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Naomi Williams Wiradjuri Poetry Prize
Subcategory of Awards Australian Awards
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History

Inaugurated in 2020 in memory of Naomi Williams, the award aimed to support Wiradjuri writers and to create more poetry about life in Wiradjuri country.

The prize launched with three categories: Adult (Wiradjuri writers over 25), Youth (Wiradjuri writers under 25), and Open (all those living, working, and learning on Wiradjuri country).

In 2021, the Adult and Youth categories were joined by a Kid category (Wiradjuri writers 12 and under), winners of which are not listed on AustLit, The Open category was not awarded in 2021.

Latest Winners / Recipients

Year: 2023

All 2023 winners were from local primary schools: awards were made in Years 5-6, Years 3-4, and Years K-2 categories.

Year: 2022

All three winners for 2022 were from the 'Kids' category (from Wagga Wagga Public School and Brungle Public School). No awards were made in the Adult and Youth categories.

Year: 2021

winner (Adult) Jasmine Williams for 'Wiradjuri Yinaa'.
winner (Youth) Aryssa McAliste for 'My mum is black I am not'.

Year: 2020

winner (Adult) Mitch Hibbens for 'Take My Life'.
winner (Open) Greg Pritchard

Works About this Award

Prize Honours Naomi Williams 2021 single work column
— Appears in: Koori Mail , 21 April no. 749 2021; (p. 47)
'TO commemorate the life of Naomi Williams, a strong, proud Wiradjuri woman from the Brungle/Tumut area, her family and loved ones have established the 2021 Naomi Williams Poetry Prize.'
 
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