Writers Victoria is keen to do more to help writers with a disability. As a step towards this goal, we are pleased to announce a new program in partnership with Arts Access Victoria called Write-ability. This is a new pilot project to support writers with a disability wishing to advance their writing practice. Write-ability will be led by an established writer working one day per week in the Writers Victoria offices. Expressions of interest are being sought from writers keen to take up this role. Please find further info below:.
Mary Hoban wins the Hazel Rowley Memorial Fellowship
On 14 March at the Wheeler Centre, Mary Hoban was announced as the winner of the inaugural Hazel Rowley Memorial Fellowship. The judging panel comprised Alex Miller, Jim Davidson, Lynn Buchanan and Della Rowley. Mary’s project is a biography of Julia Arnold (nee Sorrel, 1826-1888). Julia lived through many important moments of early Tasmanian history at the same time as being connected and related to many important literary and political figures including grandsons Aldous and Julian Huxley and her father-in-law Thomas Arnold, famous headmaster of Rugby School.
Mary will use the fellowship to carry out research in Tasmania as well as travelling overseas to spend time researching in the Balliol Library at Oxford and Turnbull Library in Wellington. Mary has published several books in the area of Australian history and hopes her work will “be an addition to the history of Australian colonial women and a tender and lyrical rendition of a life that is savoured by all who read it.”
The announcement of the winner marked the first anniversary of the untimely passing of Hazel Rowley. In the space of just four books, Rowley established herself as one of the world’s leading literary biographers. The Fellowship, set up with the assistance of Writers Victoria, was established to further good practice and promote high standards in biography writing.
“We were thrilled to have a full house for an important event that marks not only the legacy of one of Australia’s most lauded biographers, but looks forward to a bright future in Mary’s work,” said Writers Victoria Director, Roderick Poole after the event.
Writers Victoria would like to congratulate the following shortlisted writers: Patrick Allington, Martin Edmond, Anne Houen, Heather Long, Chris Pash, Loretta Smith, Michelle Scott Tucker and Sally Percival Wood.
Celebrate women's writing this International Women's Day
Australia’s newest writing award, The Stella Prize, is the only Australian literary award exclusive to female writers. The Stella committee is encouraging every independent bookstore across Australia to host a panel discussion on whether women’s writing is different from men’s. The Stella committee will be hosting its own panel at Readings in Carlton at 6:30pm. Read women’s writing, think about women’s writing, debate women’s writing!
The first funding round of the 2012 Regional Partnerships Program opened 1 March with full details, guidelines and application form available on our website at that time. Applications close 2 April. Keep on eye on our Regional Partnerships page for all the information.
Hazel Rowley Literary Fellowship shortlist announced
The Hazel Rowley Literary Fellowship was established in 2011 to encourage Australian authors to attain a high standard of biography writing and to commemorate the life, ideas and writing of Hazel Rowley (1951–2011). Biography writers were invited to apply for a literary fellowship up to the value of $10,000. Writers Victoria congratulates the shortlisted applicants: Patrick Allington, Martin Edmond, Mary Hoban, Anne Houen, Heather Long, Chris Pash, Loretta Smith, Michelle Scott Tucker and Sally Percival Wood.
The judging panel is comprised of Alex Miller, Jim Davidson, Lynn Buchanan and Della Rowley. The winner will be announced at a function at the Wheeler Centre on the evening of 14 March.
The 2012 Program Launch is upon us – feast your eyes upon the more than 90 literary superstars ready to teach and inspire you, as you make your way through your writing journey. Let’s get going!
An online version of the Program is available here or by flicking through below. You can also request a Writers Victoria information pack, which includes a 2012 Program, by filling in your address here.
Hurry up, there are less than two weeks left to apply for the $10 000 Hazel Rowley Literary Fellowship.
The Fellowship has been established to encourage Australian authors to attain a high standard of biography writing and to commemorate the life, ideas and writing of Hazel Rowley (1951–2011).
Liz Kemp will be offering mentorships for paying applicants in 2011. Emerging writers of children’s,young adult and general fiction are welcome to book for an initial 90 minute consultation here.
2011 Writing @ Rosebank Round 2 Fellowships Announced
The judges were Sophy Williams, CEO of Black Inc. Books and Caro Cooper, editor at Text Publishing. The second round of fellowships were awarded in September to Laurie Steed, Lyndel Caffrey, Shannon Murdoch and Anne Elvey.
Shannon Murdoch will work on the first draft of a new full-length play Cut for Stone, set in the world of science and scientific discovery and focussing on the identity of failure and its relationship to success.
Anne Elvey will work on the revision and editing of a final draft of her first full length poetry collection, “Material relations: recycling the possible”. She has two chapbooks published; Stolen Heath (MPU, 2009) and Claimed by Country (PressPress, 2010).
Amidst the red velvety warmth of the beautiful Trades Hall Bella Union Bar, this year’s Doris Leadbetter Poetry Cup went off. In a good way. Forty poets braved the microphone with their poems condensed into 60 seconds (a feat and a half!). Ten of these made it through to round two to perform a two-minute poem, trying to woo the fabulous judges – Peter Bakowski, Claire Gaskin and Lisa Gorton – with rehearsed renditions of their original poems.
As poetic punches were thrown in the battle for the $2000 first prize (the super generous result of sponsorship from Ron Smooker and Pam Davison), a packed crowd cheered happily when the four winners were finally announced:
First place: Kerry Loughrey
Second place: Gavin Sanderson
Encouragement awards: Mel Hughes and Rochelle D’silva
The evening’s uncannily informed MC Michael Nolan – who peppered proceedings with more sexagesimal trivia than you could poke a stick (or sixty) at – ensured the night ran smoothly and with lots of giggles.
Writers Victoria congratulates all poets who competed – you’re all wonderful – and extends thanks to all involved in the running of such a successful event. In particular we are thrilled that Overload Poetry Festival partnered in the running of the event – we look forward to the partnership keeping on keeping on!
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