This issue is a tribute to a brilliant career. There are contributions from academic colleagues, many of them grateful ex-students. There are contributions from senior writers who remain grateful for the encouragement Elizabeth gave them over the years. There are contributions from younger writers who were spotted by her in her final years as editor of Southerly. There are one or two (or perhaps three) surprises – to remind us that Elizabeth as editor was particularly good at finding newcomers.
But this is an editorial, not an essay and our task is simply to offer Elizabeth these pages as a sign of admiration, gratitude and great affection.