Gene Janes has a place in the pulp fiction history of Australia with his books in collections from the 1950s and 1960s in the Australian National Library, the Victorian Library and several universities here and NZ.
Acclaimed novelist, Ruth Park, who died in Sydney recently, aged 93 ,was a fan of the Darwin journalist /author Gene Janes. In 1975 she supported an application by Janes for a Literature Board grant to write a book about Cyclone Tracy . Park wrote that she had known his fiction and fact pieces for 15 years and had admired his firm, craftsmanlike grasp of style and form .
Janes, she added, was a classic example of a fine writer sidetracked by personal responsibilities into too much journalism. He had a terse originality and an intuitive feeling for Australian character.
The Calvert Publishing Company ,Sydney, said Janes had been one of its most popular authors who wrote commissioned stories with army, navy and airforce settings. He had also written a detective series and a number of romance and mystery stories , his books translated into several languages. One of his works- about the Z Force Commandoes - was made into a film.
A Britisher , who had worked at the BBC as a boy, he had dealings there with the spy ,Guy Burgess, who defected to Russia .
Janes was attracted to Darwin by the NT News editor, Jim Bowditch. While at the News he wrote an illustrated serial about Australia being run by an Aboriginal government.
The disappearance of his packet of prawns from the fridge at the News resulted in him being sacked after he had a row with the then editor and chased him down the room , an episode which got a mention in the independent Darwin Star .
Bowditch and Janes worked together on a proposed biography of millionaire Mick Paspalis , never written, which became a contentious matter in which Sir Norman Young ,chairman of News Adelaide, was involved.
It is understood Janes and Bowditch received $1000 each for the work they had put into the book, Gene buying his first ever lawn mower. His widow lives in Darwin .
