THE VANCE PALMER PRIZE  FOR  AUSTRALIAN FICTION 1985-2002     RICHARD FLANAGAN

The year 2002 is the eighteenth year of the Victorian Premier's Literary Awards which were established in 1985 to mark the centenary of the births of Vance and Nettie Palmer. The Palmers were distinguished writers and critics who made significant contributions to Victorian and Australian literary culture. The awards are designed to support contemporary Australian literature and the book industry and the two major Awards - for Fiction and Non-Fiction commemorate the Palmers. The awards are made for works published from May-April in the preceeding year. The Vance Palmer Prize for Fiction is offered for a published novel or collection of short stories.