ACTLA 2025

6 Jul

Written By MARION

The MARION Book Awards and Family Awards (in memoriam)

On Thursday, 3 July, we held the ACT Literary Awards at The Shine Dome in Acton, ACT. Together, we celebrated the excellence of the literary sector in the ACT and surrounding regions. The winners from each category in the book awards have produced exceptional published works. Across all categories, judges were asked to consider entries that stand out in their brilliance and demonstrate literary excellence, powerful narrative structure, and impactful use of language.

The Shine Dome, Thursday 3 July (Photo by Selma Kaasinen)

We extend our gratitude to our fantastic judges this year: Adrian Caesar, Paul Hetherington, Maya Hodge, Ayesha Inoon, Will Kostakis, Katrina Marson, Omar Musa, Bebe Oliver, Shannyn Palmer, Jacqueline de Rose-Ahern, and Melinda Smith. We had a remarkable shortlist, and the judges faced a challenging task across categories.

This year there we announced the Anne Edgeworth Fellowship and winners of the June Shenfield National Poetry Awards. We also had the honour of awarding two new awards this year, the Finding Beauty Poetry Prize for emerging poets and the Canberra Airport Literacy Inclusion Award.

We ended the evening with the announcement of the recipient of the Marion Halligan Award, and Lifetime Membership Awards.

Thank you to all who entered this year's awards and to all who came to celebrate the successes with us at The Shine Dome. It was truly a wonderful evening that left us feeling inspired and invigorated for our sector.

JUNE SHENFIELD POETRY AWARDS

Photos by Ben Appleton, Photox

FIRST PLACE Krystle Herdy, A metabolism of self (VIC)
The raw, cascading energy of this poem hit me right in that thing behind the sternum. Family, survival, queerness, addiction, coming into selfhood – this "scar tissue gospel" is full of sacred rage, profane tenderness and wit. It made me see the world with new eyes, which is what the best poetry does. - Omar Musa

SECOND PLACE Elizabeth Walton, This is a Recipe (NSW)
I couldn't shake this searing, sculpted poem, about the human tragedy of eating and digesting complicity – knowingly. The poet cleverly makes both themselves and the reader complicit in the commodification of nature through gastronomy and a yuppified palate. While our scientia – knowledge – like meat "inside plastic bags breaking down acids and crystalised enzymes", slowly disintegrates throughout the poem, it reforms into a new, brutal understanding of the world and environment around us. A world in which we both devour and are devoured. - Omar Musa

THIRD PLACE Josephine Shevchenko, Building (ACT)
A vulnerable and tender-hearted nocturne. Building is a deceptively simple poem; delicately weighted, yet brimful with longing and elemental energy. - Omar Musa

ANNE EDGEWORTH WRITER’S FELLOWSHIP AWARD

JOINT AWARD WINNERS! Elisa Cristallo, Matthew Crowe, and Deborah Huff-Horwood

The Anne Edgeworth Emerging Writer’s Fellowship is provided to an emerging writer in the Canberra Region. The Fellowship is worth up to $5,000 and is to be used to advance the recipients’ development in the craft of writing. The Fellowship is provided annually by the Anne Edgeworth Trust and administered by MARION. This year for the first time the Fellowship was awarded to each of the three shortlisted applicants.

Photos by Ben Appleton, Photox

Finding Beauty Poetry Prize

This year, MARION launched the inaugural Finding Beauty Poetry Prize for emerging poets. This very special prize has been established in memory of Roger Green, an environmental advocate, writer and editor, lover of poetry, and thinker. Roger believed that beauty had the power to alleviate fear and hardship, and to provide hope and inspiration.

The prize recognises and rewards emerging poets in Canberra and its surrounding regions, encouraging them to explore the theme of beauty in its many dimensions such as in the natural world, art, music and human action. The prize is intended to be ongoing.

First place: As a Matter of Great Importance by Alisha Brown $5,000
Second place: Rosalie by Cate Furey $2,000
Shortlisted: ; by Annie O’Connell $750
Shortlisted: Still Green by Sara Pronger $750

Photos by Ben Appleton, Photox

Canberra Airport Recognition Award for Literacy Inclusion

Established in partnership with Canberra Airport, this award recognises innovative and impactful efforts to break down barriers to literacy—whether through education, community engagement, publishing, advocacy, or creative practice. It honours those who champion access, amplify underrepresented voices, and foster a more inclusive literary culture.

Danny’s leadership in inclusive literacy goes beyond publishing. He actively commissions, mentors and supports emerging writers, creating entry points for those who have never seen themselves reflected in media. Danny’s editorial practice consistently centres gender-diverse and First Nations voices, and he works closely with contributors to develop their skills, confidence and clarity.

Danny Corvini’s words don’t just describe the world, they remake it. Literacy is more than a technical skill; it is the foundation of expression, agency and cultural belonging. For queer people, especially those in regional areas or communities facing systemic marginalisation, STUN is more than a magazine—it is a lifeline for representation, connection and pride.

This award honours Danny’s passion and purpose and affirms the powerful role his words play in shaping a more connected and expressive region.

POETRY BOOK AWARDS

WINNER Barrina South, Makarra (Recent Work Press)
Barrina South’s debut poetry collection, Makarra, threads together poems of tenderness, kinship, discomfort, and the complexities of life. Makarra takes flight in a deeply moving collection embedded in family and Country–each poem asks readers to slow down and engage with unmoving respect and care. This collection is a nest of truth and powerful storytelling. - Judges’ comments

HIGHLY COMMENDED Elfie Shiosaki, Refugia (Magabala Books)
At times lyrical, at other times making inventive use of archival material, this volume addresses eddying historical issues. It is an extraordinary exploration and reimagination of Nyoongar culture and the beeliar waters in Perth, and a resonant and powerful recuperation of memory as a means of addressing twenty-first-century colonial legacies.

NONFICTION BOOK AWARDS

WINNER Darren Rix and Craig Cormick, Warra Warra Wai: How Indigenous Australians discovered Captain Cook, and what they tell about the coming of the Ghost People (Scribner Australia)
Warra Warra Wai is a rigorous and compelling account of First Nations’ perspectives of the Endeavour voyage in 1770. Researched in collaboration with First Nations communities along the East Coast of this continent, the book restores original place names and centres First Nations history telling, alongside settler-colonial narratives, offering a bold and necessary approach to history and truth-telling in Australia. Insightful, forthright, and beautifully written, it presents an undeniable invitation to listen deeply. - Judges’ comments

HIGHLY COMMENDED Helen Ennis, Max Dupain: A Portrait (HarperCollins Australia)
In lucid prose, Helen Ennis carefully constructs a deeply researched and highly readable literary portrait of one of Australia’s most influential photographers, Max Dupain. Contextualising his work within the network of personal relationships, professional partnerships and intellectual and artistic currents that shaped him, Ennis’ biography reveals the complex and contradictory man beneath the myth. - Judges’ comments.

WINNER Vesna Cvjetićanin, An Unexpected Life: the inspiring stories of 12 migrant women and their new lives in Australia
Self-published
A Vesna Cvjetićanin’s An Unexpected Life, offers a glimpse into the experiences of twelve migrant women as they navigated the challenges of building new lives for themselves in Canberra. Weaving her own personal and professional journey, with the stories of the women she befriended along the way, An Unexpected Life highlights the strength of community and mutual support that developed among these women in their new home. - Judges’ comments

HIGHLY COMMENDED Melissa Bray, Australian Carillonists: respect for the past and a vision for the future
Self-published
A contemporary record of those who breathe life into this uncommon instrument in Australia, this book reveals a passionate community dedicated to their craft. It is an appropriate celebration of those usually anonymous individuals whose work brings the joy of music to public spaces. Canberra ought to be proud to house this instrument! - Judges’ comments.

FICTION BOOK AWARDS

WINNER Julie Janson, Compassion (Magabala Books)

Compassion is a powerful novel that delves into the enduring trauma and resilience of First Nations people. Through vivid storytelling and deeply human characters, Janson conveys the immense sorrow and injustice experienced by Aboriginal communities. This is a moving and necessary book - one that confronts historical and ongoing wounds with honesty, grace, and a fierce sense of truth. - Judges’ comments

HIGHLY COMMENDED Jackie French, The Sea Captain's Wife (HarperCollins Australia)

The Sea Captain’s Wife is a finely wrought historical novel, which, among other social and political concerns, provides a challenging response to William Golding’s Lord of the Flies. In elegant prose rich in detail, French deploys her considerable knowledge of mid to late nineteenth century culture with the lightest and most authentic of touches. This is a novel that articulates complex ideas and emotions while never surrendering narrative impetus. - Judges’ comments

CHILDREN’S BOOK AWARDS

WINNER - Younger Readers Lisa Fuller and Samantha Campbell (ill.), Big, Big Love (Magabala Books)

There is such a warmth to Big, Big Love. Fuller's text captures a mother's unconditional love, and is made to be read aloud to a child. The words pair beautifully with Campbell's illustrations that bring early motherhood and Aboriginal traditions to life. - Judges’ comments

WINNER - Middle Grade Jackie French, Tigg and the Bandicoot Bushranger (HarperCollins Australia)

With Tigg and the Bandicoot Bushranger, French's flair for balancing historical detail and action-packed storytelling is on full show. The past is fully realised on the page, and a substantial author's note contextualises the narrative and acts as a springboard for readers looking to research the period further. - Judges’ comments

WINNER - YA Fiction Gabrielle Tozer, The Unexpected Mess of It All (HarperCollins Australia)

A beautifully written fun-filled story that hooks you from the beginning and makes your cheeks hurt from smiling. Tozer has created the most endearing characters and takes readers through a multitude of emotions whilst thoughtfully exploring relatable themes. A book with so much heart. - Judges’ comments

HIGHLY COMMENDED Tania McCartney, Flora: Australia's Most Curious Plants (NLA Publishing)

A beautifully crafted book, Flora immerses you in Australia’s rich and diverse plant life. It feeds curiosity through pages brimming with facts, diagrams and stunning illustrations. This nonfiction book is thoughtfully designed, which makes it a pleasure to devour. McCartney has created an exquisite guide that inspires, engages and educates.

HIGHLY COMMENDED Stephanie Owen Reeder and Cher Hart (ill.), Sensational Australian Animals (CSIRO Publishing)

An intriguing book bursting with unusual facts to feed curious minds. The thoughtful layout of the book makes it easy to navigate. The striking illustrations complement the well-researched and considerately presented information. A valuable resource for home and schools.

The Marion Halligan Award

This award recognises work that demonstrates uniqueness, literary excellence and has the capacity surpass genre. The winning work is selected across all categories of the ACT Literary Awards.

The winner of the 2025 Marion Halligan Award is Tania McCartney for Flora (NLA Publishing).

L-R: Tania McCartney, Edgar Halligan, Katy Mutton, Emma Batchelor

Lifetime Member Awards

L-R: Irma Gold, Nigel Featherstone, Katarina Pearson, and Deborah Stevens

Nigel Featherstone - Awarded in recognition of his significant contributions to the ACT Writers Centre and MARION, and for his advocacy and support of professional development opportunities for writers, enriching the vitality of our region’s literary sector.

Irma Gold - Awarded in recognition of her outstanding contributions to the ACT Writers Centre and MARION, and for her commitment to storytelling, mentoring, and building a strong and connected literary community.

Jennifer Kemarre Martiniello - Awarded in recognition of her exceptional leadership and lifelong dedication to the arts. A champion for inclusion and cultural expression, Jennifer has inspired generations in and around our region and beyond through her writing, teaching, and tireless advocacy for First Nations voices.

Katarina Pearson - Awarded in recognition of her outstanding contributions to the ACT Writers Centre and MARION, and for her lifelong dedication to books, bookselling, and supporting authors and independent publishing in our region’s literary community.

Deborah Stevens - Awarded in recognition of her dedicated service to the ACT Writers Centre and MARION, and for her steadfast support of staff, writers, and the literary community, championing Australian publishing and building strong connections between authors, booksellers, and readers.

WITH THANKS TO OUR SUPPORTERS AND SPONSORS

MARION https://www.marion.ink