Community & Business
21 October, 2025
Winners announced for Country Press NSW Inc. 125th Anniversary Writing Competition
As a special condition, competitors were required to include a mention of the “local newspaper” as part of their stories.
To commemorate the anniversary of Australia’s oldest print media association, founded in 1900, a creative writing competition has been successfully held in the readership areas of Country Press NSW Inc. member newspapers across the state.
Entries were received from Aberdeen, Alstonville, Bakers Swamp, Barham, Bathurst, Blakney Creek, Blayney, Bombala, Broken Hill, Bumberry, Cessnock, Cooma, Coonabarabran, Coonamble, Corowa, Cowra, Darlington Point, Deniliquin, Dubbo, Eden, Fern Bay, Finley, Forbes, Forster-Tuncurry, Gilgandra, Gloucester, Gollan, Grenfell, Gunnedah, Guyra, Jerilderie, Jerrara, Kiama, Lismore, Little Bay, Manildra, Merewether, Moama, Moruya, Mudgee, Mumbil, Muswellbrook, Narrabri, Narromine, Newcastle, Nowra, Nyngan, Orange, Parkes, Portland, Sandy Creek, Shoalhaven, Walcha, Wanganella, Warilla, Wellington, Woongarrah, Wyoming, and Young.
As a special condition, competitors were required to include a mention of the “local newspaper” as part of their stories.
The competition was sponsored by agribusiness company, Manildra Group, which enabled entry to be free for primary and secondary students, and the general country public, with a total of 178 stories being entered overall.
Country Press NSW Inc. President Lucie Peart thanks the Honan family, owners of Manildra Group, for their generous support in making this event a success, particularly for the country children and teenagers who have taken part.
Country Press NSW Inc. also expresses its gratitude to the Fellowship of Australian Writers (NSW), which provided the judging panel.
PRIMARY STUDENT CATEGORY RESULTS
Lettie Schofield of Forbes was awarded first place from 65 entries in the Primary Students section of the Country Press NSW 125th Anniversary Writing Competition.
In her official report, judge Jenny England, of the Fellowship of Australian Writers (NSW), said Lettie’s story, “Why Can’t We Go To Town?,” stood out due to her creativity at her young age.
Lettie, a Year Three student at St Laurence’s Parish School, entered the competition with the encouragement and support of her classroom teacher, Ms Carmen Spry.
Second place in the Primary Students category went to Teddy Spicer for his story, “The Teddies and the Terminator” and third place went to Leo Brouff, Boree, for his entry, “The Grand Final.” Both are students from St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School, Manildra.
SECONDARY STUDENT CATEGORY RESULTS
Entries were smaller than expected in this category but the quality of stories put forward was still satisfactory, according to judge Ian Keast of FAW (NSW).
First place was won by Year Nine student Marley Ava Ferres of Finley, for her composition, “Mummy’s Hero.”
Second place went to Max Burrows, a Year 12 student from Broken Hill, who penned the short story, “Letter to My Younger Self”.
Third place went to Year Seven student Nelly Tink of Narromine, for her entry, “Buried Truths.”
ADULT OPEN CATEGORY RESULTS
The Adult Open category saw the largest field of entries in the competition, with 74 stories adjudicated by FAW (NSW) judge Jackie Laing.
First place was awarded to Vickie Walker of Orange for her story, “Secrets and Lies.”
Whilst most entries in the Open section were written about contemporary life, “Secrets and Lies” was penned as a historical tragedy set in colonial Australia.
Second place in Adult Open went to Rupert Stanthorpe, Walcha, for “A Dog Shouldn’t Go to a Wedding” while third place was won by Christine Johnston, Wyoming, for “A Physical Thing.”
NEWSPAPER CATEGORY
In this last category, which was for only for Country Press NSW newspaper staff and contributors, 15 newspapers took part: Koondrook & Barham Bridge, Gilgandra Weekly, Gunnedah Times, Coonamble Times, Forster Fortnightly, Narromine Star, Lismore Times, Wellington & District Leader, Young Witness, The Bugle, Newcastle Weekly, Orange City Life, Coonabarabran Times, The Courier, Hunter River Times.
The Newspaper Category was judged by FAW (NSW) State President Colleen Parker.
First place, with a score of 95 per cent, was awarded to the Lismore Times for “A Death in the Family” (story by George Bentnall).
Second place, with a score of 90 per cent, was given to Koondrook & Barham Bridge for “Seven Days” (story by Alison Bohn).
Third place, with a score of 85 per cent, went to the Narromine Star for “When the River Runs Dry” (story by Sharon Bonthuys).
ENCOURAGEMENT AWARDS TO RUNNER-UP WRITERS
A further 13 writers from all areas of the state have been chosen for a President’s Encouragement Award in the Country Press NSW Inc. 125th Anniversary Writing Competition.
They will each receive a $40 Collins Bookshop gift voucher, to support their future creative writing endeavours.
The recipients are:
Gillian Wherrett, Coonabarabran, “There Once Was A Forest”
Frida Fernandes, Kiama, “Speak Up”
Eileen Auriac, Tuncurry, “A Musical Path”
Dermot Lynch, Coonamble, “Outback Mayhem”
Jaxon O’Grady, Wellington, “No Boxers In The Stadium”
Ameerah Clancy, Deniliquin, “A Hideous Monster Terrifies Locals”
Jaden Ing, Aberdeen, “The Rooftop Awakening”
Bruce Wilson, Cessnock, “Sunrise On A New Harvest”
Philippa Yelland, Blakney Creek, “Cappucinos and Cockatoos”
Imogen Jones, Wellington, “The Burnt Newspaper Shop”
Neal Morris, Gunnedah, “Million Dollar Barra”
Sally Pratt, Gilgandra, “Percy’s Last Day”
Zara Ryan, Wellington, “The Library Incident”
