Magabala Books is thrilled to announce the recipients of the 2021 Creative Development Scholarships. Congratulations to Casey Mulder, Elijah Money, Aunty Kerry Bulloojeeno Archibald Moran, Marjorie Nunga Williams, Natalie Davey and Teela Reid.

L-R from top: Casey Mulder, Elijah Money, Aunty Kerry Bulloojeeno Archibald Moran, Marjorie Nunga Williams, Natalie Davey and Teela Reid.

These six First Nations creators will be supported to complete creative development projects throughout 2022. Projects include the purchase of digital illustration materials, the transcription and recording of Elders stories, writer’s residencies and children’s picture book mentorships.

Scholars are selected through a competitive application process and expressions of interest come from all over Australia. 

Congratulations to our 2021 Scholarship recipients:

Casey Mulder

I am Casey Mulder, a Ballardong Noongar woman with Dutch and English heritage. I grew up on Ballardong country, and now live and work on Wadjuk country. I have a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Education from UWA, as well as a Master of Leadership and Management in Education with Distinction, from the University of Newcastle. I have always loved storytelling, in all its forms, and am excited to use this scholarship to develop my editing skills in the hope that I can use these skills to empower Indigenous writers of all ages.

Casey will undertake an editing mentorship at Night Parrot Press over six months in 2022. 

Elijah Money

Elijah Money (he/him) is a queer Wiradjuri brotherboy who was raised on Kulin Nations and continues to reside there. His practice includes visual art, written work, installations, performance art and more. Notable highlights include: participant of Writing Residency and host of “Deadly Poets Yarn” 2020 (MPavilion); digital artwork and written work 2020 (Archer Magazine); visual artist and participant “Poetry and the Political” 2020 (NextWave); published in 2021 (VoiceWorks); upcoming reading & publication 2021 (Heide Art Museum X Rabbit Journal).

Elijah will receive creative development fees to purchase digital materials to support his visual art and design practice. 

Aunty Kerry Bulloojeeno Archibald Moran

Gymmagaya – hello! Narrjarrwini – hello! I am Aunty Kerry Bulloojeeno Archibald Moran, matriarch and medicine woman of Silver City Aboriginal Reserve – the Mission or Mish – on Anaiwan gooten country, Armidale. I’m fifth generation of bloodline descended from King Robert and Queen Fanny. My great-grandparents are Frank and Sarah Archibald, pada and bulloo. I am traditional dreamtime storyteller. I ochre dance in the community. I am a bush writer – I come from the bush, I always had a pen in the bush. I have great imagination and I am an explorer. An adventuress. Resurrecting the memory of our loved ones that’s come and gone through story, through dance, through puppets – it’s tradition, through everything I do. 

Aunty Kerry Bullojeeno will be supported to continue work on her kinship stories from Silver City Aboriginal Reserve with an editorial mentor. 

Marjorie Nunga Williams

My name is Marjorie ‘Nunga’ Williams and I was born in Mparntwe (Alice Springs) in 1953, where I currently reside. I am a senior Western Aranda Woman, who remains heavily involved and respected in my community. I am a mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. I am an artist who paints with Tangentyere Artists, Western Aranda language and chapel teacher with Yirara College, and a member of the Central Australian’s Women’s Choir. I have illustrated many books with Honey Ant Readers.

Marjorie will undertake a children's picture book mentorship to develop her writing and illustration for publication. 

Natalie Davey

I am Natalie Davey from Fitzroy Crossing. I am the Creative project lead at Baya Gawiy early learning centre where I support local stories project and educators’ resource system based around the local seasons. I also produce and present a language program called “Danggujarra” with my father on Wangki Radio. I have other creative arts projects such as the development of a jewellery range inspired by country with Mangkaja Arts.

Natalie will be supported to undertake a creative writer's residency in Broome, to progress work on two manuscripts under development. 

Teela Reid

Teela Reid is a proud Wiradjuri and Wailwan woman, lawyer, storyteller and co-founder of @blackfulla_bookclub, a platform that honours First Nation’s Ancestors as the original Storytellers. Currently, Teela is a Sydney-based solicitor practicing in Aboriginal Land Rights litigation and is the current Practitioner in Residence at Sydney Law School. She is also a campaigner for the Uluru Statement from the Heart and was a working group leader on section 51(xxvi), the Race Power at the Sydney Constitutional Dialogue. 

Teela will be supported to undertake a creative writer's residency in Bundjalung Country, to progress manuscripts under development. 

Magabala Creative Development Scholarships are made possible thanks to generous support of our philanthropic program. For more info or to donate, see Support Us.