Three incredible writers haven made history by becoming the first joint winners in the Short Story Section of the 2021 Banjo Paterson Writing Awards and impressive writing featured in the ABC Radio Children’s Awards. We are pleased to announce the winners:

Short Story: Joint winners: Co-authors Sagamba Muhira and James Page; and Carmel Lillis:

Sagamba Muhira

James Page

1st Co-authors Sagamba Muhira, Townsville QLD, and James Page, Redcliffe QLD – Out of Africa

And joint winner:

Carmel Lillis

1^st Carmel Lillis, Yarraville VIC –  Laughing like children

Contemporary Poetry

Mark O’Flynn

1^st Prize, Mark O’Flynn, Katoomba  NSW – Interesting times we could all do without

ABC Radio Children’s Awards

Lola Stafford

1^st Lola Stafford, Billywilliga near Bathurst NSW – Story – One Land …Two People

2^nd Sybilla Chapman, Bathurst NSW – Poem – Our Underwater Aussie Garden

3^rd Luke Favantines, Mt Victoria NSW – Poem – Light and Dark

Congratulations to all who entered the awards and the 2021 winners!!!

Banjo Paterson Writing Awards Winners 2020

Congratulations to all the entrants in the 2020 Banjo Paterson Writing Awards. We are pleased to announce the winners:

Short Story

Literally the worst by Jaclyn Riley-Smith of Margate, TAS – formerly of Orange.

Contemporary Poetry

Aurora Australis by Joanne Mills, Darlington, WA.

ABC Central West Radio Children’s Writing Awards

1st The Crow by Maxyn Dorz, Korora, NSW

2nd Decimation by Sebastian Merrell, Orange, NSW

3rd Alone Together by Jessica Grabham, Marrickville, NSW

Happy Birthday Banjo Paterson!!! And it is time to announce the call for entries in the 2020 Banjo Paterson Writing Awards with generous prizes for Short Story, Contemporary Poetry and ABC Central West Radio Children’s Awards. These awards established in 1991 honour Banjo Paterson, a great Australian writer and favourite son of Orange with a competition to foster writing with Australian content.  Entry forms are now available. Entries close on Friday 24 April and winners are announced on Saturday 1 August at the Orange Readers and Writers Festival.

Play your part in history and unearth the footings of Templer’s Mill. An archaeological dig will be held to expose the footings of the historic Templer’s Mill site at Banjo Paterson Park, Ophir Road, Orange.

Attend the Community Day on Saturday 2 November from 9am to 5pm. There will also be community digs from Tuesday 5 November to Friday 8 November at 2.45pm to 4pm. School groups are also invited to take part during the week. Please book your place online via eventbrite.com or call 6393 8120 by Friday afternoon 5pm.

Thank you to everyone who entered this year’s Banjo Paterson Writing Awards. We just wanted to let you know we received  70 Short Story entries, 85 Bush Poetry and 84 Open Poetry and 40 Entries in the ABC Radio Children’s Writing Awards.

The entries are with the judges and winners will be announced on Monday 23 June.