2023 Furphy Literary Award youth winners

The annual Literary Awards promote and extend the tradition of storytelling, both fiction and narrative non-fiction, of Australian culture. Entries were open for the four youth categories of Junior Short Story, Junior Poetry for writers 12 and under, Youth Short Story and Youth Poetry for writers aged 13 to 17.

Furphy Literary Award Director, Sam Furphy, said the calibre of entries for this year’s youth categories was once again outstanding.

“We are extremely pleased to see so many local young writers and poets apply for the awards each year as a way to showcase their creative skills and talents. We have some talented youth in Greater Shepparton and we hope the awards help them foster and continue their love for writing,” he said.

The shortlisted entries from each category are available to read on the Furphy Literary Award website. The first, second and third place winners for each category are listed below.

Furphy Literary Award Director, Adam Furphy, encouraged locals to head to the website and read the works of each of the finalists.

“There were some extremely talented pieces of work produced this year and we are thrilled to now be able to publish the writing of each of the finalists on our website. We congratulate everyone who entered this year and submitted a piece of their own unique storytelling,” he said.

Greater Shepparton City Council Mayor, Councillor Shane Sali, congratulated everyone who submitted an entry.

“Council is pleased to be able to support the Furphy Literary Awards once again to encourage writing and creativity in our local youth,” he said.

“Congratulations to each of the finalists and winners of the 2023 Awards and thank you for sharing your story. I encourage members of our community to have a read of the finalist’s entries online and hopefully they will inspire more writers to pick up a pen and write a creative story.”

For more information visit Furphy website

About the Furphy Literary Award

The Furphy Literary Award is named in honour of Australian writer Joseph Furphy and celebrates Australian storytelling. Joseph Furphy was the author of a number of works written under the pen name of Tom Collins, the most famous of which ‘Such is Life’ was published in 1903. 

There are four Junior/Youth categories, which were open to young people from Shepparton and surrounding regions. 

2023 Furphy Literary Award winners – Junior Poetry Place Author Title First Milo Rose Ode to my Mum’s Spaghetti Bolognese Second Riley Wooster Heavens Above Third Mollie Chambers Floods 2023 Furphy Literary Award winners – Junior Short Story Place Author Title First Nina Samalca The Abominable Hairball Second Ariana Kutrolli Denise The Menace Third Heidi Gilbert Dead Girl Walking 2023 Furphy Literary Award winners – Youth Poetry Place Author Title First Sharanya Senthil Kumar Ravens Bring Lavender Second Jenna Birchall Spun Through Time Third Dorothy Lune The last confession 2023 Furphy Literary Award winners – Youth Short Story Place Author Title First Imogen Templeton Here Second Layla O’Callaghan Her Third Charlotte Seddon The Taxi Man