About Us
The Fellowship of Australian Writers was formed
in Sydney in 1928 by
a group including Mary Gilmore, Steel Rudd and John le Gay Brereton,
prominent writers at the time. It was formed to try and help
Australian Writers who were very poorly used at the time. John Le
Gay Brereton (pictured left) was its first President.
Read our
history.
Image courtesy of Mitchell Library, State Library of NSW
The FAW was incorporated on 3 July 1991.
In 2008 it celebrated its 80th birthday and is still developing regional groups to provide an organisation for people who enjoy writing.
The aims of the Fellowship at the time of formation were:
- To foster and promote the growth of Australian writing;
- To encourage the study of Australian literature;
- To assist Australian authors and dramatists;
- To encourage excellence in writing;
- To forge links with overseas writers
Eighty years on these are presently under review by the Management
Committee in order to update them to reflect the current aims and
objectives of the Fellowship of Australian Writers New South Wales.
The FAW is unique in that established writers are committed to nurture and develop new writing talent – and everyone is welcome to join. There are now Fellowships in every state, with over thirty Regionals in New South Wales, both in the country and also in the Sydney metropolitan.
Since the inauguration, some of Australia’s most acclaimed writers have passed through the ranks – including Miles Franklin, George Mackaness, Pixie O’Harris (pictured with one her illustrations), Dorothea Mackellar and Marjorie Barnard.
One of the most important achievements of the Fellowship was the establishment of the Australian Society of Authors or ASA.
If you are a writer who would like to join an existing FAW Regional
group then go to our
Membership
page to find one near you. If you are an active writing group
not currently under the umbrella of the FAW, we would like to hear from
you in order to be of assistance in forming a Regional group in your
area. We invite groups of writers who would consider joining the FAW to
direct their enquiries to:
The Hon. Secretary,
Fellowship of Australian Writers NSW Inc.
PO Box 488
Rozelle NSW 2039.
We currently have 109 members who have been awarded the degree of Writing Fellow. Click here for a listing of those recipients
FAW Public Fund
The Fellowship of Australian Writers NSW Inc is included on the
Register of Cultural Organisations which permits the FAW to issue tax
deductible receipts for donations, which are then deposited in the
Public Fund. These donations can be reclaimed by Regionals, when
required, to be used for cultural purposes only.