Worth writing for

Former state Liberal MP Andrew Tink is the proud recipient of ‘The Nib’ award (CAL Waverley Library Award for Literature) for his seminal biography about the explorer and politician, William Charles Wentworth.

The award, now in its ninth year, recognises the role of research and libraries in Australian writing. The winning biography, William Charles Wentworth: Australia’s Greatest Native Son, charts the importance of a man who campaigned for trial by jury and a free press.

“To have won this prestigious award for my first published book will always be a highlight of my life,” says Mr Tink. “As someone who is new to writing books, it is tremendous encouragement for me to continue.”

The award signals a personal validation for Tink who stepped down from a prominent political career in 2007 and put his health aside to write the biography. It was published in 2009 — the same year he was diagnosed with terminal prostate cancer.

Tink says the transition from life in politics has been a difficult one, turning down lucrative job offers in government and banking to pursue writing.

“I also ignored what have turned out to be serious health problems to get Wentworth written. That is why this award is the highlight of my life. In a way, it is an independent validation that the book has been worth writing.”

First-time author Tink turned historian as he rummaged through Wentworth’s personal letters to uncover more about the man renowned for owning the South Island of New Zealand for six months.

Despite the grandeur of Wentworth’s person, his penmanship turned out to be a research challenge.

“Wentworth had atrocious handwriting,” Mr Tink observes. “It was a real strain to read copies of his letter on microfilm.”

That little had been published about Wentworth may have spurred Tink to dig deep into history, but there is another reason. Tink sat under Wentworth’s portrait while serving as an MP in Parliament.

“In government, you get to look Wentworth in the eye during question time,” Mr Tink muses. “Unfortunately for too much of my career, he was looking over my shoulder.”