Gwynne, Phillip

Phillip Gwynne grew up in rural areas in Victoria and South Australia. He graduated from James Cook University with a degree in Marine Biology and has worked in many jobs in Australia and overseas.

Gwynne's first novel, Deadly, Unna? (q.v.)was widely praised and won several awards for its contribution to Australia's young adult fiction. The background of Australian Rules Football has made the novel's examination of race relations in rural Australia attractive to young male readers. The film adaptation, Australian Rules, (q.v.) attracted controversy when members of a South Australian Aboriginal community complained about scenes depicting the death of two young Aboriginal people, arguing that Gwynne, who also wrote the screenplay, should not have appropriated the story from their community. Despite the controversy, the film was nominated for several awards and a sequel, Nukkin Ya (q.v.) was written, attracting further praise and award nominations. Gwynne has also written a children's book, The Worst Team Ever (q.v.).