Two QUT Indigenous academics, Professor Chelsea Watego and Dr Amy McQuire, have been recognised for their impactful contributions to Australian culture and society through inclusion in the newly published anthology, 'Essays that Changed Australia: Meanjin 1940 to Today.'
The book, released by Melbourne University Publishing, brings together 20 essays originally featured in Meanjin, a quarterly journal known for its role in shaping public discourse since 1940.
At a panel discussion held at Old Government House on QUT's Garden Point campus on December 4, Professor Watego and Dr McQuire reflected on their work and its significance.
They were joined by Yagarabul Elder and UQ Language Fellow Gaja Kerry Charlton, who is also featured in the anthology.
The event, moderated by QUT Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Indigenous Australians) Angela Barney-Leitch, provided an opportunity for public engagement with the authors and their ideas.
Professor Watego's essay, 'Always Bet on Black (Power)', was first published in Meanjin in Spring 2021.
She said the piece marked a pivotal moment in her career and a shift in how she approached her work.
"Meanjin Quarterly gave me an opportunity to break the silence that surrounds racial complaint in the workplace and to tell the often-forgotten story of our power as a people amidst it all," she said.
Reflecting on its impact, she described it as a turning point that ultimately led her to her current role as Executive Director of QUT's Carumba Institute, an Indigenous justice-focused research centre.
Editor Esther Anatolitis, who also attended the event, described Watego's essay as "one of the mightiest pieces Meanjin has ever published."
She noted its blend of personal experience and academic insight, stating that it demonstrated "a radicalism of Black power" rooted in both rage and love.
Dr McQuire's essay, 'The Act of Disappearing', published in Meanjin in Summer 2022, addresses the systemic erasure of Aboriginal women in media narratives about missing persons.
Ms Anatolitis called the piece "sensitive and forceful," crediting it with helping to change the way such stories are told, shifting the narrative from outdated tropes to one that centres the experiences of Indigenous women.
Speaking at the panel, Dr McQuire acknowledged Meanjin as an essential platform for diverse and fearless voices.
"Meanjin provides a space for fearless writing that exposes important truths – in the current imperial media landscape, this can't be underestimated," she said.
Dr McQuire, who is also the author of 'Black Witness: The Power of Indigenous Media,' highlighted her pride in being included alongside writers she deeply admires.
The anthology, which spans decades of Meanjin's (Brisbane) history, explores themes including sovereignty, power, class, and cultural identity.
Contributors range from prominent figures like Marcia Langton, Manning Clark, and Tony Birch to emerging voices, showcasing the journal's longstanding commitment to critical dialogue.
Ms Anatolitis's introduction to the collection provides a contextual lens for understanding how these essays have influenced national debates and inspired movements, including royal commissions.
The panel discussion at QUT also spotlighted the broader cultural and social impact of the essays, underscoring their role in challenging societal norms and elevating marginalised perspectives.
Ms Barney-Leitch noted the importance of creating spaces for Indigenous scholarship and storytelling, framing the essays as tools for both reflection and action.
'Essays that Changed Australia: Meanjin 1940 to Today' is available through Melbourne University Publishing, offering readers a chance to explore a collection of writings that have left a lasting imprint on Australian society.
