
A message from Professor Andrew O’Neil
News 28 MayAn update from the Executive Dean of Law and Business Professor Andrew O'Neil.
08 September 2021
Share
The winner of ACU’s Prize for Poetry Anna Murchison will be an inspiration to late starters in many fields. The prize-winning poet did not even start writing poetry until she was 50.
The $10,000 prize, announced on Monday 6 September, is Australia’s richest poetry prize and is part of ACU’s commitment to the support of arts and culture.
For the Hobart-based poet, winning the prize is confirmation that she is right to take the courageous step of becoming a writer. At 54, still considers herself a “new and unschooled” writer.
“We poets inhabit quiet spaces wherein we turn the wheel of our aspirations with hopes of fashioning some small article of truth, some modicum of the essential. While the writing act is solitary, the ACU Prize endows us with a collective moment in which to unite to create an instrument of hope,” she said.
The theme of this year’s prize was resilience. Murchison’s winning poem Child of Gath-hepher explores her feelings during a recent experience when her son Jonah needed urgent surgery, and she suddenly had to fly from Tasmania to Melbourne between lockdowns to be with him. The name Gath-hepher is a reference to the birthplace of the Biblical Jonah.
Murchison has always been aware that she has a creative side, but she had not explored it until she wrote her first poems in 2017. One of those early works was shortlisted for the Montreal Prize, which gave her a boost to keep going.
“I think poetry allows us to access our emotions in deep and subterranean ways. Poetry allowed me to recapture the trauma and uncertainty of that time in a way that I think is different from what prose can do. It’s a completely authentic moment.”
ACU Poetry Prize judge MTC Cronin described Murchison’s work as “a poem of many journeys”.
“This is a story of our generational desires to protect, to teach, to honor, to pay homage. To thank for being nurtured.”
Murchison is also working on her first novella. She said the different forms provide different opportunities. “If prose is the slow burn, poetry is the ignition point – the spark and fury.”
Second prize was won by Melbourne-based poet and former ACU academic Carolyn Masel, and third prize went to Brisbane-based Bruce Clark. Poems were submitted anonymously and judged by poet MTC Cronin from a shortlist of 75 poems prepared by Emeritus Professor Margot Hillel OAM and Professor Robert Carver.
“All of the top three poems were, to me, the voices of speakers who could not be merged, confused or conflated with the sound of others. Strange that in our desire to ‘recognise’, to be ‘a part’ of things, that we also actively search for the strange, the unfamiliar, the standout. It is because we know it will enlarge us,” Cronin said.
The ACU Poetry prize is a continuation of the Catholic Church’s long-standing tradition as a patron of the Arts. ACU Vice President Fr Anthony Casamento said he was delighted to have received more than 700 entries to this year’s prize.
“With the on-going challenges of the pandemic, resilience has been a very important personal trait for all of us. It is so inspiring to see the many ways in which poets have explored this theme and created beauty and meaning out of what is a difficult time across our community,” he said.
All 75 shortlisted poems will be published in an anthology that can be purchased online.
Winner ($10,000)
Anna Murchison (Hobart) for Child of Gath-hepher
Second place ($5,000)
Carolyn Masel (Melbourne) for Etymological Wisdom
Third place ($3,000)
Bruce Clark (Brisbane) for Mister Micawber
Highly Commended ($1,000)
Keith Harrison (Canberra) for Cadences for Ms. Weznecki
Damen O’Brien (Brisbane) for The Dawn
Rod Usher (Melbourne) for Marginal Notes
An update from the Executive Dean of Law and Business Professor Andrew O'Neil.
Expect a few email notifications as we prepare to welcome you to Viva Engage next week.
ACU is developing a new Education and Student Success Plan to ensure our university continues to provide a high-quality, student-centred learning experience. Find out how you can contribute to the pla...
A reminder to all academic staff that the mandatory Notice of Intent, for those intending to apply for promotion in the 2025 round, must be submitted by 11.59pm this Friday (30 May).
Include an additional survey item in the Student Evaluation of Learning and Teaching (SELT) survey for units that are offered in Professional Term 4 (202547).
Register for these 15-minute sessions to learn more about the variety of online researcher profile platforms and what is involved in setting up, linking and updating your profile.
Lecturers-in-charge can make a direct determination of Poor Academic Practice (PAP) for students who engage in minor forms of academic misconduct. Learn why they can be valuable to staff and students.
You're invited to join your Campus Community of Learning Advancement - a professional learning community focused on collaborative workplace learning.
A message from the Executive Dean Faculty of Education and Arts Professor Mary Ryan.
The Semester 1 2025 Student Evaluation of Learning and Teaching (SELT) surveys will close on 29 June. Students say they are more likely to complete the surveys if they are reminded in class and unders...
ACU librarians have recently begun using Rayyan for screening and collaboration. It is a free alternative to Covidence that can assist with systematic review workflows. Read more about Rayyan and othe...
The Academic Board Digest from meeting 02/2025 held on 15 April 2025 is now available.
Tomorrow, 15 May, is International Day of Families. To celebrate, let’s hear from ACU staff member Martina Donaghy about how flexible working has helped her manage care for her young daughter after re...
Student Advocacy Service is running an information session designed to provide staff with a clearer understanding of the scope of support available to students.
Explore the future of assessment with Interactive Orals. We’ll be joined by expert, Danielle Logan-Fleming to share valuable insights into this transformative model and its impact across disciplines.
A message from the Executive Dean of Health Sciences Professor Suzanne Chambers.
Academic promotions provides an opportunity to recognise and reward your achievements at your current level of appointment that warrant promotion to the next academic level. Register to attend an info...
Advance HE is offering free webinars on Student Success and Advance HE Fellowships in May and June as part of their Australasian Member Benefit Series.
Recent cyber-attacks on Australian organisations have highlighted the need to protect yourself online. Learn more about infostealers and what you can do to stay safe.
As artificial intelligence tools become part of everyday academic work, questions around copyright are more important than ever. This workshop on 22 May will focus on the copyright implications of usi...
Visit Service Central to access Corporate Services.