14th August 1990
Dear Mr Harris,
I read your column in “The Australian” on Saturday 11.8.90 with a great deal of interest. I
have two children:
Jordana Rachel Wilson (now 9 years)
and
Dashiell Alexander Wilson (now 6 years)
Lots of our friends and relatives couldn’t believe our choice of “weird” names at the time,
however, 15 years ago I was booked for speeding. The policeman asked my name.
“Wilson” I said.
“Is it John Wilson?” he asked.
“Yes”. “Is it John Alexander Wilson?”
“Yes.’’
His name was also John Alexander Wilson. (He said he had booked over 20 of “us” in 4
years). As one who has tried (frantically) hard over the years to be eccentric, different,
crazy, oddball, etc this was the final straw. I swore then that any children I might have
would receive individual names.
Jordana comes from a Leon Uris novel.
Dashiell from Dashiell Hammett the much underrated American writer. I don’t know the
derivation of these names and I don’t care.
Dashiell Wilson is one helluva lot more interesting than John Wilson.
89
I believe your theory is correct. It is a small cry for INDIVUALITY. And may there be more
of it!
Regards,
(signed John Wilson)
Sept 2, 1990
Dear John Wilson,
The best of luck to Jordana and Dashiell. My grandson’s name is Ryder - perpetuating a
family surname. I wish my parents had named me Beauregard or Leroy. I find Max boring
and ugly. I guess we must grin and bear it. After all, the greatest of all Italian opera writers
translates to “Joe Green”.
All the best
Max Harris
(signed)
(Max Harris was a well known Australian poet and writer and was a regular columnist for
the Weekend Australian newspaper for many years. He also started the chain of Mary
Ryan Bookshops. (I just love his reference to Giuseppe Verdi!)
John A Wilson (also known as “Jack” and “The Fox”)
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