Mayor's Short Story Writing Awards

MC Sammy J, Judge Else Fitzgerald and Coral Vass

18 plus Shortlist and winner Sascha Elk 2025

13-17 yrs Shortlist and winner Renee Kim 2025

8-12 yrs Shortlist and winner Raya Porter 2025

Councillor Cam Williams opens award ceremony 2025

Thank you for your Stories!

Thank you to everyone who entered this year’s Mayor’s Short Story Writing Awards — we've received a record number of entries across all age groups. Your stories reflect the creativity, diversity and heart of our local community.

These Awards are about encouraging writers of all abilities and celebrating the voices that make our region unique. Congratulations to our winners and highly commended writers. Thanks to the brilliant comedian Sammy J for once again hosting our presentation awards on Friday 12 September.

And the 2025 winners of the Mayor’s Short Story Writing Awards are…

8-12 Years

Winner: Raya P, 'What's Left Behind'(PDF, 57KB)

Highly Commended: Maya L, 'A Person Unknown'(PDF, 84KB)

Highly Commended: Miles G, 'Fallen Gums'(PDF, 84KB)

Winner: Mieka C, 'The Things We Carry'(PDF, 59KB)

Highly Commended: Renee K, 'Boiled Eggs'(PDF, 68KB)

Winner: Sascha Elk, 'Nest'(PDF, 100KB)

Highly Commended: Mattias Mazza, 'A Grave in the Mountains'(PDF, 120KB)

We’re grateful to our incredible judging panel:

✒️ Barry Reynolds – acclaimed screenwriter and author

✒️ Else Fitzgerald – award-winning speculative fiction writer

✒️ Monica Dux – memoirist and social commentator

✒️ Sam-Ellen Bound – renowned author of fantasy for young readers

✒️ Coral Vass – bestselling children’s author and literacy advocate

Thanks to our 2025 partner: Western Port Writes - supporting the Shortlist Committee for our 18+ entries.

Thanks to our sponsors: Antipodes Bookshop & Gallery, Farrells Bookshop, Petersen's Bookstore and Rosebud Book Barn.