Gail Jones wins People’s Choice award

Two UWS staff members were recently shortlisted for the NSW Premier's Literary Awards, with one taking out the prestigious People's Choice award.

Gail Jones, a Professor in Writing at the Writing and Society Research Centre (opens in a new window) who joined the University in 2008, was awarded the People's Choice award for her book, Five Bells, published by Random House Books Australia. During her career, Gail has had five novels published as well as two books of short stories.

Five Bells is a work of fiction that tells the story of four people who are haunted by memories and find themselves at Circular Quay one sunny Saturday. Over the course of the day, the four lives are described and, by the time night falls and a rainstorm sets in, each life has been changed.

"This is the first award I have won that wasn't awarded by judges but by the public," says Gail. "It's gratifying and humbling to be chosen by public award."

In a year where many great works of fiction have been published, Gail says she is surprised to win the award. "It has been a strong year with so many well-known novelists, so it was a nice surprise to win the People's Choice Award," she says.

Andrew Moore, Associate Professor in the School of Humanities and Communication Arts (opens in a new window) teaching History and Political Thought, was shortlisted for his book titled Mr Big of Bankstown.

His book covers the controversial story of Frank Browne, a journalist, and Raymond Fitzpatrick, a Sydney businessman known as Mr Big of Bankstown, who worked together to teach MP Charles Morgan a lesson after they were jailed for an article printed in a local newspaper.

The impetus for writing the book came from Andrew's long interest in politics and democracy and, as he learned more about the complicated story, his interest was sustained. The local context of the story was also a catalyst for Andrew's writing, as he has been teaching at the UWS Campbelltown and Bankstown campuses for 30 years. "I believe the way that people understand their lives is through a connection with their local area, rather than national," explains Andrew.

Over the course of Andrew's writing career, he has written five books, three of which have been shortlisted in the past, a tribute to his ability.

To find out more about the NSW Literary Awards, Five Bells or Mr Big of Bankstown, visit the NSW Premier's Literary Awards & NSW Premier's History Awards website (opens in a new window).