Mayor's Writing Competition

The annual Mayor’s Writing Competition aims to encourage young people who live or go to school in Eurobodalla to get writing.

Each year, young authors between the ages of five and 18 are invited to submit an original work. Entrants can submit a short story, essay, poem, or any style of creative writing as long as the writing adheres to word limits set out in the terms and conditions.

Each year we receive a flood of entries in the form of short stories, poems and essays. To select the prize-winning entries from hundreds of submissions, the judges award the most imaginative and unique plots.

2023 theme: Change

This year's theme, Change, is chosen by Mayor Mathew Hatcher and needs to be incorporated in your entry.

Entries are closed

• Entries opened on Monday 22 May 2023.
• Entries closed on Friday 25 August 2023, 5pm
• Finalists will be notified then names will be published on this page between 25 - 29 September 2023.

Prizes

The overall winner of the Syd Hayes Creative Writing Award will receive:

• a handcrafted pen created by local artist Richard Turley
• the Mayor's Writing Competition Perpetual Shield to display at the winner’s school
• a Syd Hayes Creative Writing Award Certificate.

Category winners will receive:

• a Mogo Wildlife Park Family Pass
• a $50 book voucher from Moruya Books
• inclusion in the 2023 Mayor’s Writing Competition Anthology
• a Winner certificate.

Category runners-up will receive:

• a Mogo Wildlife Park single pass
• Years K-4 – a stationery pack plus a $30 book voucher from Moruya Books
• Years 5-12 – a Parker pen from Bay Office Supplies plus a $30 book voucher from Moruya Books
• inclusion in the 2023 Mayor’s Writing Competition Anthology
• a Runner up certificate.

Recipients of Encouragement Awards will receive:

• a Mogo Wildlife Park single pass
• Years K-6 – a small stationery pack
• Years 7-12 – a Parker pen from Bay Office Supplies
• inclusion in the 2023 Mayor’s Writing Competition Anthology
• an Encouragement Award certificate.

Recipients of Special Mentions will receive:

• a Mogo Wildlife Park single pass
• Inclusion in the 2023 Mayor’s Writing Competition Anthology
• a Special Mention certificate.

The 2022 Mayor’s Writing Competition anthology is available to view in the Eurobodalla Libraries online catalogue.

More information

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

Sponsored by

The 2023 Mayor's Writing Competition is sponsored by Moruya books, Mogo Wildlife Park and Office Choice - Bay Office Supplies.