The National Writing Competition conducted by the Lambing Flat Young Branch of the Fellowship of Australian Writers NSW, was launched by NSW Member for Cootamundra, Steph Cooke on 10th June 2025. Hilltops Council Mayor, Brian Ingram was also in attendance.
The aim of this much anticipated competition is to provide a platform for budding writers of short stories and poetry to showcase their writing talents. It is for this reason that the entry fee for adults remains at only $5 per entry; there is no entry fee for school children.
The short story category is limited only by the writer’s imagination. Although there are no themes imposed, there are word limits, which graduate from 250 words for Infants, 500 words for Junior Primary, 750 words for Primary, and 1,000 words for Secondary students. Adults have a limit of 1,500 words.
Entries into the poetry category also leave room for a whole range of styles to be included. The calibre of poetry submitted by students has increased due to recent changes to the school curriculum and continued support from their enthusiastic teachers.
For many adults, their experience with poetry has been very different. So, whether you prefer free verse, more traditional rhyming verse, or Bush Poetry, this competition is your chance to try your hand at writing verse in many and varied Styles. Again, word limits apply for different age groups; 15 lines for Infants and Junior Primary, 20 lines for Primary, and 50 lines for Secondary students. Adults also have a limit of 50 lines.
Members of the local writing group have been galvanised into action since the launch of the Competition, sending entry forms and posters to schools throughout Australia. Many local schools and libraries within the region, have been visited so that posters and entry forms could be hand delivered.
The first entries were received within the first week from the ACT, Queensland and Victoria. The National Writing Competition entries close on Friday 19th September 2025.
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