National Cherry Festival Writing Competition 2022

Celebrating 40 years at Young 1982–1922

Categories were: 

• Short Story Adult Section
• Poetry Adult Section
• Short Story School Students Section Yrs 7-8-9
• Short Story School Students Section Yrs 10-11-12
• Poetry School Students Section Yrs 7-8-9
• Poetry School Students Section Yrs 10-11-12
• Short Story Junior Primary Section Yrs 1-2-3
• Short Story Junior Primary Section Yrs 4-5-6
• Poetry Junior Primary Section Yrs 1-2-3
• Poetry Junior Primary Section Yrs 4-5-6

The full 

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2022 FAW Jean Stone Poetry Award 

Winner: 
‘From Impermanence’, David Atkinson, Beecroft NSW. 

Short listed: 

‘Under Opal Skies‘, Nola Vickery, Frenchs Forest NSW 
‘Beauty in the Breeze‘, Rod Fransisco, Ooralea, QLD
‘Lewis (1934 – )‘, Allan Lake, Elwood VIC
‘The Writing on the Sea’,

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There were 125 entries in this year’s Marjorie Barnard Award and I enjoyed reading them all. I expected many would have the pandemic either as the focus of the story or at least in the background, but there were only three, and only one in which COVID 19 was central to the action of the story. 

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The quality of the entries was very good. The winner and the commended stories were of a very high standard. I found difficulty in choosing a commended story. Those whose stories are shortlisted have high potential as creative writers.

Many writers had an imaginative story line and fell down when they didn’t deliver with tight writing.

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Good People

by Jodie Kewley, Red Hill South, Victoria

His mother hardly spoke on the long drive home, which suited him. She asked if he wanted the radio on and he said no. She asked if he wanted to stop at Maccas and he said no.

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The Voice of Nothing 

by Nathan Mackrill, Year 11, Barker College

Is it the sea you hear in me?
Its dissatisfactions?
Or the voice of nothing, that was your madness?
~ ‘Elm’, by Sylvia Plath

The only word I could find to describe the silence between us was ‘crushing’.

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Decomposition

by Amelie Jenkins, Year 8, St. Scholastica’s College

My heart has begun to blister, it too giving in to death. Would it be selfish that a small part of me wishes it had fought harder?

To know that you weren’t enough,

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To a Better Future 

by Rachel Theresia, Year 5, Abbotsleigh Junior School 

There I was, as a wax statue. I was in the History of Famous Inventors Museum which was built in 2040, staring at my sculpture while children in their school uniforms tried to take photos of themselves with it.

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When He Was Here 

by Astrid Esslinger, Year 4, Austinmer Public School.

When he was here it was brilliant, magical in fact. But when he was called to go to war, sadness drowned me. He marched boldly to fight for his country.

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RESULTS SHEET (3-page PDF 164K)

From the Competition Co-ordinator…

Thank you to the teachers and parents who encouraged the students to enter. They came from distant parts and all states and territories of Australia, as did local schools who supported our competition. All told, we had 225 entries in the school section and in the adult sections,

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By Cate Plink, Competition Convenor

Well, what a year we’ve had with our competitions this year.

There were 125 entries in the Marjorie Barnard competition, far more than in recent years. The standard of the entries was also high as well.

Hilarie Lindsay competition drew 215 entries.

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National Cherry Festival Writing Competition 

Lambing Flat FAW branch – celebrating 38 years at Young 1982 – 2020

ADULT SHORT STORY SECTION

First Place: Mad Molly Jenny McLoughlin Arundel, QLD Second Place: Menopaws David DoddSapphire Beach, NSW Highly Commended: I Mean Colin CampbellHolt, ACT Highly Commended: How Did That HappenJanice Williams Stawell, VICCommended: Layers Of Conflict Janice WilliamsStawell,…

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By Cate Plink, Competition Convenor

This year has been a different year for us all. We have learned many lessons in coping with a change in our circumstances. In spite of this, I was pleased to note that both the Jean Stone and the Hilarie Lindsay competitions had as many,

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Fictional Short Story 

First Place: ‘The Station Master’, Patricia Rawlinson, Horsefield Bay, NSW.

Second Place: ‘The Stranger’, Janeen Samuel, Morgiana, VIC. 

Highly Commended:
‘Olga’, Karen Lieversz, Cowan, NSW 
‘Chill’, Nellie Crawford, Freemantle, WA 
‘Last Night’, Tania Park,

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Australian Catholic University (ACU) is thrilled to announce the winners for the ACU 2020 Prize for Poetry in celebration of the theme ‘Generosity’.

The ACU Prize for Poetry recognises and supports the importance of poetry in Australian culture and the part it can play in the spiritual life of both those writing it and those reading it.

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Writing NSW is delighted to announce the 2020 fellowships have been awarded to Kylie Boltin and Eleanor Kirk.

Kylie Boltin was awarded the general fellowship for her novel, Snake Bite. With striking prose and a voice which will stay with the reader, Kylie explores cultural identity and systemic misogyny. 

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