Winner Announced: Young Indigenous Writers Prize

This prize recognises the work of young Indigenous writers. It is the first of its kind in Australia, and complements Trinity’s ongoing commitment to Indigenous education and reconciliation.

In 2014 the prize was awarded in the category of best poem or suite of poems. It will then alternate annually between poetry and short fiction.

At the awards ceremony, held in Trinity College’s Junior Common Room, Jessica Hart read her winning piece, ‘Land Mountain’, which will be published in the May/June 2014 edition of literary journal Overland.

Jessica also receives $5,000, plus the opportunity as a Writer-in-Residence at Trinity for a period of three months.

Jessica grew up in Cairns and completed school at Cairns State High School. She is now studying a Bachelor of Arts degree at James Cook University, with a major in English Literature.

“I have always been interested in writing, but my interest in writing poetry in the form of the sonnet began last year after studying heroism and humanism in works from the English Renaissance,” says Jessica.

“I experimented with the sonnet and discovered that by relaxing the metre and rhyme, it loses none of its integrity or veracity.”

The award is the initiative of Peter Gebhardt (TC 1955), who was also at the ceremony last night. Donors to the prize fund were also present.

Trinity congratulates Jessica, as well as Elijah Louttit and Jared Field, who each received a Special Commendation for their entries.

You can read more about the Nakata Brophy Short Fiction and Poetry Prize for Young Indigenous Writers here.