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Duncan wins Hazel Rowley Fellowship 2022

Naomi Parry Duncan has been awarded Writers Victoria’s $20,000 Hazel Rowley Literary Fellowship for her proposed biography of Gai-mariagal man Musquito.

Originally from Port Jackson, Musquito was a resistance fighter who was exiled to Norfolk Island and taken to Van Diemen’s Land (lutrwita, palawa/pakana country) before being hanged in 1825.

Clare Wright, who judged this year’s fellowship alongside Jeff Sparrow, Della Rowley and Lynn Buchanan, said Duncan’s project ‘impressed the judges, particularly with its support from Musquito’s surviving kin. Musquito was an important figure and a biography about him is timely.’

Duncan’s proposal was selected from a shortlist of 10 announced in January. The highly commended prize of $7500 was awarded to Sylvia Martin for her proposed biography of Australian artists Eirene Mort and Nora Kate Weston, who influenced the Arts and Crafts Movement in Australia in the 1920s and 1930s.

In its 11th year, the fellowship’s prize value was increased from $15,000 to $20,000. ‘This year we were pleased to be able to increase the Hazel Rowley Literary Fellowship to $20,000 and this money will support Naomi Parry Duncan to tell this important and neglected story,’ said Della Rowley.

Established to commemorate the life and writing of biographer Hazel Rowley, the fellowship encourages Australian authors to aim for ‘a high standard’ of biography writing.

The 2021 fellowship was awarded to Mandy Sayer for her proposed biography of Australian silent film makers the McDonagh sisters.

Image credit: Joy M Lai

 

Category: Awards Local news