'The Marian Eldridge Award is a national award to encourage an aspiring female writer to undertake a literary activity such as a short course of study, or to complete a project, or attend a writers' week or a conference. There is no age limit.
'The award was established in 1998 under the auspices of the National Foundation for Australian Women, as a legacy of Marian Eldridge (1 February 1936 - 14 February 1997), an acclaimed short story writer, a novelist, poet and teacher who spent most of her creative writing years in Canberra, where inter alia she was instrumental in establishing the ACT Writers' Centre.
'In the last months of her life she planned a gift to establish a professional development award to nurture writers. She said that the recipient should not be established but someone whose writing showed promise, and that the writing need not be fiction. Marian said that "when trying to assist aspiring writers 'every little bit helps' and that such recognition would be an important milestone in a developing literary career.
'An Advisory Group selected by Marian Eldridge's family decides each year on guidelines for applicants, assesses applications and selects the recipient of the award.' (Source : http://www.womenaustralia.info/biogs/AWE2109b.htm )
In honour of Marian Eldridge who make a lasting and important contribution to Australian literature. Managed by the National Foundation for Australian Women Ltd (NFAW) the award of up to $1,500 is open to women residents in any state or territory of Australia and there is no age limit. The prize is awarded for a collection of work, no more than five pages long, which may include works of fiction, creative non-fiction, poetry, drama scripts.
This award ceased in 2009 due to dwindling funds and admistrative issues.
