Tony Birch
{{short description|Indigenous Australian writer and activist (born c.1957)}}
{{Use Australian English|date=June 2019}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2019}}
{{Infobox writer
| name = Tony Birch
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{circa}}{{birth year and age|1957}}
| birth_place = Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| occupation = Author, academic
| language = English
| nationality = Australian
| ethnicity =
| citizenship =
| education = PhD in Urban cultures and histories
| alma_mater = The University of Melbourne
| notableworks =
| awards = Patrick White Award
| years_active = 1989–present
}}
Tony Birch {{Post-nominals|country=AUS|FAHA}} (born {{circa}}1957) is an Aboriginal Australian author, academic and activist. He regularly appears on ABC local radio and Radio National shows and at writers’ festivals. He was head of the honours programme for creative writing at the University of Melbourne before becoming the first recipient of the Dr Bruce McGuinness Indigenous Research Fellowship at Victoria University in Melbourne in June 2015.
In 2017, he became the first Indigenous writer to win the Patrick White Award.
Background, early life and education
Birch's maternal great-grandfather was an Afghan who migrated to Australia in 1890, who had to get exemption from the Immigration Restriction Act 1901 to take his wife home to meet the family. He also has Barbadian convict (James "Prince" Moodie, transported to Tasmania for 14 years for "disobedience") and Aboriginal heritage.{{cite news|work=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/2019/jun/07/tony-birch-on-the-white-girl-no-aboriginal-person-i-know-is-intact|title=Tony Birch on The White Girl: 'No Aboriginal person I know is intact'|series=Books|first=Paul|last=Daley|date=7 June 2019|access-date= 8 June 2019}}
Birch was born around 1957{{cite news|work=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/2019/jun/07/tony-birch-on-the-white-girl-no-aboriginal-person-i-know-is-intact|title=Tony Birch on The White Girl: 'No Aboriginal person I know is intact'|series=Books|first=Paul|last=Daley|date=7 June 2019|access-date= 8 June 2019}} and has grown up around Fitzroy, a working-class suburb of Melbourne once considered a slum. After being expelled from school for the second time, he left school aged 15 and became a telegram boy on a bicycle.
Career
After spending a decade as a firefighter, Birch attended the University of Melbourne as a mature student when he was 30 years old. He was the first Aboriginal student to graduate with a degree in History from the University of Melbourne, and the first to receive an MA in Creative Writing. He taught Aboriginal history for several years before switching to Creative Writing. In 2003 he was awarded the Chancellor's Medal for the best PhD in Arts. During this period, Birch also worked as the Senior Indigenous Curator for Southeastern Australia at Museum Victoria.
Birch has appeared on ABC radio on shows such as Conversations with Richard Fidler,{{cite web|url=https://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/conversations/tony-birch/4816588|website=ABC RN|series=Conversations with Richard Fidler|title=Tony Birch|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|date=11 July 2013|access-date=6 June 2019}} Life Matters{{cite web|url=https://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/lifematters/meet-tony-birch/3603558|website=ABC RN|series=Life Matters|title=Meet Tony Birch|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|date=27 October 2011|access-date=6 June 2019}} and RN Afternoons.{{cite web|url=http://www.uqp.uq.edu.au/Author.aspx/1650/Tony%20Birch |title= UQP - Author - Tony Birch|accessdate=6 June 2019}}{{cite web|url=http://www.literaturfestival.com/archive/participants/authors/2014/tony-birch?set_language=en|title=Tony Birch (Australia)| website=Internationales literaturfestival, Berlin|others=11–21 September 2019|accessdate=6 June 2019}}
In 2015 he became the first recipient of the Dr Bruce McGuinness Indigenous Research Fellowship at Victoria University in Melbourne,{{cite web |date=3 June 2015 |title=Tony Birch joins VU as research fellow |url=http://www.vu.edu.au/news-events/news/tony-birch-joins-vu-as-research-fellow |accessdate=8 June 2019 |website=Victoria University}} and {{as of|lc=yes|June 2018}} is still a research fellow there. His work involves academic research, creative writing projects, student mentoring, lecturing and community engagement.
Birch was appointed to the Boisbouvier Chair in Australian Literature at the University of Melbourne in December 2022.{{Cite web |last=Ling |first=Susanna |date=2022-12-14 |title=Tony Birch named third Boisbouvier Chair in Australian Literature |url=https://arts.unimelb.edu.au/news/tony-birch-named-third-boisbouvier-chair-in-australian-literature |access-date=2022-12-14 |website=University of Melbourne |language=en}} In this role he provides guest and public lectures and undertakes other forms of public engagement, contributes to Australia's first course on narrative medicine and works with schools, libraries, book clubs, organisations and community groups. In 2023 Preston High School named their new school library after him.
Activism
Birch is active in a variety of political and social movements, including climate justice, climate change, refugee-related issues and Indigenous issues. His novels integrate themes affecting Indigenous people, such as colonial oppression, dispossession, the Stolen Generations, and generational violence. He donates a portion of any prize money to the Indigenous youth organisation dedicated to climate justice, Seed.{{cite web|url=https://www.seedmob.org.au/|website=Seed|title=Home |accessdate=8 June 2019}}{{cite news |last1=Steger |first1=Jason |date=15 November 2017 |title=Tony Birch wins the Patrick White Award |url=http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/books/tony-birch-wins-the-patrick-award-20171115-gzm1xi.html |accessdate=16 November 2017 |work=Sydney Morning Herald}}
Bibliography
=Novels=
- {{cite book|last=Birch |title=Blood |publisher=University of Queensland Press |year=2011 |isbn=9780702239274 |edition=1st |language=en |author-mask=2}}
- {{cite book|title=Ghost River|publication-date=2015|author-mask=2|last=Birch|first=Tony|isbn=9780702253775}}
- {{cite book|title=The White Girl|publication-date=2019|author-mask=2|last=Birch|first=Tony|publisher=University of Queensland Press |isbn=9780702260384}}
- {{cite book|title=Women & Children|publication-date=2023|author-mask=2|last=Birch|first=Tony|publisher=University of Queensland Press |isbn=9780702266270}}
= Short story collections =
- {{cite book|title=Shadowboxing|publication-date=2006|author-mask=2|last=Birch|first=Tony|publisher=Scribe Publications Pty Limited |isbn=9781921753909}}
- {{cite book|title=Father's Day|publication-date=2009|author-mask=2|last=Birch|first=Tony|isbn=9780980517972}}
- {{cite book|title=The Promise: Stories|publication-date=2014|author-mask=2|last=Birch|first=Tony|isbn=9780702252112}}
- {{cite book|title=Common People|publication-date=2017|author-mask=2|last1=Birch|first1=Tony|publisher=University of Queensland Press|isbn=9780702259838}}
- {{cite book |title=Dark as Last Night |publication-date=2021 |author-mask=2 |last1=Birch |first1=Tony |publisher=University of Queensland Press |isbn=9780702263170}}
=Poetry=
- {{cite book|title=Broken Teeth|publication-date=2016|author-mask=2|last=Birch|first=Tony|isbn=9780980517972}}
- {{cite book |title=Whisper Songs |publication-date=2021 |author-mask=2 |last1=Birch |first1=Tony |publisher=University of Queensland Press |isbn=9780702263279}}
= Anthologies =
- {{cite journal |last=Birch |first=Tony |author-mask=2 |date=2018 |title=Gathering Strength |journal=Growing Up Aboriginal in Australia |publisher=Black Inc |isbn=9781863959810 |editor=Anita Heiss}}
=Selected book reviews=
| class='wikitable sortable' width='90%' |
| |Year
!class='unsortable'|Review article !class='unsortable'|Work(s) reviewed |
|---|
| January–February 2021
|{{cite journal |author=Birch, Tony |date=January–February 2021 |title=Disher country |journal=Australian Book Review |volume=428 |pages=40}} |{{cite book |author=Disher, Garry |author-link=Garry Disher |title=Consolation |publisher=Text Publishing |year=2020}} |
Awards and honours
Literary
- Shadowboxing, shortlisted Queensland Premier's Literary Awards — Arts Queensland Steele Rudd Award 2006
- Shadowboxing, commended, Kate Challis RAKA Award 2011
- Blood, highly commended FAW Christina Stead Award 2011
- Blood, finalist Melbourne Prize for Literature — Best Writing Award 2012
- Blood, winner Melbourne Prize for Literature — Civic Choice Award 2012
- Blood, shortlisted Miles Franklin Award 2012{{Cite web |title=The 2012 Shortlist |url=http://www.milesfranklin.com.au/2012/2012_shortlist |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120614194546/http://www.milesfranklin.com.au/2012/2012_shortlist |archive-date=2012-06-14 |access-date=17 July 2024 |website=Miles Franklin Literary Award}}
- The Promise: Stories, shortlisted Queensland Literary Awards — Steele Rudd Award 2014
- The Promise: Stories, shortlisted Victorian Premier's Literary Award for Indigenous Writing 2014{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=2014-09-04|title=Lucashenko wins 2014 Vic Prem's Literary Award for Indigenous Writing|url=https://www.booksandpublishing.com.au/articles/2014/09/04/31206/lucashenko-wins-2014-vic-prems-literary-award-for-indigenous-writing/|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-12-09|website=Books+Publishing}}
- Ghost River, longlisted Miles Franklin Award 2016{{Cite web|url=https://www.perpetual.com.au/MilesFranklin#2016longlist |title=Miles Franklin Literary Award, The 2016 Longlist|access-date=17 July 2024|work=The Trust Company|date=7 February 2023 }}
- Ghost River, winner Victorian Premier's Literary Awards — Prize for Indigenous Writing 2017{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=2016-09-09|title=Birch wins 2016 Victorian Premier's Literary Award for Indigenous Writing|url=https://www.booksandpublishing.com.au/articles/2016/09/09/69918/birch-wins-2016-victorian-premiers-literary-award-for-indigenous-writing/|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-12-09|website=Books+Publishing}}
- Common People, shortlisted Victorian Premier's Literary Awards — Prize for Indigenous Writing 2019{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=2018-12-12|title=Victorian Premier's Literary Awards 2019 shortlists announced|url=https://www.booksandpublishing.com.au/articles/2018/12/12/121398/victorian-premiers-literary-awards-2019-shortlists-announced/|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-12-09|website=Books+Publishing|language=en-AU}}
- The White Girl, shortlisted, Miles Franklin Award 2020{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2020-06-17 |title=Miles Franklin Literary Award 2020 shortlist announced |url=https://www.booksandpublishing.com.au/articles/2020/06/17/152153/miles-franklin-literary-award-2020-shortlist-announced/ |archive-url= |archive-date= |access-date=2020-06-17 |website=Books+Publishing |language=en-AU}}
- The White Girl, winner, New South Wales Premier's Literary Awards Indigenous Writers' Prize 2020{{Cite web|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-04-26/tara-june-winch-the-yield-wins-nsw-premiers-literary-awards/12187480|title=Novel celebrating Wiradjuri language wins Book of the Year at major literary awards|last=Evans|first=Kate Evans|date=2020-04-26|website=ABC News|language=en-AU|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-04-26}}
- Dark as Last Night, winner, New South Wales Premier's Literary Awards Christina Stead Prize for Fiction 2022{{Cite web |last=Cain |first=Sian |date=2022-05-16 |title='Unflinching': Villawood graphic novel wins book of the year at NSW premier's literary awards |url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/2022/may/16/unflinching-villawood-graphic-novel-wins-book-of-the-year-at-nsw-premiers-literary-awards |access-date=2022-05-16 |website=The Guardian |language=en}}
- Dark as Last Night, shortlisted, Prime Minister's Literary Award for Fiction 2022{{Cite web |last= |date=2022-11-07 |title=Prime Minister's Literary Awards 2022 shortlists announced |url=https://www.booksandpublishing.com.au/articles/2022/11/07/222913/prime-ministers-literary-awards-2022-shortlists-announced/ |access-date=2022-11-08 |website=Books+Publishing |language=en-AU}}
- Dark as Last Night, winner, Queensland Literary Awards — Steele Rudd Award 2022 {{Cite web |last=Burke |first=Kelly |date=2022-09-08 |title=Queensland Literary awards: winners list reflects 'a moment of change for the nation' |url=https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2022/sep/08/queensland-literary-awards-winners-list-reflects-a-moment-of-change-for-the-nation |access-date=2022-09-08 |website=The Guardian |language=en}}
Honors
- First recipient of the Dr Bruce McGuinness Indigenous Research Fellowship at Victoria University, Melbourne, June 2015
- Patrick White Award 2017 (first Indigenous writer to receive the award)
- Elected a Royal Society of Literature International Writer in 2023{{cite web |date=3 September 2023 |title=RSL International Writers |url=https://rsliterature.org/rsl-international-writers/ |access-date=December 3, 2023 |publisher=Royal Society of Literature}}
- Elected Fellow of the Australian Academy of the Humanities in 2024{{Cite web |title=Fellow Profile: Tony Birch |url=https://humanities.org.au/fellows/fellow-profile/?fellow_id=1158 |access-date=2024-11-24 |website=Australian Academy of the Humanities |language=en-AU}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.slq.qld.gov.au/blog/sovereign-storytelling-tony-birch-inspiration-and-power-telling-your-own-story Sovereign Storytelling: Tony Birch on inspiration, and the power of telling your own story], State Library of Queensland blog
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Birch, Tony}}
Category:21st-century Australian novelists
Category:Australian Book Review people
Category:Australian firefighters
Category:Australian people of Afghan descent
Category:Australian people of Barbadian descent
Category:Australian people of Irish descent
Category:Australian people of Punjabi descent
Category:Indigenous Australian writers
Category:People from Fitzroy, Victoria
Category:Writers from Melbourne
Category:Patrick White Award winners
Category:Fellows of the Australian Academy of the Humanities