2023 Judges: Leanne Hall & Suzy Garcia

Winner — ‘Slipping Away’ by Claudia Sherman (Year 12, Kilvington Grammar School, VIC)

LEANNE: I was really moved by Claudia’s story about an adult daughter trying to do the best for her aging mother, and return the care she had received when she was a child. Claudia managed to juggle the past and present brilliantly in this story; she also had a great knack for sketching out familial relationships with carefully selected images and small details.

I felt keenly the vulnerability of both her characters, and the love that flowed between them too. The difficult decisions that need to be made when loved ones age, and the anxiety around these decisions, really came across. This was such an impressive story—sensitive, well-structured and intimate.

SUZY: Claudia’s piece of fiction was evocative and engaging, speaking to the theme of ‘growth’ by capturing the inner world of someone acutely aware of the passing of time.

Claudia gave the story an intimate voice with emotional resonance. I look forward to seeing how she develops these fiction skills in future!

General Judging Comments from Leanne Hall:

I was so impressed by the thoughtful and unique ways the shortlisted writers tackled the theme of growth in their stories. Each story surprised me with complex insights, and each writer demonstrated a strong individual voice. Most of all, I loved seeing the courage and verve of these young writers as they freely explored ideas, language, metaphor and style in their pieces.