Local writers recognised

SOME of the region’s best storytellers have been celebrated at this year’s Moorabool Writers’ Awards.

More than 150 community members celebrated the Peter Carey Short Story Awards and Moorabool Young Writers’ Awards.

Head Judge Andrew Roff selected the winners of the Peter Carey award from a shortlist of seven stories.

“It’s the part that lingers in my memory that kept me thinking about all of these shortlisted stories for weeks after I’d read them,” he said.

The winner was The Book of Empirical Observations by Amanda Hildebrandt, while Well Past Milking Hour by Patrick Eades was named runner up.

The honourable mention went to Body Pillow by Jane O’Sullivan and the best local entry was We Won Tickets to the Waterpark in a Radio Competition by Jamie Castellas.

The theme for this year’s Young Writers’ Awards was ‘write where you are.’ Local author Allyse Near was the head judge.

The winner of the youth award from years seven to 12 was The Half-Church by Kate Nicholson.

The Ghost by Serena Barker and The Arsonist by Eli Butler won the middle and upper primary awards respectively.

Ayden Apap, Leo Cianciarulo, Elsie Cricchiola, Lila Staub, Hannah Whitelaw, Maddison Smith won emerging writers awards in the foundation to year two category.