CQU’s Dr Ann-Marie Priest awarded prestigious 2025 Blake-Beckett Trust Scholarship

03 November 2025

Lady in red shirt and black cardigan and notepad and coffee near window — Dr Ann-Marie Priest having coffee and making notes for her new book at Fairlight, in the UK, where Henry Handel Richardson once lived

CQUniversity’s Dr Ann-Marie Priest has been announced as the 2025 recipient of the $35,000 Blake-Beckett Trust Scholarship for her forthcoming biography Tell it Slant: The Life and Loves of Henry Handel Richardson.

The scholarship, administered by the Australian Society of Authors (ASA) and supported by the Blake-Beckett Trust, was announced in Sydney on 28 October by writer and philanthropist Wendy Beckett.

The Rockhampton-based humanities scholar and School of Access Education academic said the award would allow her to dedicate focused time to completing her latest work on one of Australia’s most enigmatic literary figures.

“I couldn’t be more delighted to receive the Blake-Beckett Trust Scholarship,” said Dr Priest.

“It is such a wonderful gift for any writer to be able to make a new book project their sole priority for a time, and I feel immensely grateful for this opportunity.

“I offer my warmest thanks to the ASA, the Blake-Beckett Trust, the stalwart judges who chose the shortlist, and Wendy Beckett, who whittled it down to two.

“I thank them especially for considering biographers for this scholarship as well as fiction writers, which is such a welcome affirmation of the place of biography in the Australian literary sphere.”

A portrait of Henry Handel Richardson, c. 1897, whose birthname was Ethel Richardson, but was known as Henry even to her family and friends after she started publishing

Earlier this year, Dr Priest spent three months as a Visiting Scholar at the Oxford Centre for Life-Writing at University of Oxford, where she said this “work-in-progress” first began to take shape.

Her forthcoming biography promises a fresh and rarely seen portrait of a major figure in early twentieth-century Australian literature, exploring aspects of Richardson’s gender identity and personal relationships that have previously been overlooked or dismissed.

Known for her research depth and clear, nimble expression, Dr Priest is expected to deliver another valuable and thought-provoking contribution to Australian literature.

The Blake-Beckett Trust Scholarship recognises excellence in Australian literary works-in-progress, enabling writers to focus exclusively on their craft. This year’s shortlist featured five acclaimed authors: Mark Brandi, Lenny Bartulin, Kate Kruimink, Kate McCaffrey and Dr Priest.

Wendy Beckett said the 2025 competition attracted an exceptional field of entries.

“This year’s applications were outstanding and it was the most difficult year I can remember to judge in a long time,” Ms Beckett said.

woman in selfie overlooking houses to the sea — Dr Ann-Marie Priest captures a quick selfie from the lane behind Richardson’s former home, looking out over Hastings, to the sea

“All of the books entered simply must be published. The winning two entrants should be obligatory reading and it is hard to think they might not have been written at all. Both were intriguing, beautifully written, and so worthy.”

ASA CEO Lucy Hayward also congratulated the recipients.

“Congratulations to Ann-Marie Priest and Lenny Bartulin – both are accomplished writers with fascinating works-in-progress,” Ms Hayward said.

“Writing demands many things of authors, most significantly, their time. We’re delighted to be able to gift authors that time through this scholarship, thanks to the generous support of Wendy Beckett and the Blake-Beckett Trust.”

Dr Priest’s win continues her impressive record as a biographer and literary scholar. Her previous works include My Tongue is My Own: A Life of Gwen Harwood (La Trobe University Press, 2022), which won the 2023 National Biography Award and the 2024 Magarey Medal for Biography.