Western Sydney University honours Alexis Wright and Jennifer Rowe
Award-winning Australian writers, Jennifer Rowe AC and Adjunct Professor Alexis Wright, received Honorary Doctorates from Western Sydney University in recognition of their nationally-significant bodies of work and outstanding contribution to literature.
As part of the University’s graduation ceremonies, the Honorary Doctorates will be conferred on Jennifer Rowe on Saturday 27 April and on Adjunct Professor Alexis Wright on Friday 3 May. They will also deliver the Occasional Address at those ceremonies.
A resident of the Blue Mountains, Ms Rowe has left an indelible mark on the Australian literary scene. Her highlights include working for Angus and Robinson publishers for 14 years, receiving the Australian Children's Book Council 'Book of the Year for Younger Readers' a record five times and her much-loved crime fiction for adults, including the highly successful Verity Birdwood murder mysteries.
An Adjunct Professor with Western Sydney University, Alexis Wright received the prestigious Stella prize in 2018 for her recent work, Tracker: Stories of Tracker Tilmouth, published by Giramondo. Professor Wright’s epic feat of Aboriginal storytelling has received critical acclaim and the novel follows on from her success with Carpentaria, which won several nationally significant awards, including the Miles Franklin Award.
Acting Vice-Chancellor, Professor Scott Holmes, said both awardees have had a significant and positive impact on Australian literature and have advanced the art of Australian storytelling.
“The University community congratulates Alexis Wright and Jennifer Rowe on their outstanding achievements. Both writers’ work extends far beyond national boundaries, but have made a significant contribution to our national identity and literary traditions,” said Professor Holmes.
ENDS
7 May, 2019
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