Thrilled to be the recipient of the 2025 Peninsula Writer’s Club ‘Writer in Residence’

I was stunned and delighted to learn my short story ‘Blue Elephant‘ won Peninsula Writers’ Club 2025 Writer in Residence.

The Residency comes with extremely generous prizes thanks to the ongoing sponsorship of Community Bank Southern Peninsula. In an environment where the Arts are being increasingly devalued, support from Bendigo Bank is appreciated more than ever.

My thanks also go to judge award-winning author Nicole Hayes who no doubt had a difficult task. Judging literary comps is a lot of work and deliberation, especially when there’s many quality entries to consider and reflect upon.

Part of the prize is also a gift voucher towards my very own writing retreat at Dundas by the Sea. I can’t wait to write more words within their welcoming walls!

Biggest huzzahs to all who entered, with special congrats to Runner Up, Sarah Halfpenny, and Highly Commended, Carly Foster and Dawn Markowitsch. Such talent!

And of course, thanks to the amazing organisation and committee who drive this fabulous Residency prize, Peninsula Writers’ Club – their commitment to sharing and celebrating the stories of your members is so appreciated.

If you would like to read Blue Elephant, you’ll find it in the link here. I have had people messaging me telling me I made them cry with my speculative take on the ‘black dog’, so sorry (not sorry) if I make you cry too. I hope that means I’ve made you feel something, which, as a writer, I guess is all we can really hope for xx

‘Honourably Mentioned’ in the 2022 MP Shire Mayor’s Writing Awards.

What a wonderfully welcome way to wrap the week! As I started thinking about packing for my forthcoming two week writing retreat as Artist in Residence at Police Point Cottages, which formed part of my prize for winning the 2021 Mornington Peninsula Shire Mayor’s Writing Award, I learned some exciting related news. My story ‘Dishlickers’ received an Honourable Mention in this year’s Mayor’s Writing Awards!

Congratulations to the winners and entrants across all categories. Big thanks to judges Mornington Peninsula Shire Mayor Cr Anthony Marsh, and award-winning author Garry Disher. My gratitude to Peninsula Writers’ Club and Mornington Peninsula Arts and Culture for making this competition a notable inclusion to our literary landscape, and of course to our amazing local bookstores for their generous sponsorship, Farrells Bookshop, Antipodes Bookshop and Gallery, Petersen’s Bookstore and Rosebud Book Barn.

If you would like to read my entry, along with the other amazing stories, you’ll find them all here: https://shape.mornpen.vic.gov.au/…/2022-mayors-short…