Name Change for Ronald Hugh Morrieson Literary Awards

For well over a decade, the Lysaght-Watt Trust has been a major supporter of the South Taranaki LibraryPlus and its programmes – so this year we are excited to announce them as a naming sponsor of our prestigious annual literary awards.

The Lysaght-Watt Trust Ronald Hugh Morrieson Literary Awards is, this year, celebrating it’s 35th year with Judges Airini Beautrais and Robert Sullivan.

South Taranaki Community Outreach Librarian Katherine Bosworth says that this move is a small way to thank the Trust for its ongoing support and generous funding.

“Every year we thank the Lysaght-Watt Trust for making the Ronald Hugh Morrieson Literary Awards possible through its generous funding,” she says. “It’s really exciting to be taking it a step further with renaming the Awards in recognition of the strength and importance of this long-standing partnership.”

Jack and Mary Watt (nee Lysaght) left a significant portion of their respective Estates for the creation of the Lysaght Watt Trust. The Trust provides funding within the Taranaki region, and in particular supports Arts, Culture and Heritage and is administered by Trustees based at Halliwells in Hāwera.

Since its inception in 2008, the Trust has granted over $1 million dollars to worthy local community projects and people.

“This ongoing support has enabled LibraryPlus staff to deliver high quality programmes and events to our community and invest in technologies to ensure our youth are ready to thrive in a rapidly changing digital world,” says Katherine.

The 2022 Open Workshops will be held in Hāwera. Poetry will be held at Hāwera LibraryPlus on Thursday 16 June, 5.30pm and Short Story will be held at TSB Hub on Saturday 18 June, 10am. Registrations for workshops are now open. Phone 0800 111 323 or email entries@stdc.govt.nz to register. Click here to find out more.

For more information about the Lysaght-Watt Trust Ronald Hugh Morrieson Literary Awards, or the Trust itself, click here.