24 February 2018

OOTA is proud to announce that its President and Western Australian poet Julie Watts has won the 2018 Dorothy Hewett Award for her ‘Legacy,’ the first poetry manuscript to win the $10,000 prize.

In the judges report, ‘Legacy’ was described as a volume that ‘explores the templates and legacies of our internal and external worlds, the psychological inheritance we share and pass on, the interplay between the prime influence of nature and nurture and the crucial, inherent drive for connection.’ Julie was praised for her poetry’s ‘delicate strength’ and ‘maturity of voice and craft.’

The 2018 judges’ panel consisted of Lucy Dougan, poet and niece of Dorothy Hewett; James Ley, literary critic and Contributing Editor of Sydney Review of Books; and Terri-ann White, Director of UWA Publishing. There were ninety-nine entries in the 2018 award.

‘Legacy’ will be published as part of the UWAP Poetry imprint, in October 2018.

The Dorothy Hewett Award is co-funded by the Copyright Agency and supported by UWA Publishing’s, ‘The Monthly.’

Congratulations Julie.