Two new manuscripts for children have been named as the winning entries for the State Library of Queensland’s 2020 black&write! Fellowships.
Minister for the Arts, Leeanne Enoch said that each year the Fellowships rewarded aspiring Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander writers with $10,000 in prize money along with the opportunity to develop and publish their manuscripts.
“In a year of record entries, it is my great pleasure to name Blackwater resident, Eunice Day for her children’s story Rabbits by the Fenceline, and West Australian writer, Carl Merrison for his early reader series Backyard Sports as this year’s Fellowship recipients” (both pictured).
Ms Enoch said Ms Day’s manuscript was an illustrated story of reconciliation.
“Eunice Day is a proud Aboriginal woman descended from the Yimen Eaglehawk people and Lama Lama people,” Ms Enoch said.
“Her tale is inspired by stories passed down to her from family and follows a group of rabbits who overcome small differences to come together.”
She said Mr Merrison’s stories show the diversity of First Nations’ childhoods in the Kimberley and follow the adventures that spark when a ball goes over the fence.
“Carl is a respected Kija man from the Halls Creek area and his first co-authored book, Black Cockatoo, was a finalist in the 2019 Queensland Literary Awards,” Ms Enoch said.
“These Fellowships introduce exciting new voices in literature and make an important contribution in expanding contemporary Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander writing.”
She said that now, more than ever, in a time of global change and disruption, there was a need for stories to be told.
State Librarian, Vicki McDonald said the program, launched in 2010, was more important than ever.
“The program is the first of its kind in Australia and it plays an important role in bringing the talents of Aboriginal and Torres Strait writers into the spotlight,” Ms McDonald said.
