Thomas Keneally Schepisi's "The Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith" (1978) (based on his own novel) and played Father Marshall in the award-winning film "The Devil's Playground" (1976), also by Schepisi. In 1983, he was made an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO). He is an Australian Living Treasure. Keneally was a member of the Literature Board of the Australia Council from 1985 to 1988 and President of the National Book Council from 1985 to 1989. Keneally was a visiting professor at the University of California, Irvine (UCI) where he taught the graduate fiction workshop for one quarter in 1985. From 1991 to
Thomas Allen (Manx author) Thomas Allen (Manx author) Thomas Allen (1710–1754), Vicar of Maughold and an author of Manx carvals. Thomas Allen was born in 1710, the son of Henry Allen and Jane Allen (née Stevenson). He was curate of Andreas from 1739 to 1746, during which time he married Mary Lace, of Ballavarry, Andreas. After his father's death, Allen moved to take up the vicarage at Maughold on 2 June 1746. Thomas was the last in the line of five successive sons to hold the position of Vicar of Maughold Parish: Thomas (1625 to 1660), Robert (1660 to 1666), Thomas (1666 to 1727),