The Sidney Prize and the Neilma Sidney Short Story Prize
The Sidney Prize recognizes leading global voices that promote peace, justice and nonviolence. Previous laureates have included Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Mary Robinson and Joseph Stiglitz. The award is administered by the Sydney Peace Foundation at the University of Sydney and backed by the City of Sydney.
Established in 1997, this prize is awarded to the student who achieves the best result in senior units of study in Australian Literature at the University of Sydney. It is named in memory of Maxwell E. Arthur, a former President of the Sydney Mechanics’ School of Arts.
In 1985, the Sydney Taylor Book Award Committee began designating Notable Books (originally called The Best of the Bunch). This list is made up of titles that have not been chosen as a winner in either of the two categories but that the Committee has judged worthy of attention. A new Notable Book list is publicized each year at the same time as the winners are announced.
The 2023 Neilma Sidney Short Story Prize was won by Annie Zhang for her story ‘Who Rattles the Night?’, which tells of a couple who move into a haunted house. The judges, Patrick Lenton, Alice Bishop and Sara Saleh, reviewed over 500 entries and chose the winning story from a shortlist of eight, along with two runners-up. The winning entry will be published in Overland, while the runners-up will have their stories published online. Both winners and runners-up receive cash prizes of $3,000, plus publication in the magazine. Overland is proud to be a sponsor of this prize, which is administered in conjunction with the Malcolm Robertson Foundation.
Established in 2000, the Iwanter Prize honors the legacy of Sidney Iwanter, a UW-Madison alumnus who recorded his own history lectures to document the knowledge of one generation for the benefit of future generations. The prize is given to a graduating senior who, through a senior thesis and overall academic distinction, demonstrates exceptional humanities-based scholarship of a broad and interdisciplinary nature.
Each month, the Hillman Foundation honors journalists who pursue investigative reporting and deep storytelling in service of the public good. The prize recognizes discernment of a significant news story, resourcefulness and courage in reporting, skill in relating the story and its impact.
The 2024 George Barrett Award for Public Interest Law was won by Philippe Sands QC for his work defending people without money or power from abuse at the hands of corrupt governments, corporations and other powerful interests. He has demonstrated the spirit and activism of George Barrett, who dedicated his career to ensuring basic civil and human rights, addressing the legacies of colonialism, and protecting the planet.