Moorabool Shire Libraries and local writers Jem Tyley-Miller and Wayne Marshall are proud to announce the seventh annual Moorabool Young Writers’ Awards. These awards aim to promote a love of writing in the shire, and will recognise the finest young writers in the district. The competition will be open from 10 March to 28 April with winners announced on 14 June at an afternoon tea held in conjunction with the Peter Carey Short Story Award.
Your story begins, involves or ends right where you are, right here, right now, in this exact place where anything is possible!.
Entrants in the Prep to 2 category will need to complete a picture prompt involving a map.
Entrants in Years 3 to 12 will need to write a Moorabool place/location/landmark into their story.
Four lucky winners (selected at random) will win a book pack for themselves and a book pack for their classroom.
Emergent Writers Awards: (Must be in Grades Prep, 1 or 2)
Complete the picture prompt. Download the picture prompt here.(PDF, 144KB)
Four lucky winners (selected at random) will receive a Picture book pack for themselves and a Picture book pack for their classroom (including 1 x CBCA 2025 book week nominee) (Valued at $50 each).
Stories will be judged in three categories and are open to all those who meet the age requirements, AND who work, live, or study in Moorabool Shire. Both a winner and a runner-up will be awarded for each category
1. Middle Primary Awards (Grade 3 and 4)
Short Stories up to 1000 words Winner: $100 Runner-up: $50
2. Upper Primary Awards (Grades 5 and 6)
Short Stories up to 1000 words Winner: $100 Runner-up: $50
3. Youth Awards (Years 7 to 12, or under 18)
Short Stories up to 3000 words Winner: $200 Runner-up: $100
Moorabool Primary School Prize:
- A local Moorabool Primary schools (based on number of entries v pro-rata number of students) will win an Author Talk. (Valued up to $1000, this workshop will take place in March 2026)
Download the entry form for all categories here.(PDF, 107KB)
Submissions close on Monday 28 April at 5pm and will be accepted in person at Ballan Library, Lerderderg Library, the Rural Library Van or online via the Moorabool Shire Council website. Entries must be typed and will be judged blind, so please, no names on your work—just be sure to attach the entry form provided. Each child may enter one story and entry is free.
All winning stories in the Middle Primary, Upper Primary and Youth Awards will be published in the Moorabool Writers Craft 2025 Anthology which will be available to borrow from Moorabool Libraries in late 2025.
All winning stories in the Youth category will also be published in the 2025 Moorabool Shire Council Youth Services Zine. Authors of these stories will receive a copy of the zine, which is set to be published in late June 2025.
—Jem Tyley-Miller and Wayne Marshall in partnership with Moorabool Shire Libraries
1. Emergent Writers Awards must be in Grades Prep, 1 or 2 and complete the picture prompt.
2. In the following categories, entrants must mention a place in Moorabool/a Moorabool location somewhere in their story
- Middle Primary applicants must be in grade 3 or 4, or equivalent, and enter a story of no more than 1000 words.
- Upper Primary applicants must be in grade five or six, or equivalent, and enter a story of no more than 1000 words.
- Youth applicants must be in Years 7 to 12 or equivalent. The story must be no more than 3000 words.
3. Entries must be submitted in person at Ballan Library, Lerderderg Library, the Rural Library Van or online via the Moorabool Shire Council website by 5.00PM on Monday April 28 2025.
4. Applications will be judged anonymously. Please do not include your name on your story.
5. Parents or guardians must consent to their child entering the competition.
6. Entries will be independently judged. The judge’s decision will be final and no correspondence will be entered into. The judge reserves the right to allocate additional prizes.
7. Shortlisted stories in the Middle Primary, Upper Primary and Youth categories will be published in the Moorabool Writers Craft 2025 Anthology and agreement for publication is a condition of entry. This anthology will be available to borrow from Moorabool Libraries in late 2025.
8. Shortlisted stories in the Youth category will also be published in the 2025 Moorabool Shire Council Youth Services Zine and agreement for publication is a condition of entry. Authors of these stories will receive a copy of the zine, which is set to be published in late June 2025.
9. Entry is free.
10. Each child may enter one story only.
11. Moorabool Library staff, PCSSA/MYWA organisers, judges and/or their immediate family members are ineligible to enter.