Miles Franklin Award makes history with 2025 winner, Siang Lu
'I had never allowed myself to think that this was possible, could be possible or was even a remote possibility,' the Brisbane-based author says.
'When I heard I was longlisted I was overjoyed and also scared, but the joy was 'wow, I didn't expect that' … then, when I heard I was shortlisted, it was that magnified. So I can't even properly describe how I feel right now, other than that it's the same feeling but so much bigger that I can't even see it.'
Ghost Cities is about a young Chinese-Australian man who works at the Chinese consulate as a translator. But it subsequently turns out that he is, in fact, monolingual and has been relying on Google Translate.
The 39-year-old author says he grew up like that character, speaking only English. Lu's family emigrated from Malaysia to Brisbane in the 1990s when he was four. He studied law and journalism at university ('law very badly', he says) and the one class he loved was creative writing. There were signs earlier, which his dad recently reminded him about.
'He told me that when I was in high school, maybe [age] 13 or 14, I went to a writer's camp and the writers had clearly done their job of instilling passion and excitement... According to my dad, and it's become family lore, I came home and said I wanted to be a writer.'
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Lu's wife Yuan is also Chinese. While he had been to China before, when they got together he travelled there more frequently, to visit her family.
'It's always been in the back of my mind that I wasn't approaching my culture in the correct way. I first had to embrace the fact that I am of multiple cultures, and that's not an easy thing … for someone growing up in a dominant culture where everything you see on TV or read is from the white perspective,' he says. 'It sort of makes you want to be white and I had to reconcile with that in my writing. I was foregrounding white characters without knowing why.
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Sydney Morning Herald
2 hours ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
Michael refused to take no for an answer, and now he's in the running for a Logie
The email from the ABC publicist isn't as helpful as I'd like. 'Michael likes European, Chinese and Japanese,' it read. I'm due to have lunch with Michael Theo, the 31-year-old breakout star of reality series Love on the Spectrum and the ABC comedy Austin. But as he is still living at home ('somewhat begrudgingly') with mum Vanessa and dad Tom, in Wollongong, and doesn't know Sydney well enough to choose a lunch spot, it's up to me to pick. Which is why we end up at New Shanghai on the bottom level of Westfield Sydney. It's not flash dining, but it is delicious (the pan-fried pork buns deserve an award), the staff are always helpful and the Ashfield branch is my go-to spot for all ages and dietary requirements. The only problem? Theo doesn't eat pork, and it's quite noisy – and full-on – this Friday lunchtime. He doesn't want to make a fuss over the noise, but after a couple of goes trying to find a quieter table, we settle in and Theo, who has never had dumplings before, boldly dives in with chicken and celery dumplings and wok fried king prawns with salted egg yolk. I add in the Yangzhou fried rice and the last-meal-worthy string beans with dried shrimp and soy sauce. Neither of us drink, so it's sparkling and still water on the side. 'You can never have too much protein,' he says. 'But apparently my GP said that eggs add to cholesterol. But I find it hard to believe.' Today, Theo is wearing one of his signature brightly patterned shirts. The 31-year-old is as familiar in person as he is on screen, with wonderfully expressive eyes that pop if he's excited or surprised. He's not nervous about sitting down for an interview, either. 'Doesn't bother me in the slightest.' He has spent the past six years navigating his rise as an unlikely celebrity after he first appeared on the 2019 ABC series Love on the Spectrum, which followed young adults on the autism spectrum as they went on dates. Theo became an audience favourite, here and in the US where it streamed on Netflix, with his funny, frank and thoughtful observations, as he happily – and seriously – declared becoming a husband was his No.1 dream. Loading 'I saw it as a golden opportunity to help me find love,' he says. 'Because Wollongong is not really the place to find love. Maybe some people are lucky to meet their partner in their hometown. I wasn't.' What's so good about being a husband? 'I just love the idea of being, of being in a committed relationship and sharing my life with that person until one of us dies.' Theo didn't find love on the show (he has now, though), but he did find a vast audience who were interested in him. This was quite the revelation to Theo, who had always felt invisible. 'I was stunned,' he says about discovering he was a hit. 'Because I just couldn't understand why, I didn't see myself as anything special.' Has that changed? 'I see myself as a special person, but that doesn't make me better than others,' he says. And this girlfriend? 'I have actually been in a committed relationship for nine months,' he says. 'It makes me feel great because it feels great to be loved by a woman who is not your mother.' His girlfriend is nine years older than him and Theo happily admits he 'has a preference for older women'. 'What I'm about to say is purely my opinion and not facts,' he says. 'I have a preference for women in their 30s and 40s because they are generally more intelligent, more mature, more secure in themselves. They're more sure of themselves. They know what they want. Their taste in men is more refined. They're more content to settle down. They're smarter with money, and they don't care about frivolous things.' That sounds about right to me. 'Because I need a woman, not a girl, that can't figure out what she wants.' Theo is a natural comedian – he was non-verbal as a boy, but it was through his love of animation and comedy that he began to communicate – and now he's a natural TV star in the delightful comedy Austin. Theo plays Austin Hogan, a young man with autism who lives in Canberra with his mum Mel (Gia Carides) and granddad Bill (Roy Billing). In season one, Austin discovered his father was British children's author Julian Hartswood (Ben Miller). The pair meet while Julian – who has been recently cancelled because he accidentally retweeted a neo-Nazi influencer – is on a book tour with his wife and illustrator Ingrid (Sally Phillips). 'I would say Austin is like me in terms of speaking very formally and having encyclopedic knowledge,' says Theo. Initially, Julian sees Austin could be his saving grace – what better redemption arc than reconnecting with a neurodivergent long-lost son? – but once Austin travels to Julian's home in London, the pair connect and a genuine relationship forms. What makes Austin work – and initially, I really didn't think it would – is the chemistry Theo shares with all the cast (in particular with Carides, whose character is modelled on Theo's actual mum, Vanessa). Importantly, the show doesn't coddle Theo, and the laughs never come from Austin's autism. If anyone is the punchline, it's generally his dad Julian. Loading 'I was not worried about autism being part of the show,' he says. 'It's not about autism. It just happens there's just a character that happens to be on the spectrum.' He thinks people with autism, particularly on screen, are still stereotyped, but that attitudes are 'slowly changing'. He also doesn't think he's been treated differently since becoming a public personality. 'I don't expect special treatment because I'm still just another human being at the end of the day,' he says. 'And also, I have a lot of friends who aren't in the acting world, but that doesn't bother me at all because there's a philosophy that I live by: 'Hold on to your friends.' Because you only discontinue friendships that are no longer worth your time, and if they're worth my time, I keep them.' What makes a good friend then? 'Someone that will make the time for me when they can, someone I get along with and can just enjoy my time with.' One of those good friends now is Carides, who he thinks of as his 'second mum'; he counts a photo of Carides and his mum, Vanessa, together as one of his most treasured possessions. In season two, Austin is about to become a publishing hit with his book Game of Scones: An Autistic Guide to Britain. He falls under the spell of his ambitious agent, and the trappings of his new 'neuro-spicy' fame result in some shouty bad behaviour. This was difficult for Theo, who added script consultant to his job title for season two. 'I didn't want Austin to become unlikeable.' Loading He loved filming away from home, in both Canberra and London, 'for the peace and quiet and privacy'. Doesn't get that at home? 'I get the peace and quiet, but not enough privacy.' Filming in London, where season one of Austin was praised for its portrayal of autism outside 'the usual tired trope of autistic savants', was fun, he says, but he doesn't think he could live there (despite the full-time access to his beloved Stinking Bishops cheese). 'Because everything's so expensive over there. And also the weather's not the best, and the traffic conditions aren't the greatest either.' On Sunday night, Theo will attend the Logie Awards, where he has been nominated for a Silver Logie for best lead actor for season one of Austin. He will wear his signature top hat and is most keen to meet comedian Kitty Flanagan, creator and star of the ABC comedy Fisk. 'She's the reason why I've been watching Utopia and the reason why I've been giving Fisk a second chance,' he says. He didn't like it? 'Well, I didn't like it the first time, the first season, I couldn't get one chuckle out of it, really. But I'm giving it a second chance because I bought the first two seasons on DVD. 'I'm in the same category as Kitty [at the Logies]. And at the AACTA awards earlier this year, I lost an award to her. But I don't consider that an insult because she's the epitome of brilliance, and I have something that I would really want to say to her: 'You have no idea what a privilege, what a pleasure it is, for me to lose an award to you.'' As we prepare to wrap up lunch – it's been a hit and Theo is taking home a container with scant leftovers (we made a good dent in a substantial spread) – I ask him what's next. He does seem unstoppable. Loading He would like to continue acting and work with, among others, Susie Porter, Shane Jacobson, Claudia Karvan and Justine Clarke, and do more voice work for animation. He's also a consultant for Aspect (Autism Spectrum Australia), for which he has been visiting schools and workplaces. 'I want to inspire these autistic students that they can accomplish their dreams and to also be determined,' he says. What drives him? 'Just my refusal to take no for an answer,' he says. 'Because I noticed years ago that a lot of people weren't taking no for an answer from me, but I took no for an answer from them. So I thought, 'Why should I do that if people aren't going to take it as an answer from me?' 'Sometimes, if you want your goals to happen, sometimes you need to take action yourself, even if others will disapprove.'
The Age
2 hours ago
- The Age
Michael refused to take no for an answer, and now he's in the running for a Logie
The email from the ABC publicist isn't as helpful as I'd like. 'Michael likes European, Chinese and Japanese,' it read. I'm due to have lunch with Michael Theo, the 31-year-old breakout star of reality series Love on the Spectrum and the ABC comedy Austin. But as he is still living at home ('somewhat begrudgingly') with mum Vanessa and dad Tom, in Wollongong, and doesn't know Sydney well enough to choose a lunch spot, it's up to me to pick. Which is why we end up at New Shanghai on the bottom level of Westfield Sydney. It's not flash dining, but it is delicious (the pan-fried pork buns deserve an award), the staff are always helpful and the Ashfield branch is my go-to spot for all ages and dietary requirements. The only problem? Theo doesn't eat pork, and it's quite noisy – and full-on – this Friday lunchtime. He doesn't want to make a fuss over the noise, but after a couple of goes trying to find a quieter table, we settle in and Theo, who has never had dumplings before, boldly dives in with chicken and celery dumplings and wok fried king prawns with salted egg yolk. I add in the Yangzhou fried rice and the last-meal-worthy string beans with dried shrimp and soy sauce. Neither of us drink, so it's sparkling and still water on the side. 'You can never have too much protein,' he says. 'But apparently my GP said that eggs add to cholesterol. But I find it hard to believe.' Today, Theo is wearing one of his signature brightly patterned shirts. The 31-year-old is as familiar in person as he is on screen, with wonderfully expressive eyes that pop if he's excited or surprised. He's not nervous about sitting down for an interview, either. 'Doesn't bother me in the slightest.' He has spent the past six years navigating his rise as an unlikely celebrity after he first appeared on the 2019 ABC series Love on the Spectrum, which followed young adults on the autism spectrum as they went on dates. Theo became an audience favourite, here and in the US where it streamed on Netflix, with his funny, frank and thoughtful observations, as he happily – and seriously – declared becoming a husband was his No.1 dream. Loading 'I saw it as a golden opportunity to help me find love,' he says. 'Because Wollongong is not really the place to find love. Maybe some people are lucky to meet their partner in their hometown. I wasn't.' What's so good about being a husband? 'I just love the idea of being, of being in a committed relationship and sharing my life with that person until one of us dies.' Theo didn't find love on the show (he has now, though), but he did find a vast audience who were interested in him. This was quite the revelation to Theo, who had always felt invisible. 'I was stunned,' he says about discovering he was a hit. 'Because I just couldn't understand why, I didn't see myself as anything special.' Has that changed? 'I see myself as a special person, but that doesn't make me better than others,' he says. And this girlfriend? 'I have actually been in a committed relationship for nine months,' he says. 'It makes me feel great because it feels great to be loved by a woman who is not your mother.' His girlfriend is nine years older than him and Theo happily admits he 'has a preference for older women'. 'What I'm about to say is purely my opinion and not facts,' he says. 'I have a preference for women in their 30s and 40s because they are generally more intelligent, more mature, more secure in themselves. They're more sure of themselves. They know what they want. Their taste in men is more refined. They're more content to settle down. They're smarter with money, and they don't care about frivolous things.' That sounds about right to me. 'Because I need a woman, not a girl, that can't figure out what she wants.' Theo is a natural comedian – he was non-verbal as a boy, but it was through his love of animation and comedy that he began to communicate – and now he's a natural TV star in the delightful comedy Austin. Theo plays Austin Hogan, a young man with autism who lives in Canberra with his mum Mel (Gia Carides) and granddad Bill (Roy Billing). In season one, Austin discovered his father was British children's author Julian Hartswood (Ben Miller). The pair meet while Julian – who has been recently cancelled because he accidentally retweeted a neo-Nazi influencer – is on a book tour with his wife and illustrator Ingrid (Sally Phillips). 'I would say Austin is like me in terms of speaking very formally and having encyclopedic knowledge,' says Theo. Initially, Julian sees Austin could be his saving grace – what better redemption arc than reconnecting with a neurodivergent long-lost son? – but once Austin travels to Julian's home in London, the pair connect and a genuine relationship forms. What makes Austin work – and initially, I really didn't think it would – is the chemistry Theo shares with all the cast (in particular with Carides, whose character is modelled on Theo's actual mum, Vanessa). Importantly, the show doesn't coddle Theo, and the laughs never come from Austin's autism. If anyone is the punchline, it's generally his dad Julian. Loading 'I was not worried about autism being part of the show,' he says. 'It's not about autism. It just happens there's just a character that happens to be on the spectrum.' He thinks people with autism, particularly on screen, are still stereotyped, but that attitudes are 'slowly changing'. He also doesn't think he's been treated differently since becoming a public personality. 'I don't expect special treatment because I'm still just another human being at the end of the day,' he says. 'And also, I have a lot of friends who aren't in the acting world, but that doesn't bother me at all because there's a philosophy that I live by: 'Hold on to your friends.' Because you only discontinue friendships that are no longer worth your time, and if they're worth my time, I keep them.' What makes a good friend then? 'Someone that will make the time for me when they can, someone I get along with and can just enjoy my time with.' One of those good friends now is Carides, who he thinks of as his 'second mum'; he counts a photo of Carides and his mum, Vanessa, together as one of his most treasured possessions. In season two, Austin is about to become a publishing hit with his book Game of Scones: An Autistic Guide to Britain. He falls under the spell of his ambitious agent, and the trappings of his new 'neuro-spicy' fame result in some shouty bad behaviour. This was difficult for Theo, who added script consultant to his job title for season two. 'I didn't want Austin to become unlikeable.' Loading He loved filming away from home, in both Canberra and London, 'for the peace and quiet and privacy'. Doesn't get that at home? 'I get the peace and quiet, but not enough privacy.' Filming in London, where season one of Austin was praised for its portrayal of autism outside 'the usual tired trope of autistic savants', was fun, he says, but he doesn't think he could live there (despite the full-time access to his beloved Stinking Bishops cheese). 'Because everything's so expensive over there. And also the weather's not the best, and the traffic conditions aren't the greatest either.' On Sunday night, Theo will attend the Logie Awards, where he has been nominated for a Silver Logie for best lead actor for season one of Austin. He will wear his signature top hat and is most keen to meet comedian Kitty Flanagan, creator and star of the ABC comedy Fisk. 'She's the reason why I've been watching Utopia and the reason why I've been giving Fisk a second chance,' he says. He didn't like it? 'Well, I didn't like it the first time, the first season, I couldn't get one chuckle out of it, really. But I'm giving it a second chance because I bought the first two seasons on DVD. 'I'm in the same category as Kitty [at the Logies]. And at the AACTA awards earlier this year, I lost an award to her. But I don't consider that an insult because she's the epitome of brilliance, and I have something that I would really want to say to her: 'You have no idea what a privilege, what a pleasure it is, for me to lose an award to you.'' As we prepare to wrap up lunch – it's been a hit and Theo is taking home a container with scant leftovers (we made a good dent in a substantial spread) – I ask him what's next. He does seem unstoppable. Loading He would like to continue acting and work with, among others, Susie Porter, Shane Jacobson, Claudia Karvan and Justine Clarke, and do more voice work for animation. He's also a consultant for Aspect (Autism Spectrum Australia), for which he has been visiting schools and workplaces. 'I want to inspire these autistic students that they can accomplish their dreams and to also be determined,' he says. What drives him? 'Just my refusal to take no for an answer,' he says. 'Because I noticed years ago that a lot of people weren't taking no for an answer from me, but I took no for an answer from them. So I thought, 'Why should I do that if people aren't going to take it as an answer from me?' 'Sometimes, if you want your goals to happen, sometimes you need to take action yourself, even if others will disapprove.'
News.com.au
4 hours ago
- News.com.au
Revealed: Homes of Qld's hottest musos
With Queensland claiming 11 spots in the Triple J Hottest 100 of Australian Songs, here is a look at the homes owned by the sunshine state's hottest acts. THE GO-BETWEENS This indie rock band was formed in Brisbane in 1977 and their track 'Streets of Your Town' was No. 84 on the countdown. Six months after forming the band, singer-songwriters and guitarists Robert Forster and Grant McLennan moved into a share house at 10 Golding St, Toowong Between 1978 and 1979, the band recorded a number of songs live in Forster's bedroom, which were released on 'The Lost Album' in 1999. Property records show the Golding St home was built around 1930 and was last sold in May 1984 for $50,000. It is estimated to be worth about $1.36m. Forming in Brisbane in 1993, this alt-rock band had '!(The Song Formerly Known as)' appear at No. 67 on the Hottest 100 list. The group formed in the garage of 40 Coopers Camp Rd, Bardon, which was owned by Lien Yeomans, the mum of lead singer Quan Yeomans. Ms Yeomans sold the property in 2016 for $975,000. At the time of the sale, Yeomans said he wrote all of Regurgitator's early songs downstairs on a 4-track tape machine. 'Mum let me set up full drum kits and amplifiers and I made a racket,' he said. 'My base player came downstairs and saw me tinkering away and that's what kicked it (Regurgitator) off.' THELMA PLUM Gamilaraay woman, Thelma Plum appeared at No. 53 on the countdown with 'Better in Blak'. Born in Brissy, Plum spent most of her life in the river city and her third EP, 'Meanjin' was a love letter to her hometown. The singer-songwriter bought an apartment in the suburb of West End in 2022 for $780,000, with the home today estimated to be worth more than $1m. SAVAGE GARDEN This ARIA award-winning pop duo's hit 'I Want You' scraped into the 100 Hottest list at No. 97. Cornubia Savage Garden formed in 1993 with Darren Hayes and Daniel Jones rehearsing and recording at Jones' home at 10 Ballan Ct, Cornubia. When Jones sold the home in 2002 for $230,000 he left behind a plaque that read 'built in 1982, this room was converted to a sound studio in 1994 where Darren Hayes and Daniel Jones of 'Savage Garden' wrote and recorded most the songs from their self-titled debut album'. The property sold again in 2019 for $590,000 and in 2020 for $618,000. It is now valued at $1.06m. Cleveland In 2006 Jones sold a waterside residence at 32 Sentinel Ct, Cleveland for $5.8m. The home sold again 2013 for $4.96m and smashed the Cleveland sales record went it sold for $8.5m in 2020. POWDERFINGER Powderfinger, formed in Brisbane in 1989, appeared in the Hottest 100 of Australian Songs three times, with 'My Happiness' at No. 6, 'These Days' at No. 14 and '(Baby I've Got You) On My Mind' at No. 70 while lead singer Bernard Fanning came in at No. 57 with 'Wish You Well'. Camp Mountain Guitarists Ian Haug owns and operates Airlock Studios in Camp Mountain, where he also has a home. Wights Mountain In 2016, Powderfinger lead guitarist, Darren Middleton listed his Wights Mountain home of 15 years for sale for $1.395m. The 2.05ha property came with a dam, barn and mango grove. 'We stumbled across this block of land and made an offer, as soon as we saw it we thought we could build a house here that could become the ultimate hideaway,' Middleton said at the time. Paddington Also in 2016, Fanning sold a two-bedroom investment unit in Paddington for $520,000, having bought it in 2011 for $422,500. He listed a second nearby two-bedorom unit for sale for offers over $400,000 around the same time. Toowong In 2022 a link to Powderfinger may have helped save an old Queenslander from developers. 'Goldicott House' and its outbuildings, including a former Brisbane Boys College music room where Fanning learned his craft, was bought by developers in 2017. Developers sought to demolish the music room building, but numerous objections from locals based on the historic nature of the estate caused plans to be rejected by council. BBC, in partnership with the Presbyterian Methodist Schools Association, purchased 'Goldicott' in February 2022 for $17m. THE VERONICAS Brissy twins Lisa and Jessica Origliasso formed pop duo The Veronicas in 2004 and made the Triple J list with 'Untouched' at No. 4 and '4ever' at No. 76. Albany Creek The pair grew up in Albany Creek, with their family home selling in 2007 for $580,500 to Defence Housing Australia. The five-bedroom, three-bathroom property now has an estimated value of $1.35m. Fortitude Valley In 2015 Jessica sold her inner city apartment in the McWhirters building for $599,000, after buying it in 2009 for $465,000. When the property was listed for sale, Jessica said if the walls could talk, they'd have some wild stories to tell. 'There have been some awesome parties in this apartment, I also really do love to host dinner parties,' she said. 'I had my friend's hen's party here and have had lots of other musicians over to jam.' Landsborough In 2020 Lisa and Jessica sold a 2.7ha property in Landsborough for $770,000 after buying is in March 2019 for $695,000. The property included a three bedrooms home with two master suites, a huge shed with granny flat and a spa. 'It has been a dream living on the Sunshine Coast, so close to Australia Zoo, and among the most beautiful hiking trails and beaches in the world,' the duo said when the property was listed for sale. Bowen Hills Lisa sold her Bowen Hills townhouse in 2021 for $815,000. The property had been her Australian home base for more than 12 years. At the time, the pop star said 'a lot of music' was made in the three-bedroom, two-bathroom home. 'I lived there with Mummy and Jessie, so I have a lot of really beautiful memories,' she said. Gold Coast Jessica and her fiancee Alex Smith bought a double-storey apartment on the Gold Coast for $1.73m in 2023 with plans to renovate. The beachfront two-bedroom, two-bathroom home had terracotta floor tiles, a dated kitchen and a leaking roof in the bathroom. The couple said they had grand plans for the unit. 'We want it to feel like it has a lot of personality. We want it to be a little eccentric,' Jessica said. While these iconic Queensland acts didn't make the Hottest 100 of Australian Songs cut, they too once called a slice of the sunshine state home. KEITH URBAN Country music star and husband of Nicole Kidman, Keith Urban grew up in Caboolture, just north of Brisbane. At one point he lived on an acreage block on Pumicestone Rd with his family. The property is not visible from the road but the 'Days Go By' singer did revisit the home in 2005, chatting with the new owners and a horse from his childhood named Gypsy, according to a Sunshine Coast Daily report from 2006. It is also believed the Urban family once called a little weatherboard home on Douglas Tce in Caboolture home at one point during Keith's childhood. The home still stands and has and estimated value of $665,000. THE BEE GEES The Redcliffe Peninsula's most famous export, the Bee Gees once called an old cottage on Tramore St, Margate, home. Unfortunately, the property was gutted in a fire in 2012. The property was one of several Barry, Robin and Maurice Gibb lived in while growing up in the area. Post-fire, the empty block sold for $350,000 and then again in 2021 for $535,000 before a house was built on the land. THE SAINTS A modest tin and timber building at 4 Petrie Tce was once the share house, rehearsal space and live venue for The Saints, with a shopfront space at the front of the home becoming known as 'Club 76'. The rock band formed in 1973 and singer Christ Bailey moved into the Petrie Tce home in 1976. Due to the place being unlicensed and unregulated, its time as a music venue lasted only until early 1977. The home is now a commercial property with a number of businesses having operated from the former 'Club 76', including a law firm and a digital marketing agency.
