Kuril dhagun winners: Waterford West State School Deputy, Dave Hartley and professional NRL player, Scott Prince

Magabala Books is pleased to welcome our latest creators to the Magabala team; Brisbane Bronco, Scott Prince and Waterford West State School Deputy, Dave Hartley. The duo were recently awarded the one-off kuril dhagun prize from the State Library of Queensland for their manuscript, Deadly D and Justice Jones – Making the Team. 

After finishing the manuscript, which took four years to complete, Scott and Dave submitted it in an application for the black&write! Indigenous Writing Fellowship, which has been offered by the library in partnership with Magabala Books since 2010. Whilst they did not win the main prize, the judges were so impressed with Scott and Dave’s entry that the kuril dhagun prize was created just for them.

Deadly D and Justice Jones – Making the Team is a children’s story about rugby league, an idea that Dave thought would integrate well to get children interested in the game.

‘I thought a good way of doing it would be co-authoring it with someone who played the game, but someone’s who’s also a good role model,’ he said. ‘Scott’s a very articulate guy and has some fantastic ideas. We’re a good team.’

Deadly D and Justice Jones – Making the Team will be launched by Magabala Books in October.