Vale Gregory Rogers

19th June 1957 – 1st May 2013

Gregory Rogers was one of Australia’s most internationally recognized and highly awarded author/illustrators, a gifted musician, and a wonderful long lunch companion; my mum worked with him on the Children’s Book Council of Australia merchandise – and we will both miss the lunches, meetings at literary events and the laughs. Greg is so sadly missed by so many. His legacy of so many beautiful books and characters will long live on: ‘Princess Max’ will be swaltzing and swirling forever in the hands of a child; ‘Omar the Strongman’ will lift animals at Circus de Fleur on the shelves in libraries always, and ‘The Boy’ will travel Shakespearian worlds forever in lounge rooms worldwide.

Story Bridge Climb 2010 | Children’s Book Council of Australia | Qld Branch
Photographer: Lyndal O’Gorman

Story Bridge Climb 2010 | Children’s Book Council of Australia | Qld Branch
Trish | John | Greg | Narelle | Pam | MGB | Chris | James | Megan (me!)
Photographer: Lyndal O’Gorman

Narelle Oliver | Greg Rogers | John Danalis
Photographer: Lyndal O’Gorman

Below is a link to ‘Books Illustrated’ tribute to Greg – posted on his birthday the 19^th June.  It also contains an extract from Robyn Sheahan-Brights eulogy for Gregory Rogers. Take the time to get to know this remarkable man that little bit better.

A Tribute to Gregory Rogers on His Birthday– 19th June 2013

Stephen Axelsen | Megan Daley | Gregory Rogers | 2012 | IBBY Evening

The Place Where the Sidewalk Ends

There is a place where the sidewalk ends

And before the street begins,
And there the grass grows soft and white,
And there the sun burns crimson bright,
And there the moon-bird rests from his flight
To cool in the peppermint wind.

Let us leave this place where the smoke blows black
And the dark street winds and bends.
Past the pits where the asphalt flowers grow
We shall walk with a walk that is measured and slow,
And watch where the chalk-white arrows go
To the place where the sidewalk ends.

Yes we’ll walk with a walk that is measured and slow,
And we’ll go where the chalk-white arrows go,
For the children, they mark, and the children, they know
The place where the sidewalk ends.

Shel Silverstein

Photographer: Lyndal O’Gorman

Photographer: Lyndal O’Gorman

Greg Rogers and John Danalis speaking with Ms Quentin Bryce at the 2010 Book of the Year Announcement

2010 Book of the Year Announcement