Vale Jess Knight

Writer, poet and artist Jess Knight has died at the age of 42.

Ultimo publishing director Robert Watkins writes,

I had the inestimable honour of working with Jessica Knight on her memoir, Strange Little Girl, published by Ultimo Press in June 2024.

Jess Knight was a performer, writer, artist and zine maker from Melbourne. (Among many other things! She was so very talented.) Jess was a warm, funny and intelligent writer, and to see Jess speak about her writing and work – or even to perform it – was a delight. She will be so greatly missed by all at Ultimo Press and Hardie Grant.

Writer and arts and culture consultant Kate Larsen writes,

I was lucky to get to know Jess through our beloved Poetry Book Club and to support her work through the Writeability program at Writers Victoria. Jess was fierce and funny, deeply thoughtful and as caring as she was creative. I really can’t believe she’s gone, but I am so grateful for the time we shared and that she left us the gift of her words.

Writer Fiona Tuomey writes,

I first met Jess over 10 years ago when I was Mentor in Residence for the Writeability program at Writers Victoria. I witnessed Jess work hard and grow in confidence and skill as a writer. Having said that, it became clear very quickly that Jess was an extremely talented and dedicated writer. Jess had a unique experience of the world and many stories to tell. As a disabled writer and advocate, Jess had navigated a lifetime in the medical system, but she had done the hard work of understanding the systemic context of her work. It was an honour and privilege to work with Jess and to be her friend. I’m so glad Jess was able to write and publish her powerful memoir, Strange Little Girl, and write and perform Mormon Girl, her brilliant one-person show at the Melbourne Fringe Festival in 2019.

Red Dirt Poetry executive director Laurie May writes,

Meeting Jess at the National Young Writers’ Festival felt like fate. We connected instantly and co-wrote a cranky poem outside the zine fair, something about shit men. I asked Jess to come to Mparntwe/Alice Springs for my festival, and they said something incredibly humble, and I remember replying, ‘dude, I decided you were coming the minute we met’. I put her in a cardboard box called the poetry jukebox in the mall to perform (there are videos; it was fantastic). It was a festival like no other and a huge part of that was Jess. She made you feel special and really cool and shared with you in a way that just felt right. The coolest person I’ll ever meet.

Meanjin editor Esther Anatolitis writes,

Jess was the kind of friend who gave you superpowers. If you weren’t lucky enough to know her, turns out her writing can also give you superpowers. I’ve been re-reading her Meanjin essays ‘If your body is wrong, say hi’ and ‘At night, I marry the bed’ and hearing them in her voice. Rest in fabulousness, gorgeous one 💔.

Writer and appearance advocate Carly Findlay writes,

Jess was a brilliant writer and storyteller. I’m glad the world gets to read and hear her words forever. I published her story ‘I Don’t Need Them to See Through You’ in Growing Up Disabled in Australia – her chapter was vulnerable, honest and funny. 

Jess was also such a supporter of Australian writers. Sending love to her family, friends and colleagues. She will be missed.

Writer Harry Saddler writes,

What I’ll remember most about Jess, and miss the most, is her laugh. A joyous cackle which switched almost immediately to tears of laughter. In the days since she died, a string of terrible literary jokes has popped into my head, and I’ve wished that I could tell them to her, just to hear her laugh and to hear her riff on and elaborate on what I said, instantly improving it. She was a brilliant writer, but also a brilliant performer: quick-witted, at ease, charismatic. To see her performing her work, or talking about it, or talking about anything that she was passionate about, was a gift, and any of us who knew her or saw her were lucky to be witness to it. I’m grateful for the written work that she’s left for us, but the thought of how much more there could have been is devastating. Her words on the page won’t be the same without her electric presence to enliven them. She was an extraordinary talent but, more importantly to me and to so many others, she was an extraordinary person and a wonderful friend. Those of us who knew her and loved her will never forget her.

Category: Local news Obituaries