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History and sponsors

The Mark & Evette Moran Nib Literary Award has a rich history rooted in the Waverley community's dedication to celebrating literary excellence. Since its inception in 2002, the award has grown from a visionary idea into a prestigious event supported by a network of literary champions. With the involvement of renowned figures like Alex Buzo and the continued support of Principal Sponsors Mark and Evette Moran, and alongside community partners, the award continues to honour the vital role of research-based literature in Australian culture.

Learn more about the history of the award and its sponsors.

History of the award

Waverley Council has been presenting an award for outstanding research-based literature since 2002. The award began as an initiative of the Waverley Community, from the vision of Chris Heywood, then the Patron of The Friends of Waverley Library group. Mr Heywood gathered community and Waverley Council support for a prize and secured sponsorship. The concept was further established by a dedicated group of local writers and literary advocates; including Chris Heywood, Peter Coleman, Susannah Fullerton, Lorna Graham, Robert Holden, Ron Lander, Denis Moore, Jamie Grant and respected playwright Alex Buzo, who contributed greatly to the development of the award.

Alex Buzo

Australian author and playwright Alex Buzo (1944-2006) had a long-standing association with and appreciation for his local library at Waverley. He was a passionate advocate of the writer’s craft and the crucial role of research which led him to become a founding award committee member. He developed the judging criteria and was the lead judge in the early years of the award. The Alex Buzo Shortlist Prize was established in 2006, honouring his significant contribution to the award’s success and is a practical demonstration of his strong belief that there should be a wider recognition and rewarding of the worth of deserving Australian writers. The $1,500 prize continues to be presented to six award finalists annually.

Mark & Evette Moran

Mark and Evette Moran co-founded the award-winning Mark Moran Group, an international leader in elder care, while also engaging in their lifelong passion for the arts (Mark has been CEO of the Moran Art Prizes for the last 25 years). They first became involved with council’s literary award as patrons in 2014, sponsoring the Nib People’s Choice Prize. In 2017 they increased their support and added their names to the major prize as award Principal Sponsors. Through their continued generosity, in 2023 Waverley Council was delighted to announce a doubling of the major prize to $40,000.

Gertrude & Alice Café Bookstore

Gertrude & Alice Café Bookstore is a much-loved Bondi institution and café with a rich literary history that spans almost twenty years. The independent bookstore has been a community partner of Waverley Council’s literary award for over a decade and stocks all Nib Award prize winning titles.

Find out more about sponsorship opportunities .