Magabala Books would like to extend the warmest congratulations to Jared Thomas, the winner of the 2023 Daisy Utemorrah Award for his unpublished manuscript, Uncle Xbox (book 2) - Getting Dusty. Presented at the WA Premier’s Book Awards ceremony at the State Library of Western Australia in Perth on Friday 23rd June, Jared was awarded $15,000 and a publishing contract with Magabala Books.

In awarding the prize the judges said:

‘Getting Dusty is a middle grade story with a relatable young character, Dusty, whose culture, family, and in particular his Uncle teach and guide him through life – especially when Dusty throws a punch he shouldn’t have! The story of Dusty and his Uncle Xbox lingers long in your mind after reading.'

Dr Jared Thomas is a Nukunu person of the Southern Flinders Ranges and the Research Fellow Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Material Culture and Art at the South Australian Museum and the University of South Australia. His novel Calypso Summer (Magabala Books, 2015) joined the 2015 International Youth Library White Raven list of books that deserve worldwide attention because of their universal themes and exceptional artistic and literary style.

Jared’s recent releases include Uncle Xbox (Magabala Books, 2023) Songs that Sound Like Blood (Magabala Books, 2016) as well as the Game Day series which was written with NBA player and Olympian Patty Mills.

Launched as part of the 2018 WA Premier’s Book Awards, in a partnership between the State Government of Western Australia and Magabala Books, the Daisy Utemorrah Award is a national award that recognises excellence and seeks to grow Australian Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander writing for younger readers. The award is named in honour of the late Daisy Utemorrah, who was an elder of the Wunambal people from the Mitchell Plateau area in the far north Kimberley, and one of the founders of Magabala Books. Utemorrah was an award-winning poet, author, community leader and passionate educator.

Culture and the Arts Minister David Templeman announced the shortlist for the 2023 Western Australian Premier’s Book Awards on May 15:

• Jared Thomas, Uncle Xbox 2 (book 2) - Getting Dusty
• Kim Morrison, The Ultimate AGD
• Kristie Harris, A Queen's Glory

The Daisy Utemorrah Award is generously supported by the Copyright Agency Cultural Fund and the Western Australian Premier’s Book Awards. The Award is also supported in partnership with Post Pre-Press.