Year 7 & 8 Writers

Across Year 7 and 8 we saw the highest ever percentage of speculative fiction submitted, demonstrating vivid and fertile imaginations at play, and delivering original settings, world-building concepts and ideas.

There were interesting trends such as characters experiencing being caught between different realities, whether it be the dream world and the waking world or exchanging places with one’s own mirror reflection. Duels also featured, including parent-child power struggles (cleverly told through a speculative fiction lens), a do-or-die card game, a wild west shootout, and our winning entry of an epic battle between man and bird!

We thank the contributing authors for making 2023 7 & 8 category judging extremely entertaining!

• Winner: Altonio and the Raven by Elmore Wenholz, Harrison School
• Highly Commended: Reflection by Gracie Higgs, Alfred Deakin High School
• Judges’ Choice: Robbed Dreams by Aadhya Karthik, Canberra Girls Grammar School
• Speculative Fiction Award: Thicker than Water by Skye Mitry, Kingsford Smith School

• Lucy Horne, Trinity Christian School – Memory Mass
• Gemma Klase, Mt Stromlo High School – Shadow Man and Me
• Stevie-Rae ‘Onyx’ Robinson, Lanyon High School – Ace of Spades
• Abigail Wykes, Harrison School – The Hunter’s Test

• Abigail Biddle, Radford College – Chains of Death
• Alicia Campbell, Daramalan College – Shriek
• Tobias Feitz, Mt Stromlo High School – Yishta Ashtirina
• Isabella Geary, Daramalan College – A Second Chance
• Kume Grieve, Mt Stromlo High School – The Death of a Chief
• Ivy Griffith-Cox, Lanyon High School – The Water Guardian
• Bridget Henderson, Alfred Deakin High School – The Unexpected Mystery
• Maheen Jabran, Alfred Deakin High School – Apocalypse
• Catherine Gnana Asir Justine, Wanniassa School – Stereotypes Vs Reality
• Kirsten Mackenzie-Scott, Melrose High School – Adjourned by Betrayal
• Henry Marston, Trinity Christian School – Inheritance
• Emma Matsen Joung, Canberra Girls Grammar School – The Fair Ones
• Isla Newton, Wanniassa School – Plan to Score
• Avery Plasto, Melba Copland Secondary School – If lost, please return to Nitya Fortis
• Luci Polegubic, Daramalan College – Lily Sees Colour
• Amy Roberts, Amaroo School – Through the Ages
• Belle Rossmanith, Alfred Deakin High School – Wandering Through a Broken Lightbulb
• Lexy Shiers, Mt Stromlo High School – Run For Your Life
• Klaudia Swiderski, Daramalan College – Life
• Ezekiel White, Mt Stromlo High School – Pyro and Pizza
• Joan Woods, Wanniassa School – The Woman in Black
• Jake Wullaert, Daramalan College – The Wild West
• Ariana Xholi, Melrose High School – Alight