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Queensland Literary Awards prize-winners

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Published: Wed, 2012-09-05 12:35 by Elizabeth Alvey
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Frank Moorhouse won the Fiction category of the Queensland Literary Awards last night for his book Cold light, the final in his Palais de Nations trilogy. In accepting the prize, Mr Moorhouse said:

The Queensland Prize because of its history as a long existing prize, the dismaying axing of it by the new Queensland government and now as a prize reborn is, I think this year, now Australia's most Noble of the Literary Prizes - it is the only prize created by the citizens of the state, in fact, by citizens throughout Australia - it is not the Premiers Prize it is the Citizens Prize.

And of all the prizes I have won for my writing the winning of this one has made me the proudest.

Fryer Library holds an extensive archive of papers from Frank Moorhouse, including drafts, notes and research material for his books and writings, going back to The Americans, baby (1972). As well as literary material there is also a large amount of personal material including correspondence and photographs.

The Moorhouse collection has been growing over the years, with new instalments added at intervals. There are now 211 boxes of catalogued papers. Another instalment of 10 cartons of papers was received recently and is in the process of being catalogued. This instalment of mainly personal papers covers most of Moorhouse's life and considerably extends and adds depth to the existing collection. There is a surprising range of material, including notebooks, photographs, 'bush memorabilia', and realia including awards and badges. Frank Moorhouse has also kindly given to Fryer Library a transcript of his acceptance speech from the awards ceremony last night.

Frank Moorhouse collection, UQFL231, box 203. Photograph by Meg Stewart.

Janette Turner Hospital speaking at a Friends of Fryer function.

Another Queensland Literary Awards winner, whose papers Fryer holds, was Janette Turner Hospital. She won the Steele Rudd Award for Short Stories.

Fryer's collection of papers from Turner Hospital comprises 42 boxes of papers relating to The ivory swing, Charades, The last magician, Isobars, Borderline, The tiger in the tiger pit, Dislocations, Oyster, A very proper death, Collected stories 1970-1995. There is further recently received material which will soon be catalogued to the collection.

- Cathy Leutenegger.

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