Encouraging excellence in writing

Dr Ruth Starke Creative Writing Prize

A brilliant writer, critic and teacher, Dr Ruth Starke inspired generations of readers and students. The award-winning author was also known for championing excellence in writing – a legacy which now continues through the Dr Ruth Starke Creative Writing Prize at Flinders University.

Dr Starke died in 2022, aged 76, and is remembered and respected as a staunch advocate for South Australian literature, with an unbridled passion for writing, reading, language and literature.

Acclaimed titles among her 20 fiction books for children and young adults include the award-winning NIPS XI, which was named Honour Book (Younger Readers) in the 2001 CBC Awards, graphic children's novel An Anzac Tale, young adult novella Stalker, children's historical fiction Orphans of the Queen, and the Captain Congo series of graphic novels.

Dr Starke also contributed to various literary magazines, was a member of eKidnas (a children's book writers' group), and the Australian Society of Authors. She served as Chair of the Board of Management of the South Australian Writers' Centre and was on the Board of Allwrite! SA Youth Literature Festival 1993-1997.

Gaining a Bachelor of Arts with First Class Honours at Flinders University in 1996, Dr Starke won the Ann Flaxman Prize in English (1995) and the University Medal for outstanding academic achievement (1996). On completing her PhD in English and Creative Writing in 2001, Dr Starke then taught in the Creative Writing program at Flinders and became a writer-in-residence.

Dr Ruth Starke

Honouring their mother’s passion for excellence in creative writing, Miranda and Petra Starke have donated $12,500 to establish the Dr Ruth Starke Creative Writing Prize. The $1,000 annual prize will be awarded to the student who achieves the highest mark for a creative work produced for a Creative Writing topic at Flinders University.

The creative writing prize will encourage aspiring writers to reach further in their pursuit of excellence in writing, and help to boost their opportunities as they launch their career.

Emeritus Professor of Creative Writing and English, and the first Dean of Graduate Research at Flinders University, Jeri Kroll launched Flinders’ Creative Writing program in the 1990s. She says this prize is a wonderful opportunity to encourage writing students to set their sights high.

“Ruth always enjoyed not only challenging her students, but also herself. As a versatile writer and an inspiring teacher, she had a gift for encouraging students to be the best that they could be,” says Emeritus Professor Kroll.

We invite you to honour the life and work of Dr Ruth Starke by donating to the Dr Ruth Starke Creative Writing Prize today.

100% of your tax-deductible donation will support the development of talented writers studying at Flinders University.

Donate today

^{Published January 2024. Author: David Sly.}

Thank you for your generosity in supporting excellence in writing