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Outback Writers Festival Short Story Competition

Previous winners of the
Outback Writers Festival Short Story Competition

2024

OPEN Category

Winner:

Franz Huber Fancy a Change With Clancy

Runner-up:
Greg McFarland The Saga of the Stolen Tucker Box

Secondary School Category

Winner:

Charlie Farry Treehouse

Runner-up:
Olivia Lee The Great Escape

Primary School Category

Winner:

Isabella McDonald Dirt

Runner-up:
Peyton Weston The Lost Outback Kitten

2023

OPEN Category

Winner:

Greg McFarland No Place for a Lady


2022

OPEN Category

Winner:

Jill Staunton The Assignment

2021

OPEN Category

Winner:

Stacey King Thanks Lucy! Just one day at a time

Runner-up:

Story that included qantas

Winner:

Paul Clarke Hannah’s Return

Under 18 Category

Winner:

Mehvish Mehboob Snakes, Stars and Everything in Between

Runner-up:
Ashlee Coulton He was free

2020

OPEN Category

Winner:

Jill Staunton O’Grady’s Girl

2019

OPEN Category

Winner:

Jill Staunton McAlister’s Way

Runner-up:

Shortlist:
– Erica Holmes Just Deserts
– Helen Harvey Dark Eyes, Old Secrets
– Tracy Liotis His Name was Mud
– Cris Oliver The Propper Thing to Do
– Shantelle Sanders Tribute to the Mermaid
– Cherelle Murphy Going Back Home

UNDER 18 Category

Winner:

Skyler Barnett The Beast Within

2018

OPEN Category

Winner:

Frank White The Last Sunrise

UNDER 18 Category

Winner:

Amarni Love The Outback

Runners-up:
– Mehish Mehboob The Butcher of the Bush
– Sophie Hooper Eight things not to do on an outback trip

2017

OPEN Category

Winner:

Cris Oliver Flowers for Grace

JUNIOR Category

Winner:

Sophie Hooper

Runners-up:
– Amber Coulton
– Jessica Douglas

2016

OPEN Category

Winner:

Don Douglas The Castle Rock Mystery

Runner-up:

Under 18 Category

Winner:

Sophie Hooper Where there’s smoke

Runners-up:
– Jessica Jones The Outback
– Darcy Kersh Darcy’s Story

Outback Writers Festival
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