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Monica Clare Research Fellowship
About the Fellowship
Awarded annually to people who identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander to research, explore and create new knowledge about Queensland’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories and cultures using the John Oxley Library and State Library collections and resources.
The fellowship recipient receives a stipend of $20,000, a personal work space within the Neil Roberts Research Lounge for 12 months and premium access to State Library’s extensive collections and library staff expertise.
State Library’s Content Strategy details our approach and commitment to providing greater access and use of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander collections. Research projects undertaken as part of the Monica Clare Research Fellowship align with the principles and values outlined in this document.
The fellowship is named after Monica Clare, a political activist and author, Ms Clare was the first Indigenous woman to have a novel published. Her novel “Karobran” (meaning ‘together’) was published in 1978, five years after her death.
The Monica Clare Research Fellowship is generously supported by the Siganto Foundation.
2025 Monica Clare Research Fellow
The 2025 Monica Clare Research Fellowship was awarded to Narelle Nicol for her project, 'Lugger Bort' an ambitious social history research, dedicated to the working life of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders in the pearling, Bech-de-Mer and trochus industries, in northern Queensland.
Lugger Bort aims to uncover the rich, untold stories of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander workers who dedicated their lives to the pearling, Beche-de-Mer, and trochus industries in northern Queensland. For over a century, generations of these workers made vital contributions to the region's economic, social, and cultural landscape. However, despite their hard labour, they faced harsh exploitation through unregulated practices and restrictive government policies.
This era was instrumental in shaping Queensland. During its early years, the Torres Strait became the world’s largest supplier of pearl shell, capable of influencing global markets. Yet, little of this prosperity reached First Nations communities. Despite these injustices, the legacy of these industries is embedded in the identity and culture of families and communities across Queensland, celebrated in stories, artwork, songs, and dances that keep this history alive today.
Nerelle Nicol, the 2025 Monica Clare Research Fellow, with William and Louise Siganto, representing the Siganto Foundation.
Watch this video to explore Nerelle's research project, and don’t miss the full video highlighting all the 2025 Queensland Memory Awards recipients and their inspiring projects.
