Kerry Reed-Gilbert


Kerry Reed-Gilbert was an Australian poet, author, collector, editor, educator, a champion of Indigenous writers and an Aboriginal rights activist. She was a Wiradjuri woman.

Early life

Born on 24 October 1956 in central New South Wales Reed-Gilbert was orphaned at three months old when her father Kevin Gilbert murdered her mother Gomah Gilbert. Reed-Gilbert was raised by her father sister who Reed-Gilbert called Mummy, she became the baby of eight children.
Reed-Gilbert is survived by her two daughters, Lesa and Melanie, her grandchildren Jirrima, Yarran, Tenisha, Kaylarnie and Yullara and her great-grandchildren Reed-Gilbert was a Wiradjuri woman and her childhood memoirs are published in The Cherry Picker's Daughter: A childhood memoir.

Career

Reed-Gilbert wrote poetry and prose and was actively involved in writers groups and publishing the work of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and Maori writers. Reed-Gilbert was the inaugural Chairperson of the First Nations Australians Writers Network. She was also a member of the Aboriginal Studies Press Advisory Committee.

Works

Reed-Gilbert's poetry was translated into Dutch, French, Bengali and Korean. Reed-Gilbert edited a number of anthologies of poetry and prose.
Reed-Gilbert collected Aboriginalia, a variety of prints, figurines, plates, ashtrays, badges, and velvet paintings of Aboriginal people or featuring Aboriginal motifs. In 2016 this collection was acquired by
AIATSIS.

Awards

2003: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Arts Board fellowship for poetry and writing at Omi International Arts Center in New York.
2006: ‘Outstanding Achievement in Poetry’ and ‘Poet of Merit’ Award from the International Society of Poets.