‘Biyala stories’ wins essay prize

The winner of the fourth biennial Nature Writing Prize was announced last month in Sydney, presented with the support of the McLean Foundation, with Melbourne-based writer Sophie Cunningham receiving the top honour for her essay, ‘Biyala stories’. In a special collaboration with The Nature Conservancy Australia, Griffith Review has created an exclusive version of the essay that utilises text, video, images and audio. The multimedia version brings the scope and range of Sophie Cunningham’s work vividly to life in a format that is both accessible and exciting.

‘Biyala stories’ tracks the history and current state of Australia’s river red gum trees. Through walks in Melbourne city and Barmah National Park, and with poignant, broad-ranging reflections, Cunningham reveals how the river red gum is inextricably linked to the life story of this land.