Winning Tales of Disaster and Despair - Nillumbik Shire Council

27 August 2013Winning Tales of Disaster and Despair2013 has seen more than 288 entries were received for the Alan MarshallShort Story Award. This year’s judge was acclaimed writer and human rightsactivist, Arnold Zable.In announcing the winners, Arnold said he was impressed by “the big themesthe stories confronted – of birth, teenage angst, family dysfunction, ageing,and dementia – using story, and specific scenarios to poignant and tellingeffect. This is what story does best – reveal the complexities and subtletiessuch challenges present.”Nillumbik Mayor, Cr Peter Perkins announced the awards winners at a specialcelebration that took place on 24 August at the Eltham Library CommunityGallery where the stories were read by local actors Dennis Coard and DebraLawrance.The open first prize of $3,000 was awarded to Mark Smith of Anglesea for hisshort story, Flood, described by Arnold as “…a fabulist tale, with mythicalquality – magical realism – this is dangerous territory for a writer, but in thiscase it is done extremely well, and there are some stunning images in thishighly original account of a flood.”The local first prize of $2,000 was awarded to Julie Twohig of Hurstbridge forher short story, Paradise, which Arnold considered a “moving and harrowingstory… a poignant tale of lost dreams and the frustration and irrational ragethat it unleashes.”The youth first prize of $400 was awarded to Cameron Croese of Glenhaven,New South Wales for his short story, A Hard Girl, described by Arnold as“textured, with insights into the world of both adults and children, and acapacity to convey the complexity of family relationships with a degree ofcompassion.”A number of other short stories were highly commended, commended andshort-listed entries. All entries can be read on the Arts page of Council’sWebsite www.nillumbik.vic.gov.au“The annual Alan Marshall Short Story Competition is a prestigiouscompetition on the literary calendar and attracts entries from all over Australia.

“The Award was founded in 1985 and is presented by Nillumbik Shire Councilin partnership with Yarra Plenty Regional Library.“It honours the former Eltham employee and resident and one of Australia’smost famous authors, Alan Marshall who is most well-known books I CanJump Puddles and This is the Grass.“In 1920, Alan started his first job as a junior clerk at the Eltham Shire Officesin Kangaroo Ground. He lived in Research in the 1940s, and moved toEltham in 1955 where he lived for nearly 20 years.” Cr Perkins said.ENDS