Elizabeth Hunter, winner of the Society’s Writer’s Grant for 2025, was employed as an art teacher at Knox Grammar School, Wahroonga. She gained a Master’s Degree in Visual Art Education, her thesis focusing on boys’ fine motor skills and the assistance an art programme could offer to improve not only these skills but also literacy.
Her first two books, Once Upon a Time – Tales of Fantasy and Magic, and The Billabong Bunch were written for children while her current project is to record and describe the life and times of Hercules Hunter, her husband’s great grandfather. He lived in the Shetland Islands and earned his living as a harpooner in the whaling industry during the 1800s. Whilst this was not unusual at the time (approximately 1,000 men left the islands each season for this purpose), Hercules lived through an interesting period of British history.
The great ‘clearances’ occurred during his young adulthood when many Shetlanders were forced from their farming crofts and were instantly homeless. At the same time, the Industrial Revolution had increased the need for whale oil to supply lighting and grease the wheels of progress. Demand for whale oil so great, these giants of the sea were hunted to near extinction. Even today, it is believed stocks of Right Whales may never recover. Elizabeth also intends to focus attention on the ongoing impact of human activity on the natural environment.
By winning this grant, Elizabeth receives for free three Literary Events and eight Workshops, either held via Zoom or in person at the State Library of NSW.
Congratulations Elizabeth and all the best for your writing.