Agnes Nieuwenhuizen at the Centre for Youth Literature’s celebration of 21 years of innovative youth literature programming
State Library Victoria and the Centre for Youth Literature community was saddened to hear of the death of Agnes Nieuwenhuizen late last week. We asked Lili Wilkinson – as an author, former colleague and one-time attendee at CYL programs – to write a guest post.
Australia’s YA community was deeply saddened to learn that Agnes Nieuwenhuizen passed away last week at her home in Woodend, Victoria.
Agnes was a tireless advocate for YA literature, and for young readers. She founded what is now known as the Centre for Youth Literature in 1991, established the Melbourne Writers Festival Schools Program, published seven books on young people’s literature, and was much loved and respected (and sometimes feared for her forthright approach) by authors, publishers, young people and those who work for and with them.
I first met Agnes in 1992, attending my first CYL event at age 11 – a Bookgig with Isobelle Carmody. That was the day I knew I wanted to be an author. I joined the CYL team in 2003, and was grateful to work alongside Agnes until her retirement in 2005. She was my friend and mentor – she liked me because I wasn’t scared of her, and we had many a heated debate about books and ideas. She fostered my passion for YA literature, and my commitment to supporting and advocating for young readers. She was a champion for young people and their rights, for their literature, and for diversity, and I’m honoured to be one of the many people continuing that good fight.
I am not alone in my gratitude – there are countless writers and readers who owe so much to Agnes and to her legacy. She was the most fierce, fearless woman I’ve ever known, and Australia’s rich YA landscape wouldn’t be what it is today if it hadn’t be for her.
Our thoughts are with John, Jackie, Max and Agnes’s grandchildren.
Vale, Agnes.
Lili Wilkinson is an award-winning author of YA novels, including Scatterheart, Pink and Green Valentine. She established insideadog.com.au, the Inky Awards and the Inkys Creative Reading Prize at the Centre for Youth Literature, State Library Victoria.
The Centre for Youth Literature at the State Library Victoria is pleased to be able to offer 10 early-career scholarships for the 2017 Reading Matters professional conference. The scholarships are intended to support emerging professionals in fields related to youth literature, including librarians, teachers and publishing professionals. Applicants must be in their first three years of a career within the library sector, education or publishing, or be studying towards a degree in these fields.
The Centre for Youth Literature at State Library Victoria is proud to announce the winners the 2016 Inky Awards for young adult literature today, celebrating a decade of the national teen choice prize.
