Young writers from across the region were recognised and celebrated for their talents at the Victor Harbor Council Chambers on Thursday 7 September.

An initiative of the three Fleurieu councils the Mayors' Short Story Challenge encourages school-aged students from reception to year 10 to let their imaginations run wild and share stories through creative writing.

The City of Victor Harbor saw 517 entries; there were 403 from Alexandrina Council and 176 from the District Council of Yankalilla. 

The 2023 Mayors’ Short Story Challenge winners were revealed at a celebration where more than 180 individuals gathered from all across the Fleurieu Peninsula to recognise the talented work of every participant.

Winners in each category received a $50 book voucher and the overall winner from each council area received an additional prize of a $50 book voucher. 

Each overall winner's home school was further awarded $1000 from their local council.

When presenting the awards, the mayors of each council commended those children who accepted the challenge and demonstrated their creative writing abilities. 

They also thanked the three public libraries for coordinating the challenge, as well as the principals, teacher-librarians, teachers, and student service officers who played key roles in encouraging the students to participate and showcase their talents.

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

2023 Mayors’ Short Story Challenge Winners

Category Alexandrina Council City of Victor Harbor District Council of Yankalilla

Reception Isabella Andrews Florence Trevorrow Hugo Vaughan

to Year 2 Year 2 Year 2 Year 1

Mount Compass Area School Investigator College Yankalilla Area School

Year 3 to James Spencer Bethany Daniels Emma Potter

Year 4 Year 3 Year 3 Year 4

Tyndale Christian School Investigator College Rapid Bay Primary School

Strathalbyn

Year 5 to Gemma Cleggett Ayla Gillies Tayla Deacon

Year 7 Year 7 Year 7 Year 6

Eastern Fleurieu School 7-12 Investigator College Myponga Primary School

Strathalbyn

Year 8 to Catherine Green Ivy McGivern Lilly Wenham

Year 10 Year 10 Year 8 Year 9

Home School Victor Harbor High School Yankalilla Area School

Overall Gemma Cleggett Ayla Gillies Emma Potter

Winner Year 7 Year 7 Year 4

Eastern Fleurieu School 7-12 Investigator College Rapid Bay Primary School

Strathalbyn

City of Victor Harbor:

Back, Left to right: Investigator College Principal John Robinson, Ayla Gillies, Ivy McGivern, Mayor Jenkins.

Front, Left to right: Florence Trevorrow, Bethany Daniels.

District Council of Yankalilla

Back, Left to right: Mayor Houston, Tayla Deacon, Lily Wenham, Rapid Bay Primary School Representative.

Front, Left to right: Hugo Vaughan, Emma Potter.