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The Moorabool News – 21 June, 2022 Page 11
Door opens for young writers Over 20 talented young writers have been recognised in the 2022 Moorabool Young Writers Awards competition, with a record number of entries this year. More than 700 young writers entered the competition, with this year’s theme, ‘The Door’, asking Moorabool kids and young adults what could be behind a mysterious door. Awards were given out based on five age groups: Early Years Primary (Prep, G1&2), Middle Primary (G 3&4), Upper Primary (G 5&6), Lower Secondary (Years 7-9) and Upper Secondary (Years 10-12, or under 18). In the Early Years Primary category, the prize winners were Nyah Halfhide, Aydin Wright, Silas Olthof, Eykas Singh Khaira, Loki De Domenico, Jackson Thurgood, Marcus Speakman, and Olivia (no surname provided). The Middle Primary winner was Matilda Marshall with her story ‘Sing’, while Kumayl Rizvi and Meg Conroy the runner-up and third place winner respectively with their
stories, both named ‘The Door’. Noah Barlow was named the winner in the Upper Primary Awards with ‘The rock pigeon gang strikes back’, while Purva Amin was the runner up with ‘Wanderlust’s Door’, and Logan Jarvis came third with ‘Sin of Wrath’. In the Lower Secondary group, Tyler Hounsell-Bachelor won with ‘Something wicked comes this way’, while Blayk Maree
Kawan’s ‘Devin’s Door’ was named the runner-up piece and ‘The Door’ by Alisha Rizvi coming third. Finally, Matthew Michalik was the winner of the Upper Secondary Awards with his story ‘Perfect Stranger’, while Mackenzie Stark was named runner-up with ‘In Another Life’. Three Early Years Primary winners scored a book pack for themselves and their
classroom, with winners and runners-up in the Middle and Upper Primary categories winning $100 and $50 respectively. Tyler Hounsell-Bachelor won $150 and Blayk Maree Kawan received $75. Finally, Matthew Michalik received $200 for winning the Upper Secondary Award, while Mackenzie Stark received $100. All winning stories will also be displayed in the Lerderderg Library.
Only a few have their say By Lachlan Ellis Community submissions on the upcoming Budget, have been accepted by Council. A Special Meeting of Council was called on Wednesday 15 June to accept community submissions on the 2022/23 Annual Budget, which went out to public consultation on 11 May and closed for submissions on 9 June. In total, four submissions were received, two of which related to road maintenance, while the other two opposed a rates increase. The first submission, titled “Reseal Program Budget”, called for “more funding to be set for the annual reseal program…given
the amount of trucks that drive through town to the coal mine and new housing developments”. The second submission, titled “Ballan Roads Maintenance”, requested several roads in Ballan to receive “urgent maintenance and upgrades”, namely Hogans Road, Spencer Road between Berry St and McMahon Rd, Simpson Street between Cowie and Stead Streets, and Old Melbourne Road between Stead St and the beginning of the 100 km/h zone. Finally, the two latter submissions opposed an increase in rates given “the current economic climate” and “cost of living rising
at an extreme rate”, suggesting a “temporary reduction in infrastructure spending, or perhaps placing some non-life-threatening projects on hold”. Councillors voted unanimously to consider the four submissions before the Budget comes before another Special Meeting of Council on Wednesday 22 June. Cr Moira Berry was an apology at the June 15 meeting. The 2021-25 Council Plan (2022 Update) was also put on public exhibition, but no submissions were received by the deadline on 9 June.
Enter and ‘snap’ up grand prizes By Lachlan Ellis Thousands of dollars in prizes are on offer for a local photo competition, and with the deadline coming up at the end of the month, amateur photographers are being urged to get their snaps in quick. The 10th Annual Lal Lal Photographic Competition opened for entries in March, with a grand total prize value of $5,350 across five divisions. The winner of the Grand Youth division (ages 6 to 12) will win the Sarah Peckham Memorial Award and a $1500 Camera House voucher, while the Grand Novice winner (age 13+ and not having practiced photography for more than two years or been in a photo group) will win a $1350 training voucher, thanks to David Bailey Photography and Training. The Grand Open award, open to those who’ve been in a photo group for two years or more, will come with a $1000 Camera House voucher, as will the Grand Mayor’s Choice award. Finally, the People’s Choice award, to be voted on by the public online, will come with a $500 Camera House voucher. Secretary of the Lal Lal Photographic Group, Kristina Kitchingman, encouraged young people in particular, to get their photos in. “Normally the Lal Lal Primary School students
put entries in through the school, and we’re very well supported through the school. But because we haven’t had that in-person contact and this year’s competition is online, we haven’t got as many youth entries,” she told the Moorabool News. “At the moment there’s a big push to get more youth involved. The reason we’re offering vouchers is because we didn’t like the idea of giving money directly to children. Youth are our up-and-coming photographers of the future…to encourage them to get out with a camera and learn how it works is so important.” Entries can fall under eight different categories: Portrait/People, Landscape/Seascape, Macro 1:1, Flora, Fauna, Pictorial, Black & White, and Architecture. A winner will be chosen by the judges from each category in each of the three divisions, for a total of 24 winners. From those 24, the Grand Prize winners will be chosen. Photos must have a resolution of at least 3032 x 2008, with no phone photos or previous entries allowed to be entered. Up to five entries can be submitted per person, with a $5 entry cost per photo, and a $5 admin fee. For more information and how to enter, head to www.lallalmooraboolphotographicgroup.org/ competitions.