Creative young writers across the Fleurieu region have been recognised in the annual Mayors’ Short Story Challenge.

An initiative of Alexandrina Council, City of Victor Harbor and District Council of Yankalilla, the challenge supports the development of language and literacy skills in school aged children from Reception to Year 10. 

Mayors of the three council regions presented awards and prizes to the talented young writers and encouraged many others to take the challenge during presentation events held in the local libraries and schools.

This year, there were 385 entries from Alexandrina Council, 356 from the City of Victor Harbor and 208 from District Council of Yankalilla.

Shortlisted entrants and winners of the 2022 Mayors’ Short Story Challenge were announced in a variety of celebrations held by each district library during the last week of August. 

Mayors and library staff presented awards and prizes recognising the excellence of all entrants.

Individual category winners received a $50 book voucher and the overall winner from each council area received an additional Mayors’ prize of a $50 book voucher. 

The school that each overall winner attends received $1,000 from their local council to contribute to its library collection.

In presenting the awards, the Mayors from each council praised the children who took up the challenge and demonstrated their creative writing abilities. 

They also thanked the three public libraries for their coordination of the Mayors’ Short Story Challenge, as well as school principals, librarians, teachers, student service officers and home school parent/teachers who played a key role in encouraging their students to enter and showcase their talents.

The prizes were provided by the respective councils and ‘Friends of the Library’ groups.

2022 Mayors’ Short Story Challenge Winners

Category

Alexandrina Council City of Victor Harbor District Council of Yankalilla

Reception to Year 2 Thea Croft Jack Cook Beau Roberts

Port Elliot Primary School Investigator College Yankalilla Area School

Years 3 to 4 Flynn Bicknell Harry Byrnes Ella Conroy

Port Elliot Primary School Investigator College Yankalilla Area School

Years 5 to 7 Ember Townley Blue Moore & Elsie McKeand Patrick O’Brien

Mount Compass Area School Victor Harbor Primary School Yankalilla Area School

Years 8 to 10 Catherine Green Ava Turley & Charlie McKeand Alissa Rahaley

Home School Victor Harbor High School Yankalilla Area School

Overall Winner Ember Townley Jack Cook Ella Conroy

Year 6 Year 2 Year 3

Mount Compass Area School Investigator College Yankalilla Area School