Lismore writer shines in milestone Seniors’ Stories

LISMORE-based writer Mary-Jane Gibson has been featured in the milestone tenth edition of Seniors’ Stories, celebrating the experiences of NSW seniors.

The Seniors’ Stories writing competition was introduced by NSW Seniors Card in 2013 to recognise the experiences of NSW seniors and foster connections between generations.

Each year, the top 100 stories are selected and published, with copies distributed to authors and libraries across the state.

NSW Minister for Seniors Jodie Harrison said this year’s competition attracted a near-record number of entries.

“We saw one of the highest submission rates this year with over 500 short stories shared with our judging panel from across NSW for the milestone tenth edition of Seniors’ Stories,” Ms Harrison said.

Ms Gibson, 69, was selected for her story titled The Recipe of Me, which appears on page 186 of the collection.

Lismore MP Janelle Saffin said Ms Gibson was “on a roll” after her authentic voice and engaging writing style was featured in Seniors’ Stories for the second year in a row.

“This is a back-to-back achievement of which she can be very proud,” Ms Saffin said.

Ms Gibson’s story, written as a recipe, explores her heritage – Irish, Scottish, English, and Australian.

She reflects on her childhood spent climbing trees, enjoying Paddle Pops on the beach, and growing up as a Catholic.

This year’s theme, What Made Me, inspired stories of hardship, resilience, life-changing moments, and generational lessons in the 260-page book.

The competition is open to all Seniors Card and Senior Savers Card holders, offering an opportunity to showcase diverse cultures, backgrounds, and languages through lived experiences.Seniors’ Stories Volume 10 will be available at libraries across NSW by the end of November and can also be downloaded as a PDF or audiobook from the NSW Seniors Card website.