Lehman wins 2024 Judith Wright Poetry Prize

Overland has announced Neika Lehman as the winner of the 2024 Judith Wright Poetry Prize for their poem ‘The Dog House’.

Lehman’s poem, chosen from a shortlist of eight, will be published in the print edition of Overland. As the winner, Lehman will receive $6000.

The poem ‘is a love letter and community record of life lived under the pool tables of the iconic Dog House pub in Nipaluna/Hobart,’ said Overland. ‘Cruising between the late 1800s to now, this poem tells the story of multiple lives lived and lost and how a few end up being remembered.’

Lehman is a writer from Nipaluna/Hobart, living and working in Naarm/Melbourne. They descend from the Trawlwoolway peoples and grew up in the Palawa community of 1990s Nipaluna/Hobart.

The judging panel – Toby Fitch, Astrid Lorange and Ender Başkan – selected the winner from over 700 entries.

Overland also announced Laura Charlton’s ‘referencing suburbs’ and Joel Keith’s ‘Trans Pastoral’ as the second and third prize winners respectively. Charlton will receive $2000 and Keith $1000, and both poems will also be published in Overland.

Established in 2007, the Judith Wright Poetry Prize is awarded annually in recognition of outstanding poetry from new and emerging writers. Last year’s winner was Andrew Brooks, for his poem ‘Celestial Tree’.

More information about the prize is available on the Overland website.

Category: Awards Local news