Two students from Kelvin Grove State College have claimed top honours in the 2024 Literary Competition, Queensland’s oldest continuous writing contest for school students.
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Now in its 65th year, the 2024 Literary Competition saw over 1,300 submissions across various categories, showcasing the state’s young literary talent.
Leonard Cavallaro, representing Years 9 and 10, secured first place in the short story category, while Elisabeth Yeo took the top spot for Years 7 and 8, also in the short story division. Their success highlights the strength of Kelvin Grove State College’s English and creative writing programs.
The English Teachers Association of Queensland (ETAQ) President Anne Wood noted that the competition received high-quality entries from schools across Queensland. She emphasised that the Literary Competition continues to be a significant event for nurturing young writers in the state. Established in 1959, the competition has become a launching pad for many budding authors over the decades.
The awards ceremony, held at the Queensland Multicultural Centre, saw winners receive certificates and book prizes donated by Penguin Random House Australia. First-place recipients had the opportunity to read their winning pieces to an appreciative audience.
Guest speaker Zanni Louise, a children’s book author from Byron Bay, delivered an engaging lecture, sharing insights from her writing career and inspiring the young talents in attendance.
Terry Burke, Branch Secretary of the Independent Education Union of Australia (Qld & NT), highlighted the competition’s role in developing students’ writing skills and creativity. He explained that their goal is to foster literary development and freedom of expression among young people.
The competition, jointly sponsored by the IEUA-QNT, ETAQ, and Penguin Random House, is open to students from Years 5 to 12, as well as teachers. It offers categories for poetry, short stories, and non-fiction prose across different age groups, with cash prizes for the top three places in each section.
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As Kelvin Grove State College celebrates its students’ achievements, the Literary Competition continues to play a vital role in nurturing Queensland’s next generation of writers, proving that the art of storytelling is alive and well in the Sunshine State.
Published 16-August-2024