Announcing the second First Nations Elder & Editor Memoir Fellows 2025
April 16, 2025
We are thrilled to announce that through securing additional funding, Centre for Stories and Magabala Books have awarded Barb Hostalek and Uncle Brett Hill the second First Nations Elder & Editor Memoir Fellowship for 2025, from the original group of submissions, alongside Jack Collard and Uncle Farley Garlett.
Proudly sponsored by Centre for Stories Donors, and in partnership with award-winning Indigenous publisher Magabala Books, this fellowship supports a First Nations writer or editor from Western Australia in recording the life experiences of a First Nations Elder or Senior custodian. Over the course of the fellowship, the recipient will transcribe, write, and edit a short memoir between 12,000 to 15,000 words, ensuring that these vital stories are preserved and shared.
Centre for Stories was pleased at the strong community interest in the fellowship, and acknowledge it was a difficult decision. Judging and selection was done by Robert Wood (Centre for Stories’ Creative Director) and Gumbaynggirr woman Lilly Brown (Magabala Books’ CEO).
We are pleased to announce that Barb Hostalek will take on the role of the Editor Fellow. Born on Larrakia Country, Barbara is a proud Aboriginal playwright living with beautiful Boorloo Noongar boodjar. Her maternal heritage connects her to the Yawuru and Gija family groups of Broome and the East Kimberley, while her paternal lineage includes Czech, Greek, and English roots. Barb will work closely with Uncle Brett Hill to craft a memoir that captures Uncle Brett’s unique perspective and rich cultural context. As a descendant of the Wilman mob with connections to Ballardong, Whadjuk, and Wardandi, Uncle Brett’s story and his family are a testament to the resilience and strength of Aboriginal people. His life journey, from being born under a birthing tree to becoming a leader and advocate for his community, provides a rare and valuable insight into the lived experiences of Aboriginal Australians.
This fellowship provides mentorship, financial support, and dedicated writing time, fostering an intergenerational exchange of knowledge and creating a meaningful literary work that honours First Nations voices and histories.
We congratulate Barb and Uncle Brett on this exciting journey and look forward to seeing their work unfold.
Centre for Stories is excited to share that we will be offering ongoing opportunities for further Elder & Editor Memoir Fellowships as one of our regular First Nations Writing Programs. Stay tuned for updates as the fellowships progress and new opportunities arise by subscribing to our newsletter or following us at @centreforstories.
If you would like to make a donation to enable us to provide more Elder & Editor Fellowships, we welcome your support. Please consider making a donation here.
For more information about the First Nations Elder & Editor Memoir Fellowship, visit here, or learn more about our First Nations WA Writing Program here.
Feature photo: Barb Hostalek and Uncle Brett Hill 2025.
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