Adult Short Story Section:

1st: There is a Room, Elizabeth McVie, Jilliby, NSW - A beautiful, moving story very well told. It tugged emotionally and finished well.

2nd: The Scribbler in the Attic, Nola Bindon, Yass, NSW - A lightly humorous tale told in the unusual present tense, with a strong central idea. Captures the imaginative teenage thinking very well.

Highly commended: The Toll of the Bell,  Mike Woodhouse, Mittagong, NSW - Good characterisation, well written with a neat, though not entirely unexpected ending.

Commended: Going to Ground, Wendy Hartley, Young, NSW - A clever story with two twists one after the other.  Well done.

Judge’s comments: Nearly all the entries spoke of “the man’ or “the woman” or some variation which keeps readers at a distance.  We need to feel as if we know the characters before we care what happens to them.

Adult Poetry Section.

1st:Of Fish and fathers, Joy Cornish, Young   NSW - A  beautiful evocation of father and childhood, with a strong control of language and imagery.  Simultaneously conversational and appealing on different levels, the poem, from an adult perspective gives a sense of confident masculinity and fatherly care.  This is against a background, invisible to the child at the time, of economic hardship and struggle.  A fine piece of writing.

2nd: Just the Chimney, Rosemary  Peters,    Tahmoor    NSW - In a more traditional format of rhymed stanzas, this poet, through the refrain ‘Just the chimney left standing’ juxtaposed with inner pictures of the old house, shows the life lived there.  The images are warm and sensual and give a strong sense of the inhabitants outer struggles and inner longings.  A strong sense of the poet’s understanding of these people.

Highly Commended:Down under Dryads, K  R Massingham, Chisholm      ACT - Original and different approach to “Spirits” of Australia with a delicious sense of humour.

Commended: River Song, K R Massingham, Chisholm ACT - Lovely sustained personification of an Australian life source.

Commended: Retouch, Joy Cornish, Young NSW - Concentrated and original approach to pain, the past and relationships.

The Lambing Flat FAW would like to thank our sponsors, Young Shire Council and the South West Slopes Credit Union.  Also the judges and the writers who supported us with their entries.  

The standard was very high and numbers were increased greatly from last year.  Entries came from a wide area on NSW.  Good writing for next year.  The executive of the LF Faw.

Fellowship of Australian Writers INC.

Lambing Flat Regional Writing competition celebrating our 30th year at Young, 1982-2012.

Sponsored by the South West Slopes Credit Union and the Young Shire Council in conjunction with the 63rd National Cherry Festival, 2012.

Result sheet and judges comments:

Secondary school story section: 

Commended: Finally free, Shiraz  Costello, Schofields NSW - Story had a clear beginning, middle and end well told tale of Fantasy but needed a little more editing in places.

Primary school short story section:

This section was fiercely contested and we could not separate two stories as both were well told but completely different.

Equal first place: A dedication to pocket, Ellie Hobba, Young NSW - Well constructed, great beginning and end, charming title with a good fusion of history and story telling. The ending was well placed and gave insight to the whole story.

Equal first place: True Australian,  Hamish Dowling, Murringo NSW -  Good use of spoken prose, very engaging and makes the reader feel as though they are beside the author in a war zone. Holds the drama and attention to the end.

Hightly Commended:Tree 09325782, Annabelle Richens, Young NSW - A funny light hearted story with clear direct writing. We enjoyed the short, snappy rhythm, with good use of punctuation. The Cherry had personality.

Commended: What in the world, Lucy Stuart, Young NSW - Storyline was well thought out, ending was unpredictable, and left the reader thinking about the next adventure.

Primary school poetry section:

First place: Little Dancer,  Ashleigh  Nicholson, Young NSW - Portrayed the flowing movements of a ballerina striving for perfection in her dance routine. The soft gentle style suited the story subject.

Second place: The fish in a dish, Riley Williams, Bendick Murrell NSW - Fun and quirky, simple but effective, good use of onomatopoeia.

Highly commended: Concerts, Cheyenne  Bailey, Young NSW - Powerful as writer engaged the reader’s senses. Paints a vivid picture and exudes a feeling of excitement and joy.

Commended: Mr Dave and the friendly fish, Angus Johnson, Young NSW - A fun poem with an original storyline.  Good rhyming and imagination.

Commended:1. Royals and  2. School, Shannon O’Brien, Young  NSW - Excellent use of pattern poetry  clever and encompassing.

Junior primary section:

First place: The enchanted mushroom, Shreya Nishi Chetty, Young NSW - Imaginative, sweet and charming. An Alice in Wonderland like fairytale. It has a wonderful childes freshness which demands that the story continues on.

Commended:Dad, Elizabeth Harley, Merimbula NSW - A simple yet expressive. The writers voice is clear and honest.