litlinks 2023

A creative writing competition for ACT school students and their teachers

Year 9 & 10 Category, 2023

Image: Year 9 and 10 students working on writing together.

The years 9 and 10 writers chose mature themes and wide-ranging subject matter in this year’s competition. The judges commented on how many entries demonstrated strong descriptive power as well as a clear idea of the importance of narrative structure in the short story form. Technical mastery of grammar, punctuation and vocabulary was evident overall.

Congratulations to all the wonderful writers who entered in the 2023 Years 9 and 10 Category.

Click on the images and links below to explore the winners in the Years 9 & 10 Category:

Click here to read Counting by Elizabeth Denney
Click here to read Morning Coffee by Brynn Christiansen
Click here to read You Listen To Me by Elizabeth Coghill
Click here to read The Deadboys by Aria Maric

Winners:

Shortlisted Awards:

  • Liliane Alblas, Radford College – Molly’s Garden
  • Isabella Hartley, Melrose High School – As Easy as Breathing
  • Parker Jakab-van Dooren , University of Canberra High School Kaleen – Ace
  • Alexa Norris, Mt Stromlo High School – (It’s Not) A Game of Chess
  • Rebecca Thwaite, Melba Copland Secondary School – No Words
  • Miranda Tyler, Canberra Girls Grammar School – Hell on Planova
  • Justin Vu, Brindabella Christian College – Tears that Burn
  • Samuel Xholi, Melrose High School – The Loss of Eden

LitLinks Achievement Awards:

  • Layla Baker-Gabb, Melrose High School – The Room
  • Talia Bruckard, Amaroo School – Dragon Dance
  • Nerine Chung, Canberra Girls Grammar School – //Debug.Log(“Goodbye World”);
  • Fynnbar Clode, Alfred Deakin High School – Faded
  • Olivia Corr, Wanniassa School – If Only
  • Asha Ellis, Alfred Deakin High School – Something Yellow
  • Caleb Ernstzen, Alfred Deakin High School – Black Sand
  • Betelehem Girmay, University of Canberra High School Kaleen – The Halloween Fate
  • Mackenzie Gough, Amaroo School – He’s Fine
  • Anvi Gupta, Radford College – Daggers in Men’s Smiles
  • Lily Higgs, Alfred Deakin High School – The Lilies
  • Emma S Huang, Radford College – The Drive Home
  • Abby Jensen, Kingsford Smith School – Stolen
  • Seraphina Kabay, Wanniassa School – Falling
  • Gaia La Penna, Mount Stromlo High School – Where Milestones Gather Moss
  • Zevannah McLaren, Lanyon High School – The Unexpected
  • James Oreo, Radford College – Instruments of Darkness
  • Delaney Perrin, Amaroo School – The Poet’s Ghost
  • Jaya Pitchford, Canberra Girls Grammar School – The Funeral Critic
  • Esther Robin, Brindabella Christian College – Discomfort
  • Louis Ryan, Wanniassa School – Under the Monolith’s Nose
  • Maeve Scurr, Kingsford Smith School – A Dragon’s Mountain
  • Laasya Seri, Amaroo School – Monster
  • Zoe White, Mount Stromlo High School – Cities and Rooftops
  • Ari Whyatt, Melrose High School – Selfishly Selfless
  • Alvin Zhao, Brindabella Christian College – Sovereignty, Stratification and Sacrifice

Judges

ACTATE thanks the year 9 and 10 category judges, Janet Rickwood and Madeleine Rutzou, for their time and expertise.

Janet and Madeleine are both English teachers and ACTATE members. Janet is a former ACTATE president and school principal.