Chief Minister’s NT Book Awards | Winners Announced

The NT Writers Centre is delighted to announce the winners of the Chief Minister’s NT Book
Awards for the best fiction, non-fiction and children’s/young adult categories for 2020-2022,
awarded $10,000 each with thanks to the Northern Territory Government and the Copyright Agency’s Cultural Fund.

Announced at a special event on Wednesday 22 June, this year’s judges Marie Munkara,
Leonie Norrington and Leni Shilton had noted that the entries this year, in both English and
First Nations languages, “tackled a number of substantial topics with great insight …
including personal, cultural, environmental and family issues.”

Taking out the winning prize for best fiction is Dani Powell with her incredible debut novel
Return to Dust (UWA Publishing), a philosophical tale of coming to terms with the death of a
loved one, described by the judges as an “extremely fine and nuanced work that explores the
boundaries of grief and loss through cultural complexity and friendship. This is a powerful
and important work.”

The award for best non-fiction, recognised as a work that was “quietly shocking” was
awarded to Alice Springs journalist Kieran Finnane with her work Peace Crimes: Pine
Gap, national security and dissent (UQP). Described by the judges as “a powerful book that
explores the group of peace warriors’ protests at Pine Gap”, interweaving local events and
their legal aftermath with this century’s themes of international conflict and high-tech war.

In the category that celebrates children’s and/or young adult works, the NPY Women’s
Council Uti Kulintaku Watiku (Men’s) Group and illustrator Jan Bauer have taken
out the title for their book Tjanimaku Tjukurpa: How one young man came good. The
judges note: “refreshingly written in Ngaanyatarra/English and Pitjantjarra/English, this
book is about caring for people, culture and country. A seamless combination of Indigenous
knowledge and storytelling, this book not only explores Indigenous issues and solutions from
Indigenous perspective, it also inspires hope.”

For over 10 years the Chief Minister’s NT Book Awards have been celebrating the talent,
originality and flair of writers in the Northern Territory and sharing this with the rest of the
country.

Of the winners, Chief Minister Natasha Fyles has made the following statement:
“The Northern Territory Labor Government commends the exceptional work of the three
winning authors in this year's awards. Their books are outstanding examples of the unique
and remarkable stories emerging from the Northern Territory, and the significant
contribution writers and storytellers make to our cultural landscape.”

Fellow supporter of the awards, Copyright Agency CEO Josephine Johnston stated:
“The Copyright Agency’s Cultural Fund is proud to support the Chief Minister’s NT Book
Awards for the first time. Australia has a thriving and diverse literary culture and these
awards recognise and reward extraordinary writing as well as helping to find new audiences.
Congratulations, everyone!”

The winners of the Chief Ministers Book Awards plus many of the shortlisted artist will be
appearing at this year’s NT Writers Festival from 23-26 June in what will be an
incredible four days of immersive events, panels, storied walks, workshops, live music,
readings and so much more – visit the NT Writers Centre for tickets and program.

Media contact: Rachael McGuirk 0422 036 911 | publicity@ntwriters.com.au