Literary Award winners announced

Winners of the 2017 Lane Cove Literary Awards were announced in November.

The three major prizes for Short Story, Memoir and Poetry writing were sponsored by Lane Cove Council. In addition, Burns Bay Bookery sponsored a Youth Prize and The Baytree by Ardency sponsored a Senior Prize. The generosity of North Shore Gym, Stone Real Estate and Trendsetter Travel also enabled resident prizes to be awarded across all three categories.

SHORT STORY PRIZE

WINNER - 1,500 seconds by A'Mhara McKey A’Mhara is from the Northern Territory. She submitted her entry at the last minute and was ecstatic about winning.

MEMOIR PRIZE

WINNER - Bushwalkers Guide to Love and Other Worms by Linda Wells Linda’s writing is deeply personal and her memoir reflects on previous relationship turmoil. Based in Victoria, Linda is a firsttime winner.

POETRY PRIZE

WINNER - Dinner as a Truckie's Daughter by Darlene Addy Darlene’s poem depicts a fond part of her childhood travelling with her father, a truck driver. Creatively writing for a few years, Darlene has been writing poetry for the last 12 months.

THE BURNS BAY BOOKERY YOUTH PRIZE (16-24 YEARS)

WINNER - Syria, No Not That Syria by Minass Richani Minass’s memoir addresses identity and the challenge of reconciling one’s country of birth with her current home in Australia. She was shortlisted in last year’s Literary Awards.

THE BAYTREE BY ARDENCY SENIOR PRIZE (AGE 65+)

WINNER - War was Hell on the Home Front by Jim Brigginshaw Jim has entered the Literary Awards several times and was shortlisted in 2014. He was thrilled to have won with his memoir and was also highly commended in the Memoir category.

NORTH SHORE GYM RESIDENT SHORT STORY PRIZE WINNER - Palliation

by James McKenzie Watson James only recently moved to Lane Cove. His short story depicts a catastrophic event and how different people deal with it.

2017 Lane Cove Literary Awards winners with Mayor of Lane Cove, Cr Pam Palmer. Back L to R: A'Mhara McKey, Minass Richani, Linda Wells and James McKenzie Watson Front L to R: Darlene Addy, Margaret Barnes and Margaret Vermeesch

STONE REAL ESTATE RESIDENT MEMOIR PRIZE

WINNER - Whom Ringdoves See by Margaret Barnes Local resident Margaret Barnes is a firsttime winner, but was shortlisted in 2014. This year, her memoir shares snippets of growing up and life in Lane Cove.

TRENDSETTER TRAVEL RESIDENT POETRY PRIZE

WINNER - Woven by Margaret Vermeesch Margaret Vermeesch’s winning poem creates imagery of a rug woven with memories of home. She was previously shortlisted in 2015.

Nominations now open... Lane Cove Citizenship Awards

Lane Cove’s Annual Citizenship Awards recognise individuals, community groups and businesses that contribute to life in Lane Cove as well as locals who excel in their chosen field. Council is looking for nominations across a range of categories including young achiever; sport; business; leadership; sustainability; art/ culture; community service and Citizen of the Year. Full details, eligibility criteria and nomination forms are now available on Council’s website. Nominations close in March 2018 with a presentation evening held in May 2018.