Dunedin children’s literature expert wins top Storylines award

The 2015 Storylines Betty Gilderdale Award for outstanding service in the field of children’s literature has gone to Dunedin academic Trish Brooking(left).

“For more than two decades, Trish Brooking’s work at the University of Otago has had a far-reaching influence on children’s writing in this country,” says Storylines chair Dr Libby Limbrick.

“Largely through her advocacy, the University continues to offer the only fellowship available at any New Zealand tertiary institution to children’s authors, since 1993 attracting award-winning names such as David Hill, Tania Roxborogh, Penelope Todd, Ken Catran, Kyle Mewburn, James Norcliffe, the late William Taylor, Fleur Beale and David Elliot, among others.

“For them, the fellowship provided not only invaluable writing time, but an acknowledged boost to their writing careers.

“Storylines is pleased that this award honours not only Trish herself, but the University of Otago, and before that the Dunedin College of Education’s, commitment, along with Creative New Zealand, to maintaining the fellowship over two decades.”

Trish Brooking completed an MA in children’s literature at Melbourne’s Deakin University in 2003. As Senior Lecturer at the University of Otago, she has published a wide range of academic papers in New Zealand, Italy, Germany, Portugal and Australia. She has also had a long-standing active involvement with the New Zealand Reading Association.

The Storylines Betty Gilderdale Award, established to honour Betty Gilderdale’s contribution to children’s literature as author, academic, reviewer and historian, will be presented to Trish Brooking by Storylines chair Dr Limbrick at the Dunedin Public Library at 7.00 p.m. on Friday 6 November.