Chinese truck driver's story wins CRC Literary Prize

Ouyang Yu is congratulated by CRC Chair, Stepan Kerkyasharian.

The Community Relations Commission Prize at the Premier;s Literary Awards tonight has been won by a prolific Australian writer of Chinese background, for his novel The English Class.

Congratulating Ouyang Yu on his award, the Chair of the Commission, Stepan Kerkyasharian, said: "The English Class is an intriguing piece of writing about the migration experience. The story actually begins a long time before the central character leaves his homeland for Australia as he struggles to master English in the belief that it guarantees him a better life in the west.

"I am sure most migrants would identify with some of aspects of this character and i would hope that non-migrant Australians would learn more about the migration experience from this novel.

"This Prize at the Premier's Literary Award is a powerful tool for understanding. Migration is a painful and difficult process and literature is one of the vehicles for telling migrants' stories in an effective way.

“We are very proud of our long association with the Premier's Literary Award because this nation has been built on migration and stories of migrants are important expressions of human spirit. Understanding the experiences and the motivations of migrants helps to build acceptance and harmony in our society.

"In writing this successful novel, The English Class, the writer has obviously called on the memories of his own struggles to find a place in Australian society, in creating the character and the story of the former Chinese truck-driver, Jing. From his story, we all have something to learn.

"With his fifty-five books published over the twenty years since arriving in Australia, Ouyang Yu has made a fantastic contribution to the national treasure trove of fine literature", Mr Kerkyasharian said.

The Community Relations Commission Award carries prize-money of $20,000 and a silver medal. The Commission also presents a Translation Award in conjunction with the International Writers Group, PEN, at the Premier's Literary Award. The prize is awarded every second year and this year was given to Dr Ian Johnson of Hobart.