Special event to celebrate our young writers

This Thursday 22 August, Eurobodalla Shire Council's libraries will be hosting a very special event for the young finalists of the 2013 Mayor's Writing Competition and their teachers and families.

Eighteen young writers have been invited to join Mayor Lindsay Brown and the competition's judges at an award ceremony in the council chamber from 10.30am.

This year the competition attracted 267 entries from young people aged between 5 and 16 years and has been judged by representatives of the Eurobodalla Writers Group - Mavis Hayes, Louise Falcioni and Margaret Barlow along with Janice Sagar, Olgamary Savage and Councillor Danielle Brice.

The Mayor is delighted at the number and quality of the entries the competition has attracted and says the 18 winners' stories have been compiled in a new anthology that will shortly be added to the libraries' collection.

"I congratulate the young authors who have had their stories published in the 2013 Mayors Writing Competition Anthology and encourage them, and all children, to continue sharing their imagination and stories through writing," said Cr Brown.

"There is something special about a child's imagination and the way they create stories. Their tales have a sense of truth, honesty and humour that can take the reader to a different and delightful place."

The Mayor says he is looking forward to presenting each of the winners with a copy of the beautiful anthology of their stories and illustrations and a $50 book voucher.

"I know their stories will inspire readers of all ages," he said.

The Mayor will also present a $30 book voucher to the runners-up on Thursday and the judges will hand out creativity and encouragement awards for outstanding pieces of work.