Van Neerven wins inaugural UQP Quentin Bryce Award

Ellen van Neerven has been named the winner of The University of Queensland Press’ (UQP) inaugural Quentin Bryce Award, for their poetry collection Throat.

The Quentin Bryce Award recognises a UQP book that celebrates women’s lives or promotes gender equality. Van Neerven receives $5000 in prize money, and an extra $5000 will be put towards marketing and publicity for Throat.

Bryce called Throat ‘exhilarating and confronting, wise and funny’ and ‘the perfect companion for walks on Country along the river and for looking into the colours of the writer’s heart’.

‘Inside this book is the story of the poet’s ancestors’ story, truth told in spades, in magic rhythm, with searing knowing love,’ said Bryce.

‘This award means a lot to me as a proud member of my local South-East Queensland First Nations community and as a writer who is actively dedicated to gender equality,’ said van Neerven. ‘I am proud to be the inaugural recipient of an award named in Quentin Bryce’s honour.’

Throat was originally scheduled for publication in May but its release has been brought forward to early April.

Category: Awards Local news