The Patrick White Award is one of Australia’s very special literary awards, and one that I posted in detail about last year when Carmel Bird was the winner. It’s special for a number of reasons. It is named for Patrick White who is, to date, Australia’s only Nobel Laureate in Literature. But, as I wrote last year, it’s particularly significant because it was established by White himself, using the proceeds of his Nobel prize money. Known for being irascible, White was also a principled and generous person. Having won two Miles Franklin Awards, among others, he stopped entering his work for awards in 1967 to provide more opportunity for other less-supported writers. His award goes to writers who have made significant contributions to Australian literature but who haven’t received the recognition they deserve.
This year’s award, as I heard on ABC Radio National when I was heading out for my patchwork group’s fortnightly cuppa, was announced at Melbourne’s Wheeler Centre last night. It is special for another reason: the award has been made to Tony Birch, making it the first time the award has been made to an indigenous Australian writer. In one sense I feel uncomfortable about labelling, because Birch has won the award on the merit of his output, but on the other hand such wins can raise awareness and provide encouragement for all those “others” who feel (and, you’d have to say, are) locked out of the mainstream.
So, Tony Birch. He’s a Melbourne-based writer, who has written two novels, many short stories, and poetry. His first novel, Blood, was shortlisted for the Miles Franklin award, and his second, Ghost River (my review) won the 2016 Victorian Premier’s award for Indigenous writing. I have also reviewed one of his short stories, “Spirit in the night” (my review), which was published in the excellent Australian Review of Fiction series.
Australian literary editor Jason Steger, writing about Birch’s win, quotes Birch on White:
“I admired the fact that as a writer in his older age he protested against the Vietnam War, that he was a great supporter of Whitlam after the Dismissal and that he had been involved with Jack Mundey’s protests and the Green Bans.”
Steger continues that this attracts Birch:
because he is “very involved” with the campaign against the Adani Carmichael coal mine in Queensland. And as a research fellow at Victoria University, his work “is essentially about the relationship between climate change and what we now call protection of country”.
The most interesting (and most memorable) parts of Ghost River were, for me, the environmental story about saving the river and Birch’s depiction of the lives of and treatment of homeless men. Michael Cathcart, in his interview with Birch on ABC’s Books and Arts Daily Program, commented that while Birch’s work features indigenous characters, his themes seem broader. Birch responded pretty much as Steger also quotes him:
I suppose my writing is broadly about class, but more essentially about valuing people who might otherwise be regarded as marginalised.
Patrick White would, I’m sure, have been proud.
Whispering Gums 
Hi Sue, I too am glad Tony Birch won the Patrick White Award. He is a down to earth writer. I do like his books,because of the Melbourne content, descriptions and his characters are always perceivable.
Thanks Meg. “Down-to-earth” is a good description. Let’s hope it gets more of his work read.
You and Lisa are on the same page.
Haha, yes, Guy, I noticed. We both like Radio National’s Books and Arts show, but I did laugh that we both commented on Patrick White approving!
And I heard the program in the car too!
Love it Lisa.
I remember reading your review of ‘Ghost River’, Sue. I want to start with this short story, maybe. 🙂
Thanks, Deepika. And I think the short story would be a great place to start.
It really is such wonderful news.
Seems like many of us approve Julie! Thanks for commenting.
Deepika, he’s published two short story collections, I think, one is the recent ‘Common People’. I’m very happy about Birch getting the result because not only is he a great writer, but also he tackles important political and social issues in his writing without being didactic, and sadly so many Australian writers shy away from that – or claim that’s not what they’re doing, when actually, they are…
Thanks Annette. I think you’re right about his not being didactic. He’s pretty story focused isn’t he – and let’s that carry the message?
Patrick WHITE (“pro tanto quid retribuemus” indeed – to recognise Australian writers – who – while working over a long period of time – had not received proper or adequate recognition)! Bravo Tony BIRCH!
And as always WG – you capture the heart and the historical nature of Patrick WHITE and of his personal endowment via his Nobel Laureate Prize of the Patrick WHITE Award.
I recall John MORRISON (1904-1998) as a worthy recipient many years ago – and my all-time favourite Australia writer – Judah WATEN (1911-1985) was awarded it posthumously – in 1985. Other recipients I admire/admired, too – Bruce DAWE, Roland ROBINSON, Thea ASTLEY, Amy WITTING, David MARTIN, Dimitris TSALOUMAS, Vivian SMITH (one of my poetry lecturers at Sydney) Thomas SHAPCOTT, Janette Turner HOSPITAL, Morris LURIE, John ROMERIL, Beverley FARMER, Brian CASTRO…
Thanks Jim – a great list of people, isn’t it. And yet most of them would not fall off the tongue of many Australians would they.
I’m delighted by this result. Tony Birch is a great writer, a generous supporter of other writers, and an all round top human being.
Thanks Angela. That’s lovely to know. I love that you’ve added something that we out in reader-land don’t know.
Interesting background story to this award – thanks for sharing it. And it sounds like they’ve chosen a worthy winner!
Thanks Naomi, I think they have.
Only the first time the award has been given to a indigenous Australian writer? How long has the award been around? Hopefully it is the start of a trend.
Oh, only around 45 years Stefanie! When I look at the list of winners I think they are, those I know as there are a few I don’t, worthy winners but that doesn’t mean there weren’t other equally worthy winners around, so yes, I agree with you.
Like Naomi, I really enjoyed the story behind this award. Like White, Munro and Atwood here in Canada have also bowed out of submission processes at various times, to give emerging and less established authors more opportunities, and I admire that generosity of spirit. I recently picked up a copy of a Patrick White novel which I’m looking forward to (I’ve only read one or two): The Eye of the Storm. Tony Birch is on my TBR now too: thanks again!
Yes, I love that generosity of spirit too, Buried. I haven’t read The eye of the storm, myself Buried, but I think it is a good read. It’s one of his more directly autobiographical novels.
Just an aside Gummie: is Patrick White read much these days?
No, probably mainly academically I’d say, Guy. But he’s not forgotten and good bookshops always have something of his for the keen reader.