Tara June Winch – 2020 Miles Franklin Literary Award Winner

Wiradjuri woman and author Tara June Winch is the 2020 winner of the Miles Franklin Literary Award.

She received the award for her novel The Yield which is about colonial violence, trauma across generations and damage to the environment.

It also celebrates the resurgence of her group’s language, Wiradjuri.

Due to Covid-19 restrictions, the award was announced via a ‘live’ YouTube presentation.

She will receive $60,000 in prize money for The Yield and joins a group of distinguished Indigenous writers who have won the prize including last year’s winner Melissa Lucashenko, Kim Scott, and Alexis Wright.

The competition for the prize was strong with the short list featuring four previous winners.

‘I'm honoured to be among brilliant colleagues on the longlist and shortlist, our power is in the many stories and not only the one,’ Tara said.

‘The historical presence of both Tony Birch and myself on the shortlist signals to the publishing industry that we can write our own stories, and that we don't want to be spoken for.

‘I hope this event also encourages the next generation of Indigenous voices, to know there is a space here for you in the industry, and in the minds and hearts of a new era of readers.

‘We need to hear voices from across the nation to truly immerse ourselves in the song of Australia.’

In her acceptance speech, Tara thanked many who supported her including family, friends and colleagues and fellow authors whose work has inspired her.

Information and quotes courtesy of Tara June Winch’s The Yield wins the 2020 Miles Franklin Literary Award.