Date: 20 August, 2014
The Mighty River of Stories Keeps on Flowing!
In its 12th year, the Rotary Club of Albury Hume’s River of Stories writing competition has grown into a border institution. As the sunrise in winter warms our frosty, cold winter mornings, so the River of Stories writing competition brings a warm inner glow to all those children and volunteers who have been part of its story!
Barry Young, OAM, and member of the Rotary Club of Albury Hume, initiated the first River of Stories competition back in 2003. “There was nothing back then for our young people to showcase their writing – so we approached the Principals of some of our secondary schools with the idea for a writing competition” says Barry. And how it has grown! In that first year, 5 schools came on board and there were 78 entries. Last year, there were 15 schools from the border involved with over 500 entries!
“We have touched the lives of thousands of young teenagers through the River of Stories” says Barry, “They are the border youth of the future, and we as a community service club felt the need to make a difference to young people’s lives and enrich our community by encouraging them to express themselves in stories and poetry.”
Entries last year ranged across a myriad of themes and styles. The overall winner was Sonali Kagithala from James Fallon High School, who wrote about her wonderful reunification with her family after 12 years believing she was an orphan. Kayla Nicholas from Corryong High School drew on first hand experiences in writing about a sheep dog’s friendship with a goat kid, while Samantha McLean of Catholic College Wodonga wrote a truly gripping fantasy tale inspired by Norse mythology’s ravens Huginn and Muninn.
Barry says “Of great support are our sponsors – The Albury City Council, the Commercial Club (Albury) and Dymocks (Albury). The Albury Library Museum have, from day one, given their support which has been paramount to the success of the competition.”
President of the Rotary Club of Albury Hume, Justin Clancy, says “Rotary International has six main areas that they focus on, and one of these is improving literacy. The River of Stories is all about literacy, and giving young people the opportunity to write for a wider audience, and gain recognition for their school and themselves.”
The competition this year is again open to students in Years 7 to 10. There are two sections; a Short Story section, and a Poetry section. The winner of each section will receive $200 and also $500 for their school’s library.
The winning entry from each school receives a $50 book voucher from Dymocks Bookshop in Albury. Entries for the River of Stories close on 19 September, 2014, and there will be a presentation ceremony at the Albury Library Museum on 11 October at 12 noon. Please contact the following for further information: Gordon Shaw, Public Relations Director-Rotary Club of Albury Hume, 0417 282 584, gordonsac@bigpond.com