Molly Schmidt Takes The Hungerford

On a night made memorable by, at first, misty rain, then gently falling rain, and then much heavier, celebratory rain, Molly Schmidt was announced the winner of the 2022, and 32nd, City of Fremantle Hungerford Award for the best unpublished manuscript by a Western Australian writer.

Along with Molly Schmidt, Joy Kilian-Essert, Gerard McCann and Marie O’Rourke were the four short-listed writers who were in the running for $15,000 in prize money from the City of Fremantle and a publishing contract with Fremantle Press.

Fremantle Press Publisher Georgia Richter said this year’s award, which is judged anonymously, attracted 90 manuscripts by debut Western Australian writers. Richter said though each manuscript on the shortlist was distinct in form and content, they were all engaging, skilfully written stories which hold the reader’s attention.

Of Molly Schmidt’s novel, Salt River Road, the judges said – ‘In the aftermath of the death of their beloved mother, the five Tetley kids are falling apart. This novel focuses on the fabric of small-town life, and the complexity of family and community relationships. This story about grieving and healing is interspersed with beautiful passages of verse throughout.’

Molly is a writer and journalist, currently undertaking the Four Centres Emerging Writers Program. She is collaborating with Noongar Elders from her hometown, Albany, with the goal of producing a novel which actively pursues reconciliation between non-Aboriginal and Aboriginal peoples. She completed a thesis on the topic in 2021 and is now enjoying delving into her fiction writing. By day, Molly works as a radio producer and reporter for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, where her passion for storytelling is put to good use.

City of Fremantle Mayor Hannah Fitzhardinge, who presented the Award to Molly Schmidt, said all the writers who entered should be congratulated for their achievement in writing write a book-length manuscript. She said, ‘The City is proud to support an award that continues to discover and highlight new voices from Western Australian authors. Our local community of writers goes from strength to strength every time we host this award. I urge all readers to join us at the Fremantle Arts Centre to help welcome these dynamic new storytellers.’

The City of Fremantle Hungerford Award has a proud history of helping authors of outstanding talent at the crucial early stages of their careers. Authors like Gail Jones, Simone Lazaroo, Natasha Lester, Donna Mazza, Alice Nelson, Kim Scott, Holden Sheppard and Brenda Walker have all either won or been shortlisted for the award.

The City of Fremantle Hungerford Award is given biennially to a full-length manuscript of fiction or narrative non-fiction by a Western Australian author previously unpublished in book form. It is sponsored by the City of Fremantle and Fremantle Press. This year’s guest judges were Natasha Lester, Rashida Murphy and Richard Rossiter.

Fremantle Shipping News look forward to bringing you a podcast interview with the 2022 Hungerford winner, Molly Schmidt, early next week.

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