Three incredible writers haven made history by becoming the first joint winners in the Short Story Section of the Banjo Paterson Writing Awards.
The Banjo Paterson Writing Awards were established in Orange in 1991 to honor this great Australian writer. He is The awards are launched each year on the anniversary of Banjo’s birth (17 February) and close in April. The Awards attract interest from all over Australia and are of a consistently high standard.
Bathurst and Mountains locals were among the winners this year, in what was a very high calibre competition.
Orange Mayor Reg Kidd thanked everyone who entered and said the quality of the entries received from across the country were testament to the awards’ high regard within the writing community.
Entries were received in three categories: Short Story, Contemporary Poetry and the ABC Radio Children’s Awards.
The joint winners were Sagamba Muhira of West End, Queensland and James Page of Eventide, NSW.
The Contemporary Poetry award was won by Mark O’Flynn of Katoomba with his poem Interesting times we could all do without.
The ABC Radio Children’s Award was won by 11-year-old Lola Stafford of Billywilliga, NSW, with her story One Land Two People.
“Told in an engaging and conversational tone, the four vignettes portray the different feelings of the two characters – a European girl and an Aboriginal girl. Each vignette reflects the feelings of the characters about the landing and their reactions to it. This is emphasised by the cleverly repeating lines at the end of their soliloquies.” The judges commented about Lola’s work.
Second place went to Sybilla Chapman of Bathurst with her poem Our Underwater Aussie Garden and third place to Luke Favantines of Mount Victoria with his poem Light and Dark.
Orange City Council’s Services Committee Chair Cr Scott Munro said an award presentation could not be held due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but all winners had received their prizes and certificates.
“All of the winning entries can be read on the Central West Libraries’ website at www.cwl.nsw.gov.au and I encourage everyone to take the time to read these outstanding works,” Cr Munro said.
Pictured Lola Stafford, ABC Radio Children’s Award Winner
