Tribute to Dr Moya Costello

Moya Costello (1952–2025) was a writer of rare depth, a teacher of profound empathy, and a creative force whose influence rippled across generations.

At Southern Cross University, Moya served as a Lecturer in Creative Writing from 2008 to 2017, later continuing as an Adjunct Lecturer. Her teaching was marked by generosity, rigour, and a deep respect for the creative process. She mentored countless students, encouraging them to find their voices and challenge conventions. Her work at Southern Cross was not just about instruction, it was about transformation.

Moya encouraged writing students and their work in the University’s student-led literary journal Coastlines, as well as through annual readings at the Lismore Regional Gallery.

Moya published five books, including Kites in Jakarta, Small Ecstasies, The Office as a Boat, and Harriet Chandler, blending short fiction, prose poetry, and experimental narratives. Her writing appeared in scholarly journals, anthologies, and exhibition catalogues, and she was a frequent contributor to literary discourse through reviews and essays.

Moya’s research interests extended to wine writing, as a ‘passionate amateur’, and ecocritical prose poetry work based on visits to the Medicinal Plant Herbarium at Southern Cross University, the well-received ‘Pressed Specimens’.

Her contributions extended beyond academia. Moya was a recipient of multiple writing grants and fellowships, including support from the Australia Council and Arts SA. She held residencies at Varuna and Monash University, and was a guest at numerous writers’ festivals, where she read her work and judged competitions.

Moya Costello’s legacy is one of courage, curiosity, and compassion. She made the world more eclectic through her writing and more humane through her teaching. Southern Cross University, and all who knew her, mourn her loss and celebrate the indelible mark she left behind.