UQP Titles Win the 2026 South Australian Literary Awards

We are delighted to announce that Eileen Chong and Peter Carnavas have taken out wins in the South Australian Literary Awards.

Eileen Chong was award the South Australian Literary Premiers Award, as well as the John Bray Poetry Award, for her collection We Speak of Flowers. Peter Carnavas won in the Children's Literature category for Leo and Ralph.

Of We Speak of Flowers, the judges said:

The book forms a beautifully crafted intellectual and emotional examination of grief, and a re-evaluation of both Chong’s own and her grandmother’s lives via a network of impressions of the ancestral and recent past.

Of Leo and Ralph, the judges said:

[It is a] tender and reassuring story that explores friendship, family and belonging with warmth, humour and heart.

Established in 1986 by the Government of South Australia, the South Australian Literary Awards honour and celebrate Australia’s vibrant writing culture. The awards program offers both national and state-based prizes across a diverse range of genres, recognising excellence in published works and supporting new voices.

Held biennially and proudly managed by the State Library of South Australia, the Awards also include awards and fellowships for South Australian writers - highlighting the importance of local storytelling, supporting the literary community, and encouraging public engagement with literature.

Congratulations once again to Eileen and Peter.

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