Australia's biggest literary prize has gone to a children's author for the first time, with Nukgal Wurra writer and artist Wanda Gibson's Three Dresses winning the $100,000 Victorian Prize for Literature.
Growing up on the Hope Vale Mission in Queensland's far north, Gibson's family were allowed one holiday each year, and she would pack three dresses for a camping trip at the beach - one to wash, one to wear and one spare.
The first-time author hopes young readers will enjoy the picture book, and maybe understand the experiences of earlier generations.
"We didn't have the things what they got today, I didn't own a bike in my life, other toys, lollies and soft drinks and those kind of things - we was happy with the things we had," she said.
With Gibson still based at Hope Vale on the Cape York Peninsula, her son Bruce Gibson accepted the prestigious award, as well as the $25,000 prize for children's literature on her behalf at a ceremony in Melbourne on Wednesday.
Both of Gibson's parents were members of the Stolen Generation and with five children, eleven grandchildren and five great-grandchildren, she keeps her family's many trophies - for activities such as horse riding and singing - on show in a cabinet at home.
Her wins will not only be life-changing for her whole family, they also mean she finally has trophy-cabinet bragging rights.
"The only person who hasn't got anything up there is me, so I'll tell my children and grandchildren - I beat you," she joked.
2025 VICTORIAN PREMIER'S LITERARY AWARD WINNERS
* Victorian Prize for Literature: Three Dresses by Wanda Gibson
* Prize for Fiction: Highway 13 by Fiona McFarlane
* Prize for Non-Fiction: anything can happen by Susan Hampton
* Prize for Poetry: Gawimarra: Gathering by Jeanine Leane
* Prize for Drama: 37 by Nathan Maynard
* Prize for Indigenous Writing: Black Witness by Amy McQuire
* Prize for Children's Literature: Three Dresses by Wanda Gibson
* Prize for Writing for Young Adults: Anomaly by Emma Lord
* John Clarke Prize for Humour Writing: I'd Rather Not by Robert Skinner
* Prize for an Unpublished Manuscript: I Made This Just for You by Chris Ames
* People's Choice Award: I'd Rather Not by Robert Skinner
Liz Hobday - AAP