David McGill (writer): Difference between revisions
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==Education== |
==Education== |
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McGill received his secondary education from the [[Congregation of Christian Brothers in New Zealand|Christian Brothers]] at [[St Peter's College, Auckland|St Peter's College, Grafton]] (1953-1957). He then studied for the Catholic priesthood (commencing at the age of 16) under the [[Jesuits]] at [[Holy Name Seminary]] in 1958 and 1959 which were also the final years in which that institution operated as a [[minor seminary]]. McGill was greatly influenced by his time at the seminary and especially by the teaching of the seminary professor, [[Bernard O'Brien (Jesuit)| Father Bernard O'Brien SJ]].<ref name="Kel"/> McGill later attended [[Wellington Teachers College]] and [[Victoria University of Wellington]].<ref name="Who"/> |
McGill received his secondary education from the [[Congregation of Christian Brothers in New Zealand|Christian Brothers]] at [[St Peter's College, Auckland|St Peter's College, Grafton]] (1953-1957). He then studied for the Catholic priesthood (commencing at the age of 16) under the [[Jesuits]] at [[Holy Name Seminary]] in 1958 and 1959 which were also the final years in which that institution operated as a [[minor seminary]]. McGill was greatly influenced by his time at the seminary and especially by the teaching of the seminary professor, [[Bernard O'Brien (Jesuit)| Father Bernard O'Brien SJ]].<ref name="Kel"/> However, in relation to his education, he has said that the Brothers at St Peter's College "were sadists. We just got belted. At the seminary the Jesuits humiliated the students with their words." McGill has said that going to the seminary wa "a chance to get away from my parents and Auckland and go to Christchurch. It was an adventure. I was the last minor seminarian. Apparently, the dropout rate was 90 per cent. He has said that he was not particularly religious. "I was a solemn young chap, a bit of a loner, not much taken with group activities. I didn't fit in in the seminary. I was buying Playdate magazines, mainly to look at Brigitte Bardot's bum. I spent a lot of time playing snooker. They had a fantastic snooker room with a fullsize table and lots of brass, oak and mahogany. I spent so long there I was told I wasn't taking my vocation as a priest seriously. After two years I wanted to go to university. But I was only 16, so I had to wait another year. McGill later attended [[Wellington Teachers College]] and [[Victoria University of Wellington]].<ref name="Who"/> |
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==Career== |
==Career== |
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McGill worked as a journalist for the ''[[NZ Listener]]'', ''[[TV Times]]'' (London), ''[[The Bulletin]]'' (Sydney). He was a columnist for the ''[[Evening Post (Wellington newspaper)|Evening Post]]'' (Wellington). He has since 1990 been a full-time non-fiction writer. He has also written several novels.<ref name="Who"/> |
He became a teacher and taught briefly at primary schools in [[Eastbourne, New Zealand|Eastbourne]] and [[Paekakariki]]. He also worked in a wool store, and for the [[Gear Meat Company]] and became a seagull, a non-registered waterside worker. This enabled him to work on the wharf. McGill started writing at teachers' college. He edited Stud-Op, short for Student Opinion. McGill worked as a journalist for the ''[[NZ Listener]]'', ''[[TV Times]]'' (London), ''[[The Bulletin]]'' (Sydney). He was a columnist for the ''[[Evening Post (Wellington newspaper)|Evening Post]]'' (Wellington). He has since 1990 been a full-time non-fiction writer. He has also written several novels.<ref name="Who"/> |
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==Other initiatives== |
==Other initiatives== |
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Revision as of 00:56, 20 February 2013
David McGill (born Auckland 1 December 1942) BA (1965) (VUW) is a New Zealand writer and publisher. [1] He writes "thrillers, serious fiction, New Zealand history, dictionaries".[2]
Early life
McGill spent his early childhood in Matata, Bay of Plenty where his father was employed by the New Zealand Post Office. Later the family shifted to Auckland (Evans Rd, Glen Eden, Auckland) when his father became a postmaster. The family later lived at Eastbourne, Wellington where his father was transferred.[3] McGill has said that he was inspired to start writing by his father and his first effort was a diary "in Form Two year" (he was 12) while on holiday at Waiheke Island. It was co-authored by his father. McGill has said that as a teenager he was "moody and intense" and didn't have a clue what he could ever do.[2]
Education
McGill received his secondary education from the Christian Brothers at St Peter's College, Grafton (1953-1957). He then studied for the Catholic priesthood (commencing at the age of 16) under the Jesuits at Holy Name Seminary in 1958 and 1959 which were also the final years in which that institution operated as a minor seminary. McGill was greatly influenced by his time at the seminary and especially by the teaching of the seminary professor, Father Bernard O'Brien SJ.[3] However, in relation to his education, he has said that the Brothers at St Peter's College "were sadists. We just got belted. At the seminary the Jesuits humiliated the students with their words." McGill has said that going to the seminary wa "a chance to get away from my parents and Auckland and go to Christchurch. It was an adventure. I was the last minor seminarian. Apparently, the dropout rate was 90 per cent. He has said that he was not particularly religious. "I was a solemn young chap, a bit of a loner, not much taken with group activities. I didn't fit in in the seminary. I was buying Playdate magazines, mainly to look at Brigitte Bardot's bum. I spent a lot of time playing snooker. They had a fantastic snooker room with a fullsize table and lots of brass, oak and mahogany. I spent so long there I was told I wasn't taking my vocation as a priest seriously. After two years I wanted to go to university. But I was only 16, so I had to wait another year. McGill later attended Wellington Teachers College and Victoria University of Wellington.[1]
Career
He became a teacher and taught briefly at primary schools in Eastbourne and Paekakariki. He also worked in a wool store, and for the Gear Meat Company and became a seagull, a non-registered waterside worker. This enabled him to work on the wharf. McGill started writing at teachers' college. He edited Stud-Op, short for Student Opinion. McGill worked as a journalist for the NZ Listener, TV Times (London), The Bulletin (Sydney). He was a columnist for the Evening Post (Wellington). He has since 1990 been a full-time non-fiction writer. He has also written several novels.[1]
Other initiatives
McGill was Chairman of Amnesty International NZ and was founder and first elected chairman of the Wellington Civic Trust. His journalism awards include the Reed Literary Award for Environmental Journalism 1978 and the Cowan Memorial Prize in 1981.[1]
References
External links
- New Zealand Book Council, David McGill (Retrieved 20 January 2012).