Conditions: 2025 Rae Cerhan Australiana Ballad Competition

Poetry Competition

In appreciation of Rae Alison Cehan for her bequest in 2022.

Entries closed at 6.00pm AEDT Friday 31 October 2025.

1. The Award is for a ballad with an Australian theme, up to 100 lines. 
2. Entrants must be permanent residents of Australia. 
3. Submitted entries must not have previously been published, nor be under consideration for publication. Entries may have been entered in other competitions but not won a monetary prize. 
4. Multiple entries are permitted, a separate Entry Form must be submitted with each entry. 
5. Entries are to be submitted via the online form available on the FAW website at www.fawnsw.org.au.  
6. Entry Fee is $18.00 per entry. Payment of the Entry Fee is to be made online from within the Entry Form. 
7. Entries must be in Word format or they will be disqualified.* 
8. For those unable to use the online form or the online payment system, a copy of the Entry Form can be forwarded upon request by email to the competition convenor Cate Plink at  
9. The author’s identity must appear on the Entry Form ONLY. The author’s name must NOT appear on either the manuscript. 
10. Only page number and title of the poem to appear on the manuscript.
11. The author retains copyright to all work submitted, although prize-winning entries must be available for publication in the Fellowship’s bulletin Writers Voice and on the FAW NSW website. Unsuccessful entries will not be returned.  
12. Entries must be original, creative and inspiring works. 
14. The judge’s decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into. There will be no individual appraisals. 

THE PRIZES: 
1st Place $600; 2nd Place $200; 3rd Place $100

All shortlisted entries will be notified via email once judging has been completed. Judge’s report and short list will be on the FAW website. The winners will be announced at the Awards luncheon in May 2026.

For any further information please contact the Competition Convenor, Cate Plink
Email: . Phone 0492 833 522. 

* For assistance converting to Word from another format, please contact .