BOOK PRIZES FOR ARTICLES ACCEPTED FOR PUBLICATION IN THE AUSTRALIAN RESERVIST

THE ORCHARD PRIZE 

In order to encourage the submission of high quality and interesting articles, CAPT Malcolm Orchard RFD ED of the DRA South Australia Branch initiated the Orchard Prize for the best published articles.

There are potentially two prizes for each edition: one for the best article by an Officer and a further prize for the best article by a Non-Commissioned Officer or Other Rank.

The winners are selected by the Editorial committee taking into account: the relevance of the topic in promoting the Defence Reserves, the overall quality of the article, the issues raised, the topicality and the perceived interest level.

THE BIG SKY PUBLISHING BOOK PRIZE

Big Sky Publishing will provides a book prize for articles published in the DRA journal which have a historical theme; we thank them for supporting the Journal with this important initiative. The Big Sky Publishing Book Prize is offered in addition to the long-standing Orchard Prize and is specifically for historical articles.

As the journal is contribution driven, the award of this prize is a tangible way to encourage writers to submit quality articles that provide a link to the history of the ADF Reserves.

Keeping in mind that the key aim of the journal is to showcase the achievements of ADF Reservists, and highlight issues impacting on members of the Reserve, historical articles should have a direct or tangible link to the Reserve or discuss a serving member’s direct involvement in a historic project. Readers will recall that recently we published a number of historical themed articles (typical of the articles which would qualify for the prize):

  • The Charge at Beersheba (DRA Journal September 2008)
  • Calling out the Militia to suppress the Hobart Town Chiniquy Riots in 1879 (DRA Journal March 2010)
  • The Search for the Wreck of the Centaur (DRA Journal April 2011)

Big Sky Publishing have an extensive Australian Military History book catalogue and have published a number of books produced by the Australian Army History Unit. More Information on the Big Sky Publishing Book Catalogue can be found at www.bigskypublishing.com.au