Paul Kane appointed Honorary Member in the Order of Australia

On 28 October 2022, Paul Kane, past president and founding member of AAALS, as well as original poetry editor of Antipodes: A Global Journal of Australasian Literary Studies, has been appointed as Honorary Member in the Order of Australia for his significant service to literature, especially through the promotion of Australian arts, poetry, and particularly emerging talent. Congratulations, Paul!

On the basis of his legacy of support to Australian literature and emerging talent, which remains ongoing, Professor Kane is worthy of national recognition with an appointment as an Honorary Member in the General Division of the Order of Australia (AM).

The appointment recognizes that “Professor Paul Kane is widely considered an ambassador for Australian literature, providing valuable service and contributions to the arts in Australia for over two decades.”

In particular, Paul was recognized as a founder of the Mildura Writers' Festival, “known as a 'gem in the Australian literary event calendar'.” Through this renowned festival, “he has introduced vital economic and cultural sustenance to remote parts of Australia.” Paul was recognized for creating “an exceptional platform for emerging and local writers, for Indigenous Australian voices, and for tertiary and school students to share their work.”

Photo by Vincent Manzi

The appointment letter notes Paul’s “deep knowledge and passion for Australian literature” and “his desire to encourage and promote budding Australian writers to international audiences.” As poetry editor of Antipodes for 40 years, Paul brought many then new, now renown authors to a North American readership, and he continued to do so throughout his long tenure at the journal.

Paul Kane is a professor at Vassar College, has published scholarly monographs and poetry, and continues to create and explore in his own powerful poetry, including the 2019 book A Passing Bell: Ghazals for Tina, from which he read at the 2021 AAALS virtual conference.

AAALS has been fortunate to have Paul as part of its core membership and advisory board for many years. The AAALS membership extends hearty congratulations to our friend and colleague Paul Kane on this much deserved appointment as an Honorary Member in the Order of Australia.