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Mayor's Writing Competition

Entries are open for the 2025 Mayors Writing Competition.

We take great pride in this competition, which aims to inspire and motivate young minds.

Every year, we invite budding authors aged 5 to 18, to submit their original literary works. Entrants must be residents or attend school in Eurobodalla.

We encourage participants to let their creativity flow. You could write a short story, essay, poem, or any other style of creative writing. The only rules are:

  • your entry meets the word limit for your age group (outlined in the terms and conditions)
  • your entry includes this year's theme, Friendship.

Every year, we receive a flood of entries, and our judges have the challenging task of selecting the prize-winners. We award prizes to the most imaginative and unique narratives.

2025 theme: Friendship

This year's theme, selected by Mayor Mathew Hatcher is Friendship.

Key dates

  • Entries open Monday, 24 March 2025.
  • Entries close Friday, 4 July 2025, 11.59 pm.
  • Finalists will be notified in September 2025.
  • Winners will be announced Wednesday, 22 October 2025.

To enter

Submit your entry

  • By email to: Mayor's Writing Competition
  • In person at your local library
  • By post to: Mayor's Writing Competition, ESC Libraries, PO Box 99, Moruya NSW 2537

Writing tips

  • Develop a unique concept and build on it through your story.
  • Create a ‘sparkling start’.
  • Plan a beginning, middle and end; build tension and an interesting problem your characters solve.
  • Share your characters’ changing feelings and goals, so readers care what happens next.
  • Create a plot that is memorable and unexpected (would your friends talk about it?).

  • Use clear, descriptive language that brings readers into your story – call on all five senses and use powerful imagery (similes; metaphors).
  • Build your ‘world’ (setting) with interesting and unique details.
  • Introduce characters with memorable details and have them speak to move the story forward (dialogue).

  • Is your story concept original, interesting and exciting and appealing?
  • Is the theme Friendship incorporated?
  • What’s that ‘special something’ that readers will remember about your story?
  • Does your story help readers learn; make them think; make them laugh and/or cry?
  • Does your story change its characters and/or your readers in some way? If your characters learn a lesson, your readers will too.

Sponsored by:

Bendigo Bank logo
Eurobodalla Council, Eurobodalla Libraries and Mayor's Writing Competition logos

More information

To find out more about this competition contact your local library:

Batemans Bay Library

Opening hours

  • Monday to Friday, 10am to 5pm
  • Saturday, 10am to 12.30pm
  • Closed Sunday and public holidays

Moruya Library

Opening hours

  • Monday to Friday, 10am to 5pm
  • Saturday, 10am to 12.30pm
  • Closed Sunday and public holidays

Basil Sellers Exhibition Center (the Bas)

Opening hours

Open Monday to Saturday during exhibitions, 10am - 4pm
Access to the Bas (including ramp access) will be via Murray Street after 12.30pm on Saturdays.

Closed Sundays, public holidays and between exhibitions.

Narooma Library

Opening hours

  • Monday to Friday, 10am to 5pm
  • Saturday, 10am to 12.30pm
  • Closed Sunday and public holidays