Literary Award History
Vision Australia's Dickinson Literary Awards have a long and proud history among people who are blind or have low vision.
They were began in 1921 by the Queensland Musical, Literary and Self-Aid Society for the Blind (later Royal Blind Foundation Queensland and now Vision Australia) as a literary competition for writers who were blind or had low vision
Entries had to be on the topic of 'Self Reliance’, and the prize money was one guinea. All entries had to be submitted in Braille or typewritten in English.
The Awards later became known as the Dickinson Memorial Awards to acknowledge the contributions of Harold Dickinson (a prolific writer and winner of the competition) and his brother Edwin Dickinson.
In 1981, the International Year for Disabled Persons, a monetary grant enabled an Australian blind writers’ only section to be introduced. The writing competition which was open to international entrants unfortunately had to be discontinued due to a lack of funds during the 1990s.
In 2001, the awards recommenced on a trial basis with the Royal Blind Foundation Queensland (now Vision Australia) hosting the competition. During this time they were supported in a voluntary capacity by Ross and Robyn Bree, both well-known and respected in the Queensland blindness community. Robyn Bree will continue her long association with this award as a member of the judging panel.
In 2008, Vision Australia proudly revived this prestigious national literary competition for all Australian writers who are blind or have low vision.
In all our work, we strive to achieve our mission of creating a community partnership of knowledge, skills and expertise to enrich the participation in life for our clients and their families.
It is vital that prestigious awards such as these exist to:
- promote the contributions of people who are blind and have low vision to the larger community
- highlight the creative excellence that exists in the blindness community, and
- to allow people who are blind or have low vision to tell their own stories in their own words.
We will ensure that the community recognises the capabilities and contributions of all people who are blind and have low vision.