| Emily Coungeau | |
| Birth Name: | Emily Howard |
| Birth Date: | 3 May 1860 |
| Birth Place: | Essex, England |
| Death Place: | Brisbane, Queensland |
| Occupation: | poet |
Emily Coungeau (3 May 1860 – 26 July 1936) was an English-born Australian poet.
Although only starting to write poetry after the age of 50, Coungeau was a prolific writer whose work was widely published in Australian newspapers, and in four volumes of poetry published between 1914 and 1934.[1]
Her poems were published in the Brisbane Courier from early 1913.[2]
Coungeau's poem, "Love's Reverie", became a song, set to music by Percy Brier in 1913. In 1922 she wrote the libretto for Alfred Hill's romantic opera, Auster!.[3]
In 1935 Coungeau was awarded life membership of Society of British Authors, Playwrights and Composers. She was a foundation member of the Lyceum Club in Brisbane.[4]
Coungeau married Naoum (Norman) Cougeau at the registry office in Richmond, Victoria on 21 February 1889. They settled in Brisbane and ran a restaurant and wine bar together. Years later they retired to Bribie Island. Coungeau died in Brisbane on 26 July 1936. Her funeral was held at St. John’s Cathedral.[5] Her husband died only weeks later on 6 September.[6] There were no children.