The competition has an open theme and entrants may submit stories up to a maximum of 600 words. Entries must also be unpublished and not have received any previous awards or recognition in any other competition within or outside Australia.
In addition to the ‘Open’ category open to all writers, the Centre established a new category in 2015 entitled the ‘Novice Writer Award’. To be eligible for this category the writer must have never won a prose competition. This category was very successful last year and continues in 2019.
The ‘Novice Writer Award’ is to encourage beginning and fledgling writers to enter who may feel they have no chance against established writers entering the ‘Open’ category.
The competition also caters for youth with the ‘Judges Encouragement Award for Youth’ for young writers aged from 12-17 years to encourage and support the upcoming writers of the future.
The ‘Open’ category carries a $200 First Prize, with $100 for Second and $50 for Third Prize.
The ‘Novice Award’ is $50.
The ‘Judges Encouragement Award for Youth’ prize is $50
There are also four, Highly Commended and four Commended Certificates to be awarded in the competition.
Entry Fee: $10.00 each; $20.00 for three entries; $30.00 for five entries, $5.00 each for youth entries (12-17 years)
This competition is now closed.