The writing talents of school students from throughout the Great Lakes have gone under the microscope as judges determine who will be acknowledged in the 2019 Tell Me A Story competition.
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Seventy three primary and middle school from Forster, Pacific Palms, Nabiac and Barrington Tops public schools, Bulahdelah Central School, Holy Name Primary School, Forster, Great Lakes College Tuncurry and Forster, and St Clare's High School, Taree entered this year's competition.
Now in its second year, Tell Me A Story is a competition designed to encourage and inspire aspiring young scribes a unique and exciting opportunity to have their story published and at the same time win a prize.
Tell Me A Story president, Teressa Siminska was thrilled both with the quality and the number of students who entered the competition.
Every child needs encouragement and help at various stages of their education and a writing competition can provide such an opportunity, she said.
In a new section of the competition, recognised winning entries also will be illustrated by designing young artists.
The variety of writing styles and the improved standard made it a very difficult for judges to find an eventual winner in each of the categories and separating the top 12 stories.
- Shirley Craig
The competition was judged by a panel of school teachers, the Forster Writers' Group and Great Lakes Advocate journalist, Nicholas Brooks.
Speaking on behalf of the primary school aged student judges, Shirley Craig, was thrilled with the standard of writing.
"Last year's entries set a very high benchmark," Mrs Craig said.
"This year's entries stepped up a notch," she said.
"The variety of writing styles and the improved standard made it a very difficult for judges to find an eventual winner in each of the categories and separating the top 12 stories.
"All the stories were well constructed, and it was an enjoyable task reading and ranking the 64 entries."
Nicholas Brooks, who was a member of the secondary school judging panel, said the great standard of writing illustrated the imaginations of young people was alive and well.
"Although there weren't a great deal of high school entries, those we did receive were of a good standard," he said.
"There was a broad range of subject matter and storytelling styles explored, with stories ranging from the sombre and dark to the comic and adventurous.
"The winning story, in particular, showed great imagination and the clever touch of a writer with much potential."
While you're with us .......
Congratulations to the following students on achieving an excellent award.
In coming weeks the Great Lakes Advocate will publish the excellent stories on-line.
Winning entries in the illustration competition, which closes on July 4, will be announced later that month.
Year 7-9 section:
- Jai Clifton, Great Lakes College, Forster, Year 7, The Old Lady and Me;
- Jake Thompson, Great Lakes College, Tuncurry, Year 7, The Londoner's Adventure; and
- Ellie-May Lang, Great Lakes College, Forster, Year 8, The Last Sunset.
Year 5-6 section:
- Kobi Critchley, Holy Name Primary School, Year 6, Accepted;
- Hannah Atkinson, Holy Name Primary School, Year 6, Depths;
- Leon Cheeke, Holy Name Primary School, Year 6, Between, and
- Hannah Carmichael, Holy Name Primary School, Year 6, The Crash
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