litlinks 2024

A creative writing competition for ACT school students and their teachers

Year 7 & 8 Category, 2024

Image: A Yr 7 student writing at home.

The record number of year 7 and 8 entries in 2024 presented a delicious problem for the judges, with so many stories vying for our attention. Furthermore, the refreshing variety of story topics made our reading a pleasure and our judging a challenge. In the post-covid years we are seeing less in the way of apocalyptic dystopia and instead a broader representation of diversity and cultural identity.

Our year 7 and 8 student-authors’ unique perspectives of the world, shared through their fiction, is allowing them to ‘be seen’. There was no fear in experimenting with rich vocabulary, reminding us of the power of well-chosen words. Sophisticated and mature themes, ranging from the deeply emotional to the philosophical and existential, engaged both our hearts and minds.

Congratulations to all students: sharing your stories with us has given us a window into your worlds and into that which concerns you.

Click on the images and links below to explore the winners in the Years 7 & 8 Category:

Click here to read Waves of Change by Imogen Phillips, Melrose High School
Click here to read The Past’s Current by Patricia Sukardi, Daramalan College
Click here to read Strings by Evelyn Pollard, St John Paul II College
Click here to read Una Mente, Uno Consilio by Olive King, Canberra High School

Winners:

Shortlisted Awards:

  • Prakiti Baral, Melrose High School – Ribbon
  • Chloe Duff, St Clare’s College – When the Static Clears
  • Eleanor McDermott, Canberra Grammar School – Til the End
  • Eden Mitchel, Trinity Christian School – Rising Up With Words
  • Divya Vijaykumar, Calwell High School – Failure, Success and Concealment

LitLinks Achievement Awards:

  • Diya Balachandar, Melrose High School – Dance of the Dead Fox
  • Sophia Barbour, Caroline Chisholm School – A New Family
  • Rose Biboudis, Alfred Deakin High School – Growing Up with a Sibling with a Disability
  • Phoenix Boyce, University of Canberra High School Kaleen – Puzzle Time!
  • George Braun, Amaroo School – Abaddon
  • Sarah Briant, Covenant Christian School – The Escape to Freedom
  • Emmeline Buckley, St John Paul II College – The Trapped Sun
  • Mirielle de Rooy, Trinity Christian School – Imperfectly Perfect
  • Charlotte Evans, Melrose High School – Long Story Short
  • Audrey Fiddy, Belconnen High School – The Scar Within
  • Benjamin Franklin, Shirley Smith High School – Shadowsteel and the Lock
  • Janaki Garrick, Canberra Grammar School – The Graveyard Chase
  • Rachel Giason, Daramalan College – The Demon’s Curse
  • Olivia Gifford, Daramalan College – Grief
  • Delia Griffiths, St Clare’s College – No One To Hear You Scream
  • Jasmine Gundry, Lanyon High School – Truth of the Plague
  • Nathan Haebich, Harrison School – War of Enter
  • Meredith Henzell, Canberra High School – Fate
  • Sarah Hincks, Trinity Christian School – Perspectives
  • Joan Hope, Shirley Smith High School – Seasons of Shadow
  • Levi Horneman, Trinity Christian School – Sympathy for Lorie
  • Amelia Jensen, Canberra High School – Trust
  • Maheen Jabran, Alfred Deakin High School – The King’s Champion
  • Gemma Klose, Mt Stromlo High School – The Disappearance
  • Emma Lee, Canberra High School – Butterfly
  • Charles McDonald, Melrose High School – The Spray
  • Reese McGee, Daramalan College – There She Laid
  • Madison Meeuwissen, Mt Stromlo High School – The Darkness
  • Hayley Milczarek, Lanyon High School – The Distorted Cry
  • Alysha Oei, St John Paul II College – Until It’s Too Late
  • Misha Pandya, University of Canberra High School Kaleen – Mind Game
  • Geetanjalt Patange, Melrose High School – Reoccurring Nightmares
  • Sophie-Anne Pohl, Shirley Smith High School – Last Breath
  • Nameera Rahmania, Harrison School – Life
  • Heidi Rayner, Canberra High School – The Dividing Wall
  • Stevie-Rae Robinson, Lanyon High School – The Many-Faced God
  • Keatyn Schroeder, Lanyon High School – Safe
  • Lucas Schulze, Shirley Smith High School – Qaudir and the Great Sand Sea
  • Mya Sherwood, Caroline Chisholm School – The Girl with Her Tears
  • Jacob Simpson, Alfred Deakin High School – Growing Up White in Australia
  • Rhianna Skinn, Daramalan College – Epiphany
  • Misha Stephen, Calwell High School – Hope and Pain
  • Ivy Tait, Belconnen High School – Stolen Dream
  • Moumin Talib, St John Paul II College – Iceberg – The Lost Polar Bear
  • Antonia Upritchard, Shirley Smith High School – The End of Bland
  • Scarlett Vardanega, University of Canberra High School Kaleen – Battle of the Heart
  • Georgia Walker, Radford College – The Last Person on Earth
  • Kiara Webb-Menzies, St Clare’s College – The Last Message of My Dear Friend
  • Hannah White, Covenant Christian School – Where Flowers Bloom
  • Sienna Wruck, St John Paul II College – Zombie Like Me

Judges

ACTATE thanks the Year 7 and 8 category judges, Jenine Westerburg and Teresa Nugent, for their time and expertise.

Jenine is an English teacher, ACTATE executive member, reading tutor and writing advocate. Teresa is an Early Childhood speech and drama teacher, ACTATE member, and reading and writing advocate.