Children’s author Julia Lawrinson’s account of a harrowing mining rescue wins NSW History Award

Trapped! by Julia Lawrinson has won the NSW History Award in the Young People’s History Prize category. The winners were announced at a ceremony on Monday 7 September at the State Library of NSW.

This quintessentially Western Australian story tells the tale of the near miraculous rescue of Modesto ‘Charlie’ Varischetti, trapped in a flooded gold mine in Bonnie Vale in 1907.

Fremantle Press Children’s Publisher Cate Sutherland said the novel made an inspiring true story available to a new generation of readers. Cate said, ‘Charlie’s agonising wait for rescue is told through the medium of verse, a format that makes this local story accessible to readers who might otherwise struggle to read a long-form novel. Julia has managed to compress the narrative and her extensive research into a taut and exciting account that no reader can put down.’

Administered by the State Library of NSW in association with Create NSW, the awards recognise the contribution of historical research to our culture and communities, and to society at large.

Julia Lawrinson said she was flabbergasted and over the moon to win the prestigious prize.  She said, ‘The story of Trapped! is about a remarkable story of survival against the odds. It is also about communities coming together in a time of crisis, and it made news headlines all over the world – quite the event for a mining settlement near Coolgardie in 1907! I hope the award will encourage young readers to explore and understand more about our fascinating and forgotten areas of history.’

The NSW History Awards were first presented in 1997 to honour distinguished achievement in history by Australian citizens and permanent residents. 

Past winners have included Darren Rix, Craig Cormick, Robyn Arianrhod, Alan Atkinson, Joan Beaumont, Stuart Macintyre, Ken Inglis, Inga Clendinnen, Bruce Scates, Mark McKenna, Warwick Thornton, Sean Scalmer, Ann McGrath, Nadia Wheatley and Grace Karskens.