Nan Chauncy Award

CBCA Nan Chauncy Award

Named after the noted Tasmanian author of children’s books, the Nan Chauncy Award has been created to honour individuals who have made an outstanding contribution to the field of Australian children’s literature. The spirit of the Award is to recognize advocacy, mentoring and volunteer work beyond paid roles and professional responsibilities. The Award is presented biennially and is an opportunity to recognize an individual or partnership whose dedicated work in advocacy and promotion of literature and literacy might otherwise not be publicly celebrated.

Who was Nan Chauncy?

From the late 1948 until 1969 Nan Chauncy was one of the most esteemed children’s writer in Australia. She distinguished herself by winning the Australian Children’s Book of the Year three times, had titles commended in the following seven years and gained international recognition including receiving the Hans Christian Anderson Award, Diploma of Merit. In recognition of her significance in the history of Australian children’s literature, CBCA instituted the Nan Chauncy Award in 1983.

History of the Award

From 1983 to 1998 the Award was presented every five years. At the CBCA's AGM in 1999 it was decided that the Nan Chauncy Award be given biennially, in even-numbered years (up until 2014). The Award in 2000 was presented at the CBCA 5th National Conference in Canberra and in 2002 at the 6th National Conference in Perth.

Current Award Recipient

Immediate Past Award Recipient