Hunter wins $10,000 for 2018 ACU poetry prize

Australian Catholic University (ACU) has announced Castlemaine-based poet Annie Hunter as the winner of the 2018 ACU Prize for Poetry, worth $10,000, for her poem ‘Athene noctua’.

Judge Chris Wallace-Crabbe said, ‘This lament for a dead mother takes on board Hegel’s little owl along with the poet’s own childhood rebellion, the Greek gods and warriors, travel and ageing: and even southern foliage.’

‘Musically, harmoniously, classically, it celebrates a mother’s life, its wildness, and its loss. This is a truly living achievement,’ added Wallace-Crabbe.

Two runners-up were also recognised. Felicity Plunkett received the $5000 second prize for her poem ‘Sound Bridge’, and Jane Williams received the $3000 third prize for her poem ‘Point of Recognition’. Roberta Lowing, Paul Scully and Denise O’Hagan each received $1000 in highly commended prizes.

More than 540 poems were entered in this year’s prize, addressing the theme of ‘Empathy’.

The annual prize is sponsored by the university’s office of the vice-president, led by Father Anthony Casamento, and ‘continues the tradition of the Catholic Church as a key patron of the arts’.

For more information about the prize, see the website.

Category: Awards Local news