The Dick and Joan Green Family Award for Tasmanian History

The Dick and Joan Green Family Award for Tasmanian History is a prestigious biennial literary prize established in 2016. It commemorates the important contributions of Dick and Joan Green to Tasmanian culture and history. The award recognises high quality published work that makes a significant contribution to an understanding of Tasmania’s past, and seeks to celebrate and promote books on Tasmanian history and cultural heritage, including historical fiction based on research.

The prize of $25,000 means the Green Family Award for Tasmanian History is one of Australia's premier awards for historical research and writing. The University of Tasmania is proud to partner with the Green Family on the award, continuing its commitment to fostering excellence in Tasmanian historical scholarship.

How to apply

Instructions will be available when the next round opens.

Previous winners

The award has previously been won by exceptional scholars whose contributions to Tasmanian history have left an indelible mark.

• 2018: Rebe Taylor, Associate Professor of History and Classics, University of Tasmania, Into the Heart of Tasmania.
• 2020: Tim Bonyhady, Emeritus Professor, ANU College of Law and Professor Greg Lehman, Pro Vice-Chancellor Aboriginal Leadership, University of Tasmania, The National Picture: The Art of Tasmania's Black War.
• 2022: Dr Alison Alexander, The Waking Dream of Art: Patricia Giles, painter.

Selection committee

An impartial judging panel of three distinguished members, with one designated as Chair, will be appointed by the Executive Dean of the College of Arts, Law, and Education at the University of Tasmania, or their nominee. The judges will possess expertise in Tasmanian history and are tasked with identifying the book that exhibits the highest level of merit for this award. Guidelines for the judges will be available soon.

The Green Family

The Green Family legacy is underscored by the immense contributions of Dick Green AM and Joan Green OAM to Tasmania's cultural and historical landscape.

RM (Dick) Green AM (1910-86): Born in Launceston in 1910, RM (Dick) Green AM attended Launceston Church Grammar School with his brother AJ (Jack) Green. He studied Law and joined Ritchie & Parker, Alfred Green and Co. In 1960 Dick was instrumental in the establishment of a National Trust to protect and restore the property now known as Franklin House. He remained involved and served on the board of the Australian Council of National Trusts from 1965-83, its longest-serving member.

Dick served as an Alderman on the Launceston City Council for 12 years, was Deputy Mayor in 1968 and 1972, and Mayor from 1969-1971.

With an active interest in many other community and arts organisations, he contributed as a board member for the State Library of Tasmania, Tasmanian Theatre Company, Tasmanian Ballet Co, Ritchie’s Mill Arts Centre, Launceston Fire Brigade Board, Fred French Masonic Nursing Home and the Society for Crippled Children.

Dick practised as a solicitor at Ritchie & Parker, Alfred Green and Co until he died in 1986. His brother Jack Green was also a partner of the firm until he died in 2002. Dick’s son John Green is currently senior partner at the firm.

Joan M. Green OAM (1923-2022): Joan Margaret Green OAM was a long-time chair and committee member of various National Trust of Australia (Tasmania) Committees, a Tasmanian state representative golfer and active member of the Launceston community.

Joan was born in Launceston and educated at the Methodist Ladies College (now Scotch Oakburn) where she excelled in her commercial studies and various team sports. She had a wonderful golfing career and highlights include winning 11 championship titles in 1949 and captaining the Tasmanian Women’s Golf Team in the Australian Women’s Golf Championships held in Brisbane in 1950.

Joan and Dick were married in 1951, raising six children at their home in Launceston.

Joan was, until her death earlier in 2022, the sole survivor of the twelve signatories to the Memorandum and Articles of the National Trust of Australia (Tasmania), registered in 1960. While she was an active member and volunteer of the National Trust for over 50 years, her greatest efforts were reserved for the preservation and restoration of Clarendon, at Evandale, and ensuring it became one of Tasmania’s most special and visited properties. Joan also strongly supported Dick’s roles in the Trust.

Over the last 20 years, Joan continued to be an active contributor to organisations including The Australiana Fund (Tasmania), the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra and the committee of the Order of Australia Association Northern Region.