Donald Bruce Dawe AO (15 February 1930 – 1 April 2020) was an Australian poet and academic.

At age 16, he dropped out of Northcote High School in Melbourne without completing his Leaving Certificate.

In 1959, Dawe joined the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF),[6] initially as a trainee telegraphist but remustered as an education assistant.

[2] After completing his recruit training at RAAF Base Rathmines, he was posted to Ballarat, Victoria.

On commencing duties as an education assistant, Dawe was posted to RAAF Base Wagga, Victoria Barracks Melbourne and Toowoomba, Queensland.

Dawe would achieve four university degrees (BA, MLitt, MA, PhD), all completed by part-time study.

The endowment is held in trust by the University of Southern Queensland and administered by its Faculty of Arts, judged by the English Literature staff.

[8] Dawe wrote poetry about ordinary people in modern Australia, their interests in cars, novels, films and other popular items.

[10]On 27 January 1964, Dawe married Gloria Desley Blain, Between December 1964 and July 1969, the couple had four children: Brian, twins Jamie and Katrina, and Melissa.