Tara June Winch
Encyclopedia
Tara June Winch is an Australian writer of Aboriginal and European descent. Her first book, Swallow the Air, won several major Australian literary awards.
, Afghan and English heritage. She is studying for a Master of Arts degree at the University of Wollongong
. She has one daughter. She currently lives in New York City after an Internship at the United Nations. She has started a charity to promote female empowerment called onethousand.org.
Winch has also had been published in Best Australian Stories 2005, 2006, 2010, the Griffith Review, The Bulletin, The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age as well as others.
Life
Winch was born in Wollongong, New South Wales, of WiradjuriWiradjuri
The Wiradjuri are an Indigenous Australian group of central New South Wales.In the 21st century, major Wiradjuri groups live in Condobolin, Peak Hill, Narrandera and Griffith...
, Afghan and English heritage. She is studying for a Master of Arts degree at the University of Wollongong
University of Wollongong
The University of Wollongong is a public university located in the coastal city of Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia, approximately 80 kilometres south of Sydney...
. She has one daughter. She currently lives in New York City after an Internship at the United Nations. She has started a charity to promote female empowerment called onethousand.org.
Writing
Her first novel, Swallow the air, won several awards. The judges for the Sydney Morning Herald Best Young Novelists award wrote that the book "is distinguished by its natural grace and vivid language" and that "As with many first books it deals with issues of family, growing up and stepping into the world. But it strives to connect these experiences to broader social issues, though never in a didactic fashion". Thuy On writes that "Swallow the Air can either be read as a novel with short chapters or as a series of inter-linked short stories" and describes Winch's style in the following words: "in between prose of unvarnished vernacular, Winch offers lyrical sentences that delight in startling metaphorical allusions".Winch has also had been published in Best Australian Stories 2005, 2006, 2010, the Griffith Review, The Bulletin, The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age as well as others.
Awards and nominations
- 2003: State Library of Queensland Young Writers Award, Runner up and Maureen Donahoe Encouragement award
- 2004: Queensland Premier's Literary Awards, David Unaipon AwardQueensland Premier's Literary AwardsThe Queensland Premier's Literary Awards were inaugurated in 1999 and have grown to become a leading literary awards program within Australia, with $225,000 in prizemoney over 14 categories. One of Australia's richest prizes, top categories offer up to $25,000 for 1st prize.-Fiction Book...
for unpublished indigenous writers - 2006: Victorian Premier's Literary AwardVictorian Premier's Literary AwardThe Victorian Premier's Literary Awards were created by the Victorian Governmentwith the aim of raising the profile of contemporary creative writing and Australia's publishing industry....
for indigenous writing - 2007: Dobbie AwardNita Kibble Literary AwardThe Kibble Literary Awards comprise two awards which are presented annually: the Nita B Kibble Literary Award, which recognises the work of an established Australian female writer, and the Dobbie Literary Award, which is for a first published work by a female writer. The Awards recognise the works...
- 2007: New South Wales Premier's Literary Awards, UTS Award for New WritingNew South Wales Premier's Literary AwardsThe New South Wales Premier's Literary Awards were established in 1979 by the New South Wales Premier Neville Wran. Commenting on its purpose, Wran said: "We want the arts to take, and be seen to take, their proper place in our social priorities...
- 2007: The Sydney Morning HeraldThe Sydney Morning HeraldThe Sydney Morning Herald is a daily broadsheet newspaper published by Fairfax Media in Sydney, Australia. Founded in 1831 as the Sydney Herald, the SMH is the oldest continuously published newspaper in Australia. The newspaper is published six days a week. The newspaper's Sunday counterpart, The...
, Best Young Australian Novelists Award - 2007: Queensland Premier's Literary AwardsQueensland Premier's Literary AwardsThe Queensland Premier's Literary Awards were inaugurated in 1999 and have grown to become a leading literary awards program within Australia, with $225,000 in prizemoney over 14 categories. One of Australia's richest prizes, top categories offer up to $25,000 for 1st prize.-Fiction Book...
: Shortlisted - 2007: The Age Book of the YearThe Age Book of the YearThe Age Book of the Year Awards are annual literary awards presented by Melbourne's The Age newspaper. The awards were first presented in 1974. Since 1998 they have been presented as part of the Melbourne Writers Festival...
: Shortlisted - 2008: RolexRolexRolex SA is a Swiss watchmaking manufacturer of high-quality, luxury wristwatches. Rolex watches are popularly regarded as status symbols and BusinessWeek magazine ranks Rolex No.71 on its 2007 annual list of the 100 most valuable global brands...
Mentor and Protégé Arts Initiative: Winner