Mary Durack Celebrates 30 years
The Mary Durack Young Writers award has celebrated 30 years of talented young writers. The award is held annually in partnership with the local government authorities of Swan, Mundaring, Kalamunda and Armadale. The presentation ceremony for the winners of the Mary Durack Award for Young Writers 2008 was held on Thursday 31 July 2008 at the Kalamunda Performing Arts Centre.
The Shire of Kalamunda hosted the event and journalist Bethany Hiatt, a past recipient of the award was a guest speaker. Winners of the award and their families were special l guests and the ceremony was also attended by a number of local dignitaries including Shire President Donald McKechnie, Councillor Carol Everett, Shire of Kalamunda CEO James Trail and representatives from the Cities of Swan and Armadale and the Shire of Mundaring.
Local winners included Hinaiko Shiraishi from Kalamunda Christian School who was awarded 1st place in the middle primary category. Second prize in Lower secondary category was Lauren Savage from Lesmurdie High School and Second prize in the upper secondary category went to Shaeden Berry from Kalamunda Senior High School. Hinaiko and Shaeden also received highly commended certificates for their second entries.
The Mary Durack Award is designed to encourage young writers to develop their creative potential. Students who live or attend school in the Shires of Mundaring and Kalamunda or Cities of Armadale and Swan are invited to submit creative writing pieces for the Award. There are five categories and the competition is open to students from grade 1 through to 12. Look out for entry forms for next years Mary Durack Award for Young Writers at your local library in 2009.