Vale Colin Nettelbeck (1938–2022)

ABR was greatly saddened by the recent death of long-time contributor and Patron Colin Nettelbeck. Colin was an author and an Emeritus Professor at the University of Melbourne, where he held the A.R. Chisholm Chair of French. He also taught at the University of California (Berkeley) and Monash University. He first wrote for the magazine in 2005 and would go on to appear regularly until 2020, often reviewing works of French fiction, history, and biography. In 2012, Colin’s poignant, meditative essay ‘Now They’ve Gone’, was runner-up in the Calibre Essay Prize. In it Colin wrote movingly about the lives and deaths of his mother, May, and his mother-in-law, Melba. His essay ‘Kneecapper: A Trip to Happiness’ was shortlisted for the 2010 Calibre Prize. One of Colin’s most powerful contributions was a ‘Letter from Paris’, which was published in the year after the 2015 terrorist attacks.

Prizes galore

Budding Montaignes have until 30 December 2022 to enter the Calibre Essay Prize. The winner will receive $5,000; the runner-up $2,500. Meanwhile, we look forward to publishing the five poems shortlisted in the 2023 Peter Porter Poetry Prize in our January–February issue. This will be followed by an online ceremony on 19 January, when the poets will read their works, to be followed by the announcement of the overall winner. Reserve your place at this free event: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Those itching to enter the ABR Elizabeth Jolley Short Story Prize can do so from 16 January to 24 April 2023.