Canberra’s literary community is reflecting on the life and contributions of publisher Stephen Matthews, founder of Ginninderra Press, who died under the Voluntary Assisted Dying program at his home in Port Adelaide on September 25. He was 78.

Matthews, a former manager of the ANU Co-op, founded the independent publisher Ginninderra Press in 1996 in Canberra, later moving to Adelaide.

In 2021 he received an Order of Australia Medal  for service to publishing and a Centenary Medal in 2003 for his contribution to the writing community and ongoing support for local authors, as well as a Canberra Critics Circle Award in 1997 for his “tireless contribution to the writing community.”

Educated at Cambridge University, Matthews taught high school history before emigrating to Australia and afterwards.

In 1996 in Canberra, he founded Ginninderra Press to publish new and emerging authors in poetry, memoir, history, novella, anthology and nonfiction prose.

He moved to Port Adelaide in 2008, but continued his interest in Canberra while progressing the business, adopting print-on-demand and compiling a series of chapbooks.

In response to the 2003 Canberra fires, he commissioned the book How Did the Fire Know We Lived Here? And as recently as March this year, Telling Australia’s Truth, 120 poems by Ginninderra Press authors, written after the result of the Voice referendum.

Matthews is remembered fondly by members of the literary community.

Present day Ginninderra Press owner Debbie Lee writes: “As a bookseller, Stephen was discerning and erudite and as well-read as they come… the milestones have been many. More than 3000 titles have been published, and in excess of 300,000 books sold.”

CityNews book reviewer Colin Steele recollects Matthews’ support of literary events and as a “wonderful manager of the Co-op bookshop before he founded the Ginninderra Press.”

Canberra poet Kathy Kituai, was published more than once by Matthews, notably as part of There is no Mystery! writings inspired by Lake George,  which she edited.

She speculates on how it would be had Matthews not published the book, saying that although she had received an ArtsACT grant to collect material and edit the work, it might not have been produced as professionally as it was by Ginninderra Press.

Kituai writes: “Think of the invaluable history about how Weereewa Lake George was a site once considered on which to build Canberra… that may have been lost, or poetry by Geoff Page, Steven Evens, Judy Johnston… along with Jenny Martiniello’s unforgettable Indigenous response, White mist arising.”

Stephen Matthews is survived by his poet wife Brenda.

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