Writers Voice September 2011 - Fellowship of Australian Writers NSW

Competition Results
results: eastwood/hills faw
2011 literary coMpetition
SHorT STorY
Judges: Barbara Haworth & Jacqui Winn *
First: ‘Get Teddy’, Gayle Beveridge (Vic)
Second: ‘The Runner’, Fiona Regan (Vic)
Highly Commended: ‘The Puzzle Woman’, Michelle Lopert (NSW);
‘Of Coffee, Vegetables and Hair Colour’, Susan McCreery (NSW)
Commended: ‘Passengers Will Please Refrain’, Janeen Samuel
(Vic); ‘Conundrum’, Kerrin O’Sullivan (Vic); ‘The Toughest Job in
Australia’, Gary Hurle (Vic); ‘Whatever!’, Vikki Bye (Vic).
Pauline Walsh award for SHorT, SHorT STorY
Judges: Carmel Summers/Anne Benjamin*
First place: ‘Kegs in the Key of? ‘, Deb Hall (Vic)
Second place: ‘Floodtide ‘, David Campbell (Vic)
Highly Commended: ‘My Twenty-First Birthday Party ‘, Suzanne
Gaskell (Vic); ‘Bête Noire’, Margaret Dakin (Qld)
Commended: ‘One-Up-Man-Ship’, Steven Gepp (SA); ‘A Fairy Story’,
Mike Woodhouse (NSW); ‘Kiss the Blarney’, A. R. Holloway (SA);
‘Making Lisa Smile’, Vincent Morrison (NSW).
TraDiTionaL PoeTrY
Judges: Julie Thorndyke/Alice Suttie*
First: ‘My Grandmother’s Room’, Margaret Dakin (Qld)
Second: ‘Rainy Day’, Ellis Campbell (NSW)
Highly Commended: ‘Love among the ruins of youth’, Vicki
Harrold (NSW)
Commended: ‘To the fallen’ (Villanelle), Meryl Manoy (WA);
‘Why’ (Sonnet), David J. Delaney (QLD); ‘Smoke’ (Sonnet), Janeen
Samuel (VIC).
Free VerSe
Judges: Anne Howard/Beverley George*
First Place: ‘Raggedy Man’, David Campbell (Vic)
Second Place: ‘Beyond Blue ‘, David Terelinck (NSW)
Highly Commended: ‘The White Stone Road’, Jan Price (Vic);
‘Chasing the Gypsy’, Cynthia Rowe (NSW); ‘Wild Child’, David
Campbell (Vic)
Commended: ‘The unwritten blue ‘, Kevin Gillam (WA); ‘Return to
the Cyclades’, Susan McCreery (NSW); ‘Denial’, Jan Price (Vic).
MeMoir
Judges: Helena Hamilton/Mary Milton*
First: ‘Grandma’s Maid, Mary’, J. Pitman (Vic)
Second: ‘Remembering Poppy’, Christine Wright (Qld)
Highly Commended: ‘The Big Carrot Crisis’, A. McDonald (SA);
‘How I was cured of Cervical Cancer’, Hugh Kiernan (Vic)
Commended: ‘Two Little Kids, a Dividing Fence and a Passion
Fruit Vine’, Diana Harley (NSW); ‘Hello Dad’, Gail Midgley (NSW);
‘What a Shower’, Gail Midgley (NSW); ‘Infectious in the 1950s’,
Rosemary Baldry (NSW).
Boree Log award for BuSH VerSe
Judge: Brian Beesley*
First: ‘Nullabor Dreaming’, Brenda Joy (Qld)
Highly Commended: ‘The Bullrider’, Ellis Campbell (NSW);
‘My Riverina Home’, D. G. Adams (NZ)
Commended:‘The Old Mine’,Terry Piggott (WA);‘Evensong for Mary’,
Ellis Campbell (NSW); ‘The Barraba Drovers’, Tom McIlveen (NSW).
* Judges’ comments can be viewed at
results: faw north shore [FAWNS]
viBrant verse poetry coMpetition 2011
CaTeGorY a – Free VerSe:
1st Prize: ‘Roots’ by David Campbell.
2nd Prize: ‘Mungo Man Walking’ by Vickie Walker.
Highly Commended: ‘The Old Slab Hut’ by Judith A. Green.
Commended: ‘If you die too Early’ by John Collard; ‘Tides’ by
Anne Benjamin; ‘Lake Eyre’ by Hermione Browning.
CaTeGorY B – TraDiTionaL, rHYMeD PoeTrY:
1st Prize: ‘The Whale Boat’ by Zondrae King.
2nd Prize: ‘Solitude,’ a Villanelle by Jan Foster.
Highly Commended: ‘Cedar Box’ a Pantoum by Gail Hennessy.
Commended: ‘Royal Rex’ by Catherine Lee Clark; ‘Dreaming of
Uluru’ by Catherine Lee Clark; ‘A Poet’s Dream’ by Zondrae King.
Below is an extract from the Judges’ reports for the 2011 FAWNS
Vibrant Verse Poetry Competition. Full Judges’ comments for each
award winner are posted on the FAWNS website
juDGeS’ rePorT
The Vibrant Verse Competition this year, 2011, attracted
a good number of entries. There were 68 in the Free
Verse Section and 61 in the Rhymed/Traditional Verse.
The entries reflected many different styles and subjects,
which sustained the interest of the judges. It was good to
see Australian subjects and images in both categories.
Most poets took care how they crafted their poems,
both as to metre, rhyme, mood and imagery. For some,
greater attention needs to be given to these aspects in
both categories of poems. Citing a list of images does
not of itself make a poem, it is the substance which
gives these images life, and makes the poem. The flow of
thought, the purpose or message imparted to the reader,
the beginning and the ending are all important. It is
also evident that for a small number of entries, spelling
needs to be checked, as well as punctuation, before being
submitted.
Category a – Free Verse:
1st Prize: ‘Roots’ by David Campbell. A moving poem
which intensely reflects on memories and expresses
awareness of age and its infirmities. Life’s roots touch the
poet and through him the reader, through well crafted
images like “the house… folds protective arms around
her” and “crumbs bead her cardigan…” among others. The
rhythm suits the subject matter; it is well structured and
ends strongly.
Category B – Traditional, rhymed Poetry:
1st Prize: ‘The Whale Boat’ by Zondrae King. This is a
wonderful poem with great rhythm and consistent in
rhyme. The imagery and movement in the poem vary
to suit the livelier memories or the pathos the poem
requires. The beginning leads the reader into the saga.
It finishes with “again the universe and I are one” a
satisfying end for the old whale boat.
Visit us on the Internet at www.fawnsw.org.au WRITERS’ VOICE 233—SEPTEMBER 2011 19
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