Plans well in hand 16 schools to be invited. – the brochures and entry forms are now being designed and then printed. I will then deliver to all schools and speak to the schools to give them encouragement to enter. I have engaged a top author to conduct the Workshops at the Albury Library Museum during the Albury Writing Festival and at Wodonga there will be two workshops during Youth Book Week to be held at the Wodonga library. I have decided to have the short story competition for years 7 to 10 as an open subject and poetry as well. Major sponsors are – The Commercial Club, Wodonga Council, Albury Council, Dymocks Book shop. However Hume Building Society have declined. For the first time in 10 years our club may have to contribute funds. This is the tenth year of the Rotary Club of Albury Hume Secondary School writing and poetry competition which started with 6 schools and 78 Entries now 16 schools and touching the lives of a 1000 students.  I thank my wonderful Club for their continued support.  Sadly I will be missing John McDonald as a final judge. He was unbelievable …  picture the judging panel dealing with the intense study of the entries … suddenly  loud laughter from deep within, shattering all concentration, as John would read out a part of a story which caught his humour … we would all then have a laugh … I will miss my treasured friend and our Rotarian.  Barry Young