ABIAs: 2023 Hall of Fame Awards Announced

The Australian Publishers Association (APA) is pleased to announce the 2023 Hall of Fame Awards. There are two categories: the 2023 Lloyd O’Neil Award, which honours outstanding service to the Australian book industry by a member from within its ranks. And the 2023 Pixie O’Harris Award, for contributions to children’s literature.

This year’s winners for the 2023 Hall of Fame Awards are:

Lloyd O’Neil Hall of Fame Award

Winner: Tim Winton

Tim Winton has published twenty-nine books for adults and younger readers over his amazing 40-year literary career, which has seen them translated into twenty-eight different languages.

Tim was designated a living national treasure by the Australian National Trust in 1998, and the ABIAs are now formally honouring his significant contribution to Australia’s cultural and literary landscape.

On receipt of the award, Tim said,

“It’s a lovely thing to be honoured by the writers, publishers and booksellers who keep our precious book culture alive, and I’m really touched to be given this award in my 40th year in the caper.”

Pixie O’Harris Award

Winner: Lisa Berryman (HarperCollins Publishers)

Lisa Berryman is one of Australia’s most renowned publishers of children’s books from picture books to young adult titles. With a career spanning over 40 years, she is an enthusiastic and motivating champion for children’s literature and has been instrumental in bringing the voices of numerous successful Australian children’s book authors into the public eye as well as caretaking beloved Australian classics such as The Magic Pudding by Norman Lindsay, The Muddleheaded Wombat by Ruth Park and The Complete Adventures of Blinky Bill by Dorothy Wall. Her faith in the transformative power of words, stories, and books is at the core of her achievement.

On receipt of the award, Lisa said,

“What an extraordinary honour it is to receive this prestigious award in recognition of the many years I have spent pursuing my passion for children’s books.”