Clem Gorman, 1938–2021
I regret I haven’t done this sooner, however I have been paralyzed with grief and it is only now that I feel able to write a few words to honor the life of my late husband Clem. Those who knew Clem would have to agree, Clem always made a difference in what ever endeavour he undertook.
Clem was born in Perth 1938 and was educated at Aquinas College in Perth.
He studied Law at the University of Western Australia, a B.A. at Sydney University and Arts administration at Polytechnic Central London, becoming the Administrator for the Roundhouse in London. Whilst teaching at University of Wollongong he successfully completed his Doctor of Creative Arts (DCA).
Clem was a pioneer in experimental theatre in Australia, setting up the first non-linear, multimedia performance ensemble in 1969 in Sydney. At Sydney University Dramatic society in the mid '60s, Clem was also a pioneer in bringing absurd theatre to Australia.
He moved to London in the early '70s with his first wife Sandy, who sadly died some years later. There he worked as a theatre administrator and began his writing career commencing with non-fiction books, then plays.
Clem was the nephew of Alan Seymour, who is known for his dramatic play about Anzac Day, The One Day of the Year. Clem was Alan’s friend and also his guardian until Alan’s death in 2015.
Those who knew Clem well would know he was somewhat of a larrikin and one of his non-fiction books, The Larrikin Streak, edited by himself, depicts Australian writers looking at the legend. The book is about true larrikins and his own piece is side by side with stories about ‘Breaker’ Morant, Dawn Fraser, Mary MacKillop (St Mary of the Cross) and Mary Hardy. Barry Humphries and ‘Mo’, Graham Kennedy, Errol Flynn and others—united in the larrikin tradition of exceeding the limits and bending the rules. Clem, or ‘Clemmie’ as I affectionately call him, was a joy to be with.
Clem’s plays—eleven professionally produced by major theatre companies—include A Manual of Trench Warfare, The Motivators, A Night in the Arms of Raeleen, A Fortunate Life (adaptation), The Harding Women, The Male Line, Cries.
Amongst the many non-fiction books written by Clem was the definitive book on Dramaturgy, National Report On Script Consultancy. A few of the others were People Together (Paladin, London) and Backstage Rock (Pan Books, London).
Together we wrote a guide book on Sydney Harbour, detailing the entire perimeter of Sydney Harbour from North Head to South Head. The Foreword was written by the late Ian Kiernan and it was published by New Holland. Thankfully our book Intrépide (Monash University Press), about Australian Women artists who ventured to Paris in the early twentieth century, he saw published before his quite sudden passing. He certainly contributed hugely to bringing the spotlight onto women artists, many of whom had been largely forgotten. Greg Bain from Monash University Press attributed this extraordinary new wave of interest in women artists who ventured to Paris at that time to our research, the accompanying exhibition at S.H. Ervin Gallery and our book Intrépide.
Clem was Visiting Lecturer at University of Tasmania in Launceston, also Visiting Professor at Georgetown University, Washington D.C. where he took his Australian Studies course written by himself to eager American students, many of whom were studying to be diplomats. The course showcased documentaries such as The Dismissal, and various movies including The Castle and The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert. I witnessed packed class rooms mesmerized. Clem was also visiting Professor in Australian studies at Rollins College, Florida, USA. I have named a few of the places he guest lectured or gigged as he called them, not forgetting to mention some of the papers delivered in far flung spots like Thessaloniki, Greece; Salt Lake City, USA, and the University of Debrecen, Hungary.
Clem was tenured at Wollongong University lecturing in Arts Journalism, Creative Writing, Screen, Script and Stage writing.
Clem had many of his Poems and Short Stories published. Many of Clemmie’s poems were for me and I have at least one for every year marking and celebrating our love presented on St. Valentine’s Day. Some are funny, some sad, depending on the events of the year. However they all depicted our love and quite a few illustrated how we got through troubled times. They are just like a diary.
As though this wasn’t enough, Clem also developed a career as a singer/songwriter. Playing the keyboard singing blues/ballads. For a period he was President of the Jazz Action Society in Sydney.
Clem and I were married 29 years and he took on my family, and loved them unconditionally.
Clem was a Catechist for the Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic Parish in Terrigal for the last 14 years of his life and taught at the Primary School in Wamberal as did I. His funeral Mass was held at Our Lady Star of the Sea church.
Clem will be missed dearly by the art world as he had many projects in train and he will be missed unimaginably so by myself and his large adopted family of children and grandchildren to whom he was devoted.
