Seeking entries for writing prize

This year's Bass Coast non-fiction prize for writings relating to Gippsland is now open with a closing date of September 14.

The competition, one of the richest for non-fiction in Australia, continues to grow with 42 entries received last year from people ranging in age for the 20s to 90s.

Previous winners Ross Quilford (2021) and Linda Cuttriss (2020) and author, editor and librarian Karen Bateman form this year's judging panel.

The main prize is $5000 with $2500 and $1000 for the runner-up and third place getter respectively for writings of 4000 to 10,000 words..

This year there is a new section for shorter pieces of 1500 to 4000 words with a $1000 first prize and $500 for the runner-up.

Bass Coast Shire council, West Gippsland Library Corporation and ArtSpace Wonthaggi are sponsors of the main awards with former judge Anne Heath Mennell sponsoring prizes for the shorter works that aim to encourage younger and less experienced writers.

Mr Quilford, a PhD student and RMIT University's writing lab who submitted last year's winning entry, said the prize provided much-needed encouragement for non-fiction writing in general and particularly for his own career.

The competition is open to writers with a strong connection to Gippsland and entries must relate to the region, its issues or people.

Chair of the organising committee and Bass Coast Post editor Catherine Watson said winners will be announced in November.

Last year's 42 entries covered a wide range of topics. Their variety was well represented in the writings submitted by the three prize winners.

Mr Quilford's winning entry told of his daily swimming, walking and observing Cape Paterson during a COVID winter lockdown. Runner-up 93 year-old Graeme Wheeler of Foster wrote of the search for two young women missing in the high country in 1953 and third placegetter, Inverloch writer Judy Vradenburg, gave an inside account of community activism.

More information is available at basscoastprizefornonfiction.weebly.com/, by email to editor@basscoastpost.com or by phoning Ms Watson on 0401 817 796.