Historian’s Work on Indigenous Protest Wins Top Literary Award

Clare Wright’s Näku Dhäruk The Bark Petitions, a history of Indigenous protest and consultation, has won the Book of the Year award at the NSW Literary Awards. The book draws parallels between historical and contemporary struggles for land rights, including the recent failed Voice to Parliament referendum and the destruction of the Juukan Gorge.

Wright emphasizes the power of collective action and the importance of upholding freedom of speech in the face of government crackdowns on protest. She also advocates for sustained funding for humanities programs in universities to ensure future generations can continue to learn from the past. The work was also awarded the Douglas Stewart Prize for Non-Fiction.

Moreno Giovannoni's The Immigrants won the Christina Stead Prize for Fiction, offering a nuanced look at the often-unseen hardships faced by Italian migrants in regional Victoria.