TAF2022 | CHILDREN’S SHORT STORY COMPETITION AWARDS 

Congratulations to all our amazing young writers!

WINNERS ANNOUNCED AT GOVERNMENT HOUSE

On Thursday 9 March 2023, at Government House in Hobart, Dr L.J.M. Owen, the Director of the Terror Australis Readers and Writers Festival and Convenor of the TARWF Children's Mystery Short Story Competition, announced this year’s winners.

Excerpt from Dr Owen’s speech:

“The theme for this year's competition arose from our celebration of the centenary of Agatha Christie's visit to Tasmania.

Agatha loved it so much, she wrote in her autobiography that she had hoped to move here one day.

So for this competition, we asked our young writers to imagine that she had, and to create mysteries she may have written if she had made Tasmania her home.

And the entries were marvellous, a wonderful continuation of a great Tasmanian tradition.

When Agatha Christie toured our island state in 1922, local readers were already enjoying mysteries written by Tasmania’s own Hilda Bridges.

Last year, while I was curating an exhibition to celebrate Agatha’s visit, I discovered more than 35 authors and 100 crime and mystery novels published in the past century, either by Tasmanians or set in Tasmania.

So, young writers, you are in very good company. In 2022, the top ten most borrowed adult fiction books from Libraries Tasmania were all works of crime, mystery and suspense, including new work from Ann Cleeves. Garry Disher and Fiona McIntosh.

You’re already telling the type of stories that are most popular with readers.

Thank you so much to this year’s judges; Bronwyn Chalke, the owner of Hobart Bookshop; Lindy Cameron, the CEO of Clan Destine Press; Em Cutting, also a judge of the national Aurealis Awards; and Judi Rhodes, one of Tasmania's finest children's authors.

I’d also like to thank all the librarians, teachers and parents who helped this year’s entrants. I know, all too well, just how much encouragement and support we writers can need, so thank you for helping to nurture our next generation of storytellers.

Congratulations to all the writers of winning, honourably mentioned and highly commended entries.”

WINNING STORIES 

CATEGORY - OPEN TO AGE 16

Joint Winners

Murder on the Oreo Express, Grace Fu, Hobart

The Mysterious Affair at Shirley's, Ava McMahon Jones, Kingston

Also Shortlisted

Alice and the Mystery of the Crying Baby, Claire MacDonald, Hamilton, QLD

Murder on the Pacific National, Izabelle Borzak-Bell, Cygnet

What Happened Before Dinner, Rose Pullinger, Hobart

CATEGORY - YEARS 5-6

Winning Entry

The Clue of the Ascending Letter, Sebastian Harvey, Auckland, NZ

Runner Up

Snuffed in Snug, Neve Windsor, Huonville

Also Shortlisted

Scones, Stones and Suspects, Ariella Lambeth, Hobart

Sophie and the Lost Key, Joanna Wu, Hobart

Tabitha's Earrings, Tessa Gordon, Lindisfarne

The Midnight Murder, Shakaya Triffitt, Mowbray

CATEGORY - YEARS 3-4

Winning Entry

Detective Apple-Hat and the Cherry Tree Manor Mystery, Arthur Dendle Crerar, Gardners Bay

Runner Up

Elisabeth and the Missing Wallet, Lavinia Pearce, Hobart

Also Shortlisted

Annabeth and the Case of the Missing Crest, Eloise Vanier, Hobart

The Hunt, Bonnie Pullinger, Fern Tree

CATEGORY - UP TO YEAR 2 

Winning Entry 

Monkey Mystery, Olivia Kristensen, Hobart

Runner Up

The Mystery of the Missing Wand, Daisy Walter, Huonville

Also Shortlisted

Activity in the Bush, Connor McGuire, Kingston

The Mystery of the Dino Model, August Walter, Huonville

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