U3A Success in ASCCA Creative Writing Competition

Our Creative Writing class had great results in ASCCA's Creative Writing competition this year.

There were three topics: Someone Who Inspired Me, Caring, and A Special Place. Each of these topics could be treated as prose or poetry, making six sections altogether. In all, eighty-one entries were received from across Australia and we managed two wins, two seconds, a third and two Special Mentions.

Fran Fisher was our winning writer with her thoughtful Ask George—a story about her grandfather's influence on her life. I was second in that one with Twenty-Twenty—a story about a blind friend who died in the Himalayas while training to climb Mount Everest.

John Clarke won the prose section of A Special Place with his clever combination of prose and verse with Ada's Place and The Loquat Tree. They have been published in our Poet's Corner on this web page.

Robyn Nance also won a poetry section with her Caring and Sharing. I don't know much about Robyn and don't have a copy of her poem. She was with us briefly in Term 1 but I haven't heard from her since. Chris Behl received a Special Mention in that section with a poem called, My Pop. I managed third place with Couples in the Park.

I snagged another second (a second second?) with A Voice in the Tanglewood, in the poetry section of Somebody Who Inspired Me.

George Conyngham scored a Special Mention for The Lolly, a story about caring.

To put the icing on the cake Fran was awarded a gift voucher for $100 as her prize and, as if that wasn't enough her husband, Bernie, won the lucky door prize.

It was quite a day.

Congratulations Fran, Robyn, Chris, George and, oh yeah, Bernie!

The winning entries have been posted on our U3A Creative Writing Web Site. Click on the links below to read them there.

• By George! Ask George – Fran
• The Loquat Tree – John Clarke
• Twenty-Twenty – David
• A Voice in the Tanglewood – David
• Couples in the Park – David
• My Pop – Chris
• The Lolly – George

I'm stepping down as tutor of the creative writing class next year and will be ably replaced by Richard Lamb. (That's him on the right.) He's a very skilful writer and I'm looking forward to being part of his class.

              —David Evans

So it's goodbye from me ... and it's hello from him!