RANDOLPH STOW YOUNG WRITERS AWARDS

Twenty years ago the Geraldton Mid West Regional Group of ALIA together with the Geraldton-Greenough Regional Library conducted the first Randolph Stow Young Writers Awards, based on the successful Mary Durack Awards in the Metropolitan area.  The awards have continued to gain considerable prestige within the region.

To mark the twentieth anniversary, former City Librarian and Councillor Pat Gallaher, who initiated the awards, was invited to speak at the presentation ceremony.  Liliana Stafford, a highly regarded and well published children’s author was also invited to address the audience.

Randolph Stow and his family continue to give support and encouragement for the event, which was originally intended to recognise Stow’s literary achievements and his links with Geraldton, where he was born.  This year Randolph wrote a personal letter as his acknowledgement of the prestigious occasion celebrating the twentieth Anniversary.

This year over 550 entries were submitted from students around the region including the home schooled.  More than 45 awards were presented across 10 categories of poetry and prose.  Each category of poetry and prose is awarded to students within year levels from lower primary through to upper secondary allowing students a greater opportunity for their creativeness to be judged accordingly.  The entries were enthusiastically received and the judges had a very difficult but enjoyable time reading and selecting the top entries.

The awards attract about $2000 sponsorship from local organisations and individuals and total prize money is now $1200, the balance being used for trophies, booklets, certificates and sundries.

 Details of the 2009 winners can be seen here

The winning entries for 2009 can be seen here

Details of the 2008 winners can be seen here

The winning entries for 2008 can be seen here

Details of the 2007 winners can be seen here

The winning entries for 2007 can be seen here

Details of the 2006 winners can be seen here

Booklets of winning entries have been produced each year and are available for sale from the library at a cost of $6.00. RSYWA booklets for 2009 are now available for purchase.

The Randolph Stow Young Writers Awards are sponsored by:

The judges of the competition for 2009 were:

We thank them for their willing support.

 Booklets of winning entries over the past years have been produced and are available for sale from the library at a cost of $6.00.