The Hon Rod Kemp was Minister for the Arts and Sport from Friday 23 November 2001 to Tuesday 30 January 2007. This site is available for archival purposes only.

Australia Council Literature Board appointment

The Minister for the Arts and Sport, Senator Rod Kemp, today announced the appointment of Ms Sophie Masson to the Australia Council's Literature Board.

'Ms Masson has made a significant contribution to Australian literature for many years,' Senator Kemp said.

Since her first book was published in 1990 Ms Masson has had more than 35 novels for adults, young adults and children, published in Australia and several published overseas. Her novels include the Lay Lines trilogy--The Knight by the Pool, The Lady of the Flowers and The Stone of Oakenfast--and A Blaze of Summer, The Sun is Rising, and Sooner or Later.

Ms Masson is also a member of the Australian Society of Authors, the Children's Book Council and the NSW Writer's Centre.

'I am very pleased that Ms Masson has agreed to be a member of the Australia Council's Literature Board,' Senator Kemp said.

'Ms Masson's experience as an author and her work with literature groups in our community make her a valuable addition to the Literature Board and I am sure Ms Masson's colleagues are looking forward to working with her.'

The Australia Council is the Australian Government's principal arts funding and advisory body. It encourages the creativity and development of Australian artists and aims to increase access by all Australians to arts and cultural activities.

CANBERRA
31 August 2004

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Media contact: Adrian Chippindale, 02 6277 7350 or 0407 208 743