Now in its 22nd year, the Literary Prize was inaugurated in 1993 to commemorate 150 years since the birth of Joseph Furphy. Under the pen name of Tom Collins, Joseph Furphy wrote a number of books and articles. His best known work is Such is Life. The Furphy Foundry Pty Ltd generously donates the prize money for this annual competition.
Poetry entries may be on any subject in any style and will be judged in two categories. The Youth Section is for entrants up to 18 years of age and carries a prize of $75 for a poem of up to 30 Lines. The Open Section carries a prize of $150 for a poem up to 40 Lines. Robyn Black is the Judge for the Open Poetry section. Robyn is a poet, the President of the Goulburn Valley Writers’ Group Inc., and a former editor of Tamba Magazine. David Kelly is the Judge for the Youth Poetry section. David is a poet and a former Organiser with the Poets’ Union Inc.
Entries for the Short Story Competition will be judged in three categories.
The Junior Section caters for entrants up to 12 years of age and carries a prize of $50 for a story up to 1,500 words. The Youth Section, for entrants 13 to 18 years of age, carries a prize of $100 for a story of up to 3,000 words. The Open Section carries a prize of $300 for a short story with a maximum word limit of 3,500 words.
The Judges for the Short Story Competition are John Holton (Open Section), Pauline Roberts (Youth Section) and Suellen Drysdale (Junior Section). John is a writer and editor, Pauline is a former Children’s Librarian and Head of Library Teacher Librarian, and Suellen is a children’s author and Vice-President of the Goulburn Valley Writers’ Group Inc.
Entries for the competition close on 17 October 2014.
Entry forms are available from all branches of Goulburn Valley Regional Library, or may be downloaded from the website at www.gvrlc.vic.gov.au
For further information please contact the event organiser, Jan Sutton, at Goulburn Valley Regional Library Corporation Administration on 1300 374 765.
