An award ceremony was held on Thursday evening for the talented winners of the 2025 Wangaratta Young Writers Award.
Conducted annually by the Rotary Club of Appin Park Wangaratta and Rotary Club of Wangaratta, and supported by the Wangaratta Library, the competition invites young people aged between 10 and 19 to submit their stories and poetry/song lyrics for judging.
It offers a chance for young writers to develop their craft and imagination, and to be heard and celebrated.
This year's award attracted 47 entries, with the most prolific contributors in the years five and six categories for both story and poetry/song lyrics.
Winners were presented on Thursday with their prizes, and also heard from guest speaker Amelia Mellor, author of several novels including 'The Grandest Bookshop in the World'.
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Amelia, who spent two years living and teaching in the Alpine Valley and now lives in Melbourne, said she loves visiting schools and libraries, and supporting literary events such as the Wangaratta Young Writers Award.
Winners of the competition were:
Years five and six story - honourable mention, Thomas Mullane, 'Peanut Butter Boy'; third place, Eliza Looby, 'Trouble in the Tropics'; second place, Lachlan Osborne, 'The Scar's Story'; first place, Hasini Chamya Wasala, 'The Map Beneath the Lake'.
Years five and six poetry/song lyrics - third place, Maddison Rose Jones, 'A World Without Family'; second place, Hamish Lloyd, 'In the Winter'; first place, Lotta Beyersdorf, 'Paradise with a Warning Sign'.
Years seven, eight, nine story - honourable mention, Henry Lloyd, 'Airborne'; third place, Darby Rowles, 'A Sky of Ash'; second place, Imogen Rocchiccioli, 'The Once-Forest'; first place, Lily Purss, 'Beauty in the Sky'.
Years seven, eight, nine poetry/song lyrics - third place, Owen Miskin, 'Death Shall Come on Swift Wings'; second place, Franklin Fletcher, 'Regent Honeyeater'; first place, Ellie Hutchieson, 'The Weight and the Worth'.
Years 10, 11, 12 story - third place, Grace McMillan, 'What Could Be Done?'; second place, Clara Rocchiccioli, 'The Wizard's Tower'; first place, Lara Maples, 'The Invitation'.
Years 10, 11, 12 poetry/song lyrics - first place, Jack Berry, 'By the Windowsill'.
The winning entries will be published in the Wangaratta Chronicle over coming months.
