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After his return from London in 1902 Lawson's personal life went into a steady decline. He was often drunk, becoming a sad, familiar figure wandering the streets of Sydney, and he suffered from mental instability as a result of manic depression. He had frequent stays at the Mental Hospital, Darlinghurst to dry out. He was imprisoned several times for failing to pay maintenance to Bertha and their two children and for minor debts. Although Lawson could be difficult and aggressive when drunk, his friends and admirers still tried to help him. A committee was formed for this purpose and a Commonwealth pension and State stipend were eventually obtained for him. Friends also organised to send him away from Sydney for periods to remove him from the influence of drink. He was cared for by Mrs Isabel Byers, his housekeeper, for most of the twenty years between 1903 and his death.
Lawson still wrote intermittently but his best writing was behind him. Angus and Robertson and The Bulletin continued their support of Lawson, publishing some of his work, but George Robertson was forced to ban Lawson from the firm after he caused problems too many times whilst drunk. Lawson died in a cottage in Abbotsford where he had been living with Mrs Byers on 2nd September, 1922 at the age of fifty-five. He was farewelled with a state funeral, one of the largest Sydney had ever seen.
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Lawson Collection (Lawson 26) |
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Mrs Lala Fisher was a Sydney poet and journalist as well as part proprietor of the Theatre Magazine. She held soirees which were attended by people from literary, artistic and theatrical circles and Lawson was one of her regular guests. He wrote humorous notes for Mrs Fisher's autograph book in return for small donations. The note reads: Lawson Collection (Lawson 171) |
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Lawson and Brereton first met in 1894 when they were introduced by Mary Cameron (later Dame Mary Gilmore) at the home of Mrs Anne Lane (wife of William Lane of the New Australia Movement) in Enmore Road, Marrickville. They remained friends until Lawson's death in 1922. |
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Lawson suffered a cerebral haemorrhage in 1921 and was hospitalised for some time afterwards. He died the following year. |