The state’s regional writers brought out their creative brilliance and vivid imaginations when participating in the 125th Country Press NSW Writing competition.

Entries were received right across regional NSW including Cooma, Cowra, Forbes, Grenfell, Parkes, and Young, with primary and secondary school students, adults, and even newspaper contributors and journalists entering to share their literary flair.

Fittingly, a special condition was that competitors had to mention their much-loved local newspaper such as The Monaro Post, Cowra Guardian, Forbes Advocate, Parkes Champion-Post or Young Witness in their stories.

In the primary student category Year 3 student, Lettie Schofield, from Forbes won first prize with her story ‘Why Can’t We Go To Town?’

Top secondary entry was won by Year 9 student Marley Ava Ferres from Finley, Vickie Walker from Orange took out the open section, and George Bentnall from the Lismore Times won the newspaper story gong.

There were also 13 encouragement awards distributed to up and coming writers.

Entry numbers were sound across the categories with the primary section attracting 65 young writers and the adult open field consisting of 74 stories, mainly based on contemporary life, however, interestingly the first place was based on a historical tragedy set in colonial Australia.

The competition was sponsored by agribusiness company, Manildra Group, which enabled entry to be free for primary and secondary students, and the general country public, with a total of 178 stories entered overall.