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!!!

The Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA) has presented the prestigious HCL Anderson Award to Jan Richards AM FALIA (CP) in recognition of her outstanding service to the industry, domestically and internationally. 

In addition to her role as Manager, Central West Libraries, NSW, she is also Chair of the ALIA Public Libraries Advisory Committee; former Chair of the IFLA Standing Committee on Public Libraries; and a member of the Library Council of New South Wales. Jan Richards was to be presented the award at ALIA National 2020 Conference but due to COVID-19 this event was cancelled.

The HCL Anderson Award is the Association’s highest honour that can be bestowed on an Associate Member of ALIA. The award commemorates HCL Anderson, principal librarian of the Free Public Library of New South Wales, 1893–1906. Anderson created a collection and service policy to give his infant colonial library a stature of national importance.

Congratulations to Jan on this incredible achievement.

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

One previous winner, one thrice-shortlisted novelist, one Australian, two US authors and five imprints. This is what makes up the shortlist for this year’s Man Booker Prize for Fiction. The shortlist is: To Rise Again at a Decent Hour by Joshua Ferris, The Narrow Road to the Deep North by Richard Flanagan, J by Howard Jacobson, The Lives of Others by Neel Mukherjee, We are All Completely Beside Ourselves by Karen Joy Fowler and How to be Both by Ali Smith. What’s your pick for the winner?

Eleanor was presented the Yvonne Zola Encouragement Award at Orange CIty Library.

ABC Radio Central West hosted an awards ceremony for local winners of the Banjo Paterson Writing Awards. Orange Mayor Cr John Davis presented short story 3rd prize winner Neville Smith with his prize for the amusing short story The Accountant.

Mitchell was presented first prize including a commemorative Banjo Paterson coin for his poem  A refugee lost in the sea.  Jemima won second prize for her poem Dusk and Mary was presented 3rd prize for her short story The Locket.

The Yvonne Zola Encouragement Award for an Orange-based writer was presented to Eleanor for her poem Letters Home at the Library prior to the school holidays.

Congratulations to all the winners and those who entered the awards. And a BIG thank you to the judges and supporters The Central Western Daily, ABC Central West Radio and the community.