Congratulations to Clare Wright who has won Waverley Council’s prestigious $20,000 Literary Prize and the People’s Choice Award, for her wonderful history of the women of Ballarat, the Forgotten Rebels of Eureka.

Nib Waverley Library Award writes:

“The Forgotten Rebels of Eureka is a beautifully told and powerful story about the women and children who flocked to Ballarat in pursuit of freedom and unlimited opportunity.

Waverley Mayor Sally Betts congratulated Wright and the five other shortlisted winners for their contribution to this year’s Nib: Waverley Library Award for Literature.

“I was spellbound when I read Clare’s book, the forgotten Rebels of Eureka, because she has taken a piece of history that we all know about and slowly, with beautiful writing, weaved personal stories into it,” she said. “People who love history should read it because it is a history lesson as well as a good read.”

Wright has worked as a political speechwriter, university lecturer, historical consultant and radio and television broadcaster.

She said it was an honour and delight to be awarded the NIB for 2014. “Libraries are my favourite places; the comfort, stimulation and sense of belonging they afford me have always been a potent force for good in my life,” she said

Read the complete media release here