Reading Sam’s play for the win in Mayor’s Wri$ng Compe$$on A short play 6tled The Last Tram set the stage for Carroll College student Sam Bath to win the major prize in this year’s Mayor’s Wri6ng Compe66on. The 16-year-old said he was inspired by poetry to pen the Vol 16 September 15th 2017 piece, which brings three very different people together on a tram. Vol 28 December 7th, 2017 Vol 48 April 27th 2018
“I am passionate about wri6ng, I’m also an actor,” he said, “so I write characters I would like to play or see on stage.” Sam was awarded the Mayor’s Wri6ng Compe66on’s Syd Hayes Crea6ve Wri6ng Award, receiving a pen made from swamp mahogany, sourced near Preddys Wharf, by Richard Turley. The annual Mayor’s Wri6ng Compe66on invites Eurobodalla authors aged between five and 18 to submit an original work in any style of crea6ve wri6ng. Finalists in the six age categories received a copy of the Mayor’s Wri6ng Compe66on Anthology 2021, which includes their work, while winners received a $50 Moruya Books voucher and runners-up a $30 Moruya Books voucher. Encouragement award winners and special men6ons in each category also received a cer6ficate. Alice Johnson, who was one of the four judges for the compe66on this year, said the entries showcased an impressive range of wri6ng modes, styles and subject ma<er. “It was a thoroughly worthwhile and rewarding experience reading crea6ve pieces from such a talented group of writers,” she said. “Judging was definitely a challenge.” The awards were presented by Eurobodalla Mayor Liz Innes at the Moruya RSL Hall on Thursday. Clr Innes said that over the past 12 years the compe66on had received more than 2,500 entries. “This compe66on is a fantas6c plaCorm for our young people to express themselves and show their crea6ve talents,” she said. “To become a finalist in the Mayor’s Wri6ng Compe66on is a huge achievement, congratula6ons to all of you.” Age category finalists and winners: 5-6 years: Special men6ons Sofia Burazer and Abigail Piper, encouragement award Aleera Murphy, runner-up Bella Cowling, winner Sunnie Thompson. 7-8 years: Special men6ons Peyton Apps and Lachlan Hanns, encouragement award Zara McCarthy, runner-up Isabella Stanton, winner Poppy Mitchell. 9-10 years: Special men6ons Evelyn Bailey and Joey Clark-Mori, encouragement award Max Kay, runner-up Abigail Heane, winner Daisy West 11-12 years: Special men6ons Sophia Carver and Makhenzie Mathie, encouragement award Naomi Steffan, runner-up Maison Heane, winner Ollie Burke. 13-14 years: Special men6ons Erin Drewsen and Scarle< Walters, encouragement award Emma Penberthy, runner-up Charlie-May Hough, winner Angus Blythe. 15-18 years: Special men6ons Makadde Ethell and Bethany Russell, encouragement award Ryles Walters, runner-up Alana Holley, winner Sam Bath. Syd Hayes Crea$ve Wri$ng Award: Sam Bath, “The Last Tram”.
beagle weekly : Vol 213 June 25th 2021
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Above: Finalists and winners in this year’s Mayor’s Wri&ng Compe&&on, with judges Alice Johnson (back le=) and Lynne Babbage (back right) and Eurobodalla Mayor Liz Innes (front le=).
