Mayor's Writing Competition
The Mayor's Writing Competition is over for another year. A huge congratulations to everyone who entered and especially to our 2025 award recipients.
The theme this year was Friendship, selected by Mayor Mathew Hatcher. We received nearly 400 entries, making the judging process both challenging and highly competitive.
Judge Tracey Lee said:
“As an author and teacher, nothing brings greater joy than seeing young people embrace the world of writing. Their characters and stories reflect interesting world views, wonderful imagination, and, in many ways, their deep hope. Writing is not just a skill, it’s a gift, and it was quite the privilege to read the work of our young wordsmiths.”
Judge Kim Ulrick said:
“Being a judge for the Mayor's Writing Competition is a unique opportunity to encourage children and young people in our region to embrace their own voice and tell their own stories. I thoroughly enjoyed reading the entries and look forward to the continued success of the competition in the years to come.”
2025 winners
The awards presentation, held on Wednesday 22 October 2025, was a great success.
The 2025 Mayor’s Writing Competition anthology is available to borrow from the Eurobodalla Libraries online catalogue. Hard copies can be borrowed from our libraries.
Winner: Reis Gaspari-Nicholls from Carroll College
Winner: The Ladybugs by Charlotte Greenlees
Runner-up: The Friendship of a Boy and a Penguin by Eimear
Encouragement: Friendship Hugs by Alexis
Special mentions:
- My Friends by Alfie MacKay
- New Friends by Edward MacKay
Winner: Friendship by Joy Puza
Runner-up: Evil vs Friendship by Charlotte Hatcher
Encouragement: Steve and Bob by Layne Cowling
Special mentions:
- The Fairy Team Quest One: The Locket by Elalia Porteous
- My Friend from Another Planet by Alexander Klekowska
- Party Bus Dilemma by Romy Skinner
Winner: Seasons in the Mirror by Taylor Bartulovich
Runner-up: The Lady Bird and the Bee by Kaito Hay
Encouragement: The Creepy, Crooked Forest by Milton Weston
Special mentions:
- Emilia and Ellie - The Trunk Full of Friendship by Emilia Klekowska
- The Evil Pizza Teacher by Pip Dandie
- Wings of Friendship by Charlotte Ward
Winner: The Sturdy Oak Tree by Savannah Scullard
Runner-up: Forever Home by Willow Killen
Encouragement: Invasion by James Gunn
Special mentions:
- Friendship in Tilba by William Jones
- The Eclipse Child by Riley Newcombe
- Friendship by Violet Pearman
Winner: Cradled by the Moon by Poppy
Runner-up: Light in the Dark by Zara McCarthy
Encouragement: Connected by Scarlett James
Winner: The Friend I Wish I Had by Emma Carter
Runner-up: Echo by Zara Hall
Encouragement: In Every Universe by Daisy West
Special mention:
- Your Made Me by Evelyn Bailey
Winner: The Girl and the Wren by Reis Gaspari-Nicholls
Runner-up: Home by Emma Walters
Encouragement: Fading Echoes by Sophie Barling
Special mentions:
- Praying Mantis by Erin Drewsen
- Loss by Gabrielle Liu
- Friends of New Hope by Aliza Vagg
A special mention to our sponsor, Community Bank Batemans Bay Bendigo Bank, for their continued support of this fantastic competition.
Sponsored by:
More information
To find out more about this competition contact your local library:
Batemans Bay Library
- Hanging Rock Place, Batemans Bay
- T: 4472 5850
- E: Batemans Bay Library
Opening hours
- Monday to Friday, 10am to 5pm
- Saturday, 10am to 12.30pm
- Closed Sunday and public holidays
Moruya Library
- Vulcan Street, Moruya
- T: 4474 1333
- E: 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)
- On the corner of Vulcan and Campbell streets, Moruya
- T: 4474 7355
- E: hello@thebas.com.au
- W: 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
- Field Street, Narooma
- T: 4476 1164
- E: Narooma Library
Opening hours
- Monday to Friday, 10am to 5pm
- Saturday, 10am to 12.30pm
- Closed Sunday and public holidays