article : 1988 ]
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    This resource may have relevance to your query (score: 0.206)

  4. Digging deep: Olga Masters: storyteller
    Jones, Dorothy
    Kunapipi
    [ Article : 1986 ]
    This resource may have relevance to your query (score: 0.206)

    This resource may have relevance to your query (score: 0.206)

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  1. A long time dying
    Masters, Olga
    [ Book : 1985-1989 ]
    Languages: English, Undetermined
    At 67 libraries
    This resource is likely to be relevant to your query (score: 0.866)

    This resource is likely to be relevant to your query (score: 0.866)

  2. Loving daughters / Olga Masters
    Olga Masters 1919-1986
    [ Book : 1993 ]
    read online at Open Library/Internet Archive
    View online
    This resource may have relevance to your query (score: 0.574)

    This resource may have relevance to your query (score: 0.574)

  3. Chancy times / by Olga Wignall
    Wignall, Olga
    [ Book, Audio book, Conference Proceedings : 1991-2003 ]
    At 13 libraries
    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.199)

    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.199)

  4. Tales of the Hasidim : the later masters / Martin Buber ; [translated by Olga Marx]
    Buber, Martin, 1878-1965
    [ Book : 1947-1991 ]
    Languages: English, Undetermined, German
    At 26 libraries
    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.181)

    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.181)

  1. Photographs of a tribophysics research expedition to Mount Olga, Ayers Rock and Mount Connor
    Lofthouse, Alan
    [ Unpublished : 1950 ]
    At National Library
    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: 0.017)

    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: 0.017)

  2. Utah Ballet Archives
    Willam F. Christensen and Ballet West
    [ Unpublished : 1926 ]
    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: 0.002)

    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: 0.002)

  3. Papers of, and relating to, Joan and Daryl Lindsay
    Peake, Cathy
    [ Unpublished : 1889-1988 ]
    At National Library
    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)

  1. Chancy times / by Olga Wignall
    Wignall, Olga
    [ Book, Audio book, Conference Proceedings : 1991-2003 ]
    At 13 libraries
    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.199)

    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.199)

  2. Sasha & Olga : a true tale of survival / Eva Maria Chapman
    Chapman, Eva Maria
    [ Book, Audio book : 2006 ]
    At 59 libraries
    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.155)

    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.155)

  3. The tales of Olga da Polga / Michael Bond ; illustrated by Hans Helweg
    Bond, Michael
    [ Book, Audio book : 1900-2006 ]
    At 43 libraries
    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.154)

    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.154)

  4. Mao's last dancer / Li Cunxin
    Li, Cunxin, 1961-
    [ Book, Audio book, Sound : 2003-2010 ]
    Languages: English, Chinese, Spanish, [4 others]
    Possibly online
    At 186 libraries
    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.153)

    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.153)

  1. No title
    The Brisbane Courier (Qld. : 1864 - 1933) Wednesday 25 August 1926 p 22 Article Illustrated
    ... No Beerwah and Peachester "Queen" and her attendants, who collected £163/17/ 3/17/ in aid of the Beerburrum Hospital. pital. Miss M. Cahill was the "Queen," Misses Esme Simpson and Ellie Grlgor maids of honour, Misses Olga Burnett nett and Jean Mawhinney train bearers, and Masters Alan Stevons and ... 52 words
    This resource may have relevance to your query (score: 0.008)

    This resource may have relevance to your query (score: 0.008)

  2. A KITCHEN EVENING AT SEDAN.
    The Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1889 - 1931) Monday 18 February 1929 p 10 Article
    ... 'Masters AranW. Sdwin, Brorto, and Npnnan Graete, Misses Doris, Edna. and. lama Boether, Buby, Olga, ... Olga Koch. Messrs. Alf Garret*. Fordy, Alwin, and Felix Schnltz, Otto.- Harold, aadvHugo Graetz, Alwin ... 146 words
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    This resource may have relevance to your query (score: 0.006)

  3. BARCAROLLE DANCE
    The Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1889 - 1931) Thursday 25 July 1929 p 6 Article
    ... music was supplied by the Maison Masters of Melody. Misses Thelma Hennessy. J. Thomas, and B, Allen ... Rogers, Mr. and Mrs. A. T. Solomon. Misses Esme Dug- Ban. Olga DumelU E. DurneH. Olive Shepherd. Connie ... Lossle Clark. Connie Dittman, Maude Storr. MoUie Qulnn. -M. Button. Olga Wheelhouse, Mary Reuter, ... 165 words
    This resource may have relevance to your query (score: 0.006)

    This resource may have relevance to your query (score: 0.006)