“I get paid to daydream, to sit at my computer and write down stories. I can’t wait to read your stories, too.”
ARCHIVE 20182018 WRITING FESTIVAL ROARS
Braidwood Lions Club members were delighted with the culmination of their Young Writers Festival when the Award Ceremony was held on Friday 16 November 2018 in the National Theatre.
This “breaking new ground for Lions” project was launched in February giving school students with a 2622 postal address the opportunity to develop and discover their writing talents.
The project was quickly embraced by local kids and 272 entries were submitted – an outstanding outcome !
Braidwood’s own Jackie French came on board as Patron early in the piece and a bevy of established local authors put their hand up to give their time and use their expertise to act as Judges in the six class categories involved. Roger McDonald, Julian Davies, Julian Laffan, Stephanie Owen Reeder, Cate Whittle and Robyn Goodwin took on the challenging task of identifying the entries showing the most promise .
Following Mr John Barilaro’s late withdrawal QPRC Mayor Tim Overall opened the Award ceremony in front of a very large contingent of school children (each of them a budding author !), teachers, parents and grandparents, sponsors, folk from the community and a full line up of Braidwood Lions Club members and their partners. After a small number of speakers set the scene 32 Awards were handed out by Jackie French and the Judges to students whose works were considered to show the most promise.
Another highlight of the program was the launching by the Mayor of the Young Writers Book containing Award winning entries, background on the Festival and information about sponsors. This very professionally produced book celebrating the writing skills of Braidwood students can be purchased at a number of places around town ($14).
Once all permission slips for parents have been received all entries will be placed on the website that Lions set up for this project braidwoodyoungwriters.com
Lions warmly acknowledged and thanked the almost 50 business houses who provided the financial help needed to run this project. Any profit form the Festival will be returned to needy causes in the Braidwood community.
Congratulations from the Braidwood community must go to the Lions Club for this initiative and for working so well with all parties to bring it to such a wonderful conclusion.
The next Young Writers Festival will be held in two years time…..so budding authors start your planning.
The morning finished in traditional Lions Club fashion – a very popular sausage sizzle !!
Winning Entries in the Festival are listed on our website.
The Festival aims to give young people living or going to school in our community the opportunity to share their stories, poetry, essays or opinion pieces on any subject.
This project should encourage young writers to develop their writing skills and will provide them an opportunity to interact with established authors.
Entries will be judged by a panel of authors from our district, with prizes for each age-group for winning entries as well as encouragement awards. A book will be published containing the most outstanding entries. With permission from entrants, the entered pieces will be published online and stories included in a book.
Eminent local author Jackie French is the Festival Patron. Braidwood Community Bank is the Festival underwriting sponsor. Local businesses are welcome to sponsor the Festival.
Net proceeds from Festival sponsorship or book sales will be distributed to needy causes in the Braidwood district.
