Entries for the annual Mayor's Writing Competition are now open!

Once again, it is that time of year for budding young writers of the Eurobodalla to pull out their pen and paper, keyboard, or tablet and enter the 2023 Mayor’s Writing Competition.

Held for the past 14 years, the competition has celebrated and encouraged the literary talents of our community's young people aged between 5 and 18. The categories are Kindergarten, Years 1-2, Years 3-4, Years 5-6, Years 7-8, Years 9-10, and Years 11-12.

Once again:

• Finalists will win great prizes such as Family passes or an individual child pass to Mogo Zoo or book gift vouchers from Moruya Books and have their work published in the annual Mayor’s Writing Competition Anthology
• The overall winner will be presented with The Syd Hayes Creative Writing Award and will receive a beautiful, handcrafted pen by local artist, Richard Turvey.
• The winner of the Syd Hayes Creative Writing Award will also be presented with the MWC Perpetual Shield, to be displayed at their school for a year!

The theme for 2023, as selected by Mayor, Mathew Hatcher, is “CHANGE”.  All written submissions must incorporate the theme ‘change’.

Broulee Public School Year 5 student Zara McCarthy, who won her category in 2022 with her story Street Magic, said the competition offered opportunities for creativity and recognition.

"What I like about the Mayor's Writing Competition is that you get to let your imagination run wild. I love dreaming up characters and places and seeing my stories come to life,” she said.

"I was really proud to have Street Magic in the Mayor's Writing Competition anthology - it's amazing to see my story and many other wonderful stories as part of a book available in the library!"

The competition is open to children and youth who live or go to school in the Eurobodalla. Entries can be any style of creative writing. Finalists will be chosen by an expert panel of judges.

Entries close at 5pm on Friday 25 August. For more information, or to enter, visit the Mayor's Writing Competition webpage or call in to one of the Shire’s libraries.

We look forward to receiving your entries!

The Mayor’s Writing Competition is proudly sponsored by