Youth celebrated at awards night

Looking back on 30 years of literary celebration in Geraldton, library services coordinator Jenni Hargrave says she’s still surprised at what Mid West children can cook up.

“I mean, this year we had an entry about a lost hair lacky,” Ms Hargrave said.

“Another one about driving on your P plates.

“You know, the things these kids come up with, you just think ‘where did that come from’.”

For the past 10 years, Ms Hargrave has co-ordinated the Randolph Stow Young Writers Awards, an event that sees Mid West students submit poetry and prose for judges to consider.

Last week the event turned 30, giving the expected 200 guests at Sun City Christian Centre an extra-special reason to celebrate the 595 student submissions.

About 20 schools were represented in the awards, including Meekatharra School of the Air and students from Kalbarri and Eneabba.

Ms Hargrave said there was regularly a strong showing of students from outside Geraldton interested in the awards, making the event part of the cultural fabric of the Mid West. “One year we had someone north of Meekatharra as a finalist,” she said.

“And you bet their parents drove, what — six, eight hours, to get here and see the presentations.

“It’s a truly valued event.”

2019 RANDOLPH STOW AWARDS WINNERS’ LIST

Lower Primary Poetry

1st, Xavier Shiosaki, Geraldton Grammar School; 2nd, Pieter Frick, Geraldton Grammar School; 3rd, Kate Buswell, Chapman Valley Primary School; Highly commended, Esta Penberthy, Geraldton Grammar School; Highly commended, Marisa May, St Lawrence Primary School.

Lower Primary Prose

1st, Isaac Gamble, Mt Tarcoola Primary School; 2nd, Ruben Grigsby, Geraldton Primary School; 3rd, Tayla-Jay Machen, Allendale Primary School.

Upper Primary Poetry

1st, Ryan Barndon, Chapman Valley Primary School; 2nd , Ethan Donovan, Waggrakine Primary School; 3rd, Eddy Grice, Geraldton Primary School; Highly commended, Martha Burkinshaw, Geraldton Primary School; Highly commended, Zyla Smith, Wandina Primary School.

Upper Primary Prose

1st , Kristen Harries, Mt Tarcoola Primary School; 2nd, Angus Chadbourne, Mt Tarcoola Primary School; 3rd, Lilly Moses, Walkaway Primary School.

Lower Secondary Poetry

1st, Deanna Pollitt, Nagle Catholic College; 2nd, Keira Edwards, Nagle Catholic College; 3rd, Ashlyn Williams, Nagle Catholic College; Highly commended, Keira Bunter, Nagle Catholic College; Highly commended, Shanaya Gronow, Geraldton Grammar School.

Lower Secondary Prose

1st, Jordan Mitchell, Champion Bay Senior High School; 2nd, Essie Harris, Geraldton Grammar School; 3rd, India Newman, Nagle Catholic College; Highly commended, Ella Batten, Geraldton Grammar School; Highly commended, Aeza Belle Culallad, Champion Bay Senior High School.

Middle Secondary Poetry

1st, Raine Wheatley, Geraldton Grammar School; 2nd, Claire Luces, Nagle Catholic College; 3rd, Ashleigh Naisbitt, Nagle Catholic College; Highly commended, Loren Edwards, Strathalbyn Christian College; Highly commended, Charlotte McGowan, Champion Bay Senior High School.

Middle Secondary Prose

1st, Paige Littlefair, Nagle Catholic College; 2nd, Madeliene Ward, Nagle Catholic College; 3rd, Tallis Kentish, Geraldton Grammar School; Highly commended, Claire Dunn, Nagle Catholic College; Highly commended, Alby Ralph, Nagle Catholic College.

Upper Secondary Poetry

1st, Martha Schenk, Nagle Catholic College; 2nd, Heidi Barker, Nagle Catholic College; 3rd, Alyse White, Strathalbyn Christian College; Highly commended, Justin de Vries, Strathalbyn Christian College; Highly commended, Calli-Rose Woods, Strathalbyn Christian College.

Upper Secondary Prose

1st, James Pollitt, Nagle Catholic College; 2nd, Isabelle Scarpuzza, Nagle Catholic College; 3rd, Kyle Watkins, Nagle Catholic College; Highly commended, Freya Grice, Geraldton Senior High School; Highly commended, Wayne Bird, Nagle Catholic College.

Pat Gallaher Encouragement Award

Wayne Bird, Nagle Catholic College.