SWAC - Storywriting Results

Storywriting

True Wartime | True Life | Fiction | Poetry/Prose | 60 years of Australian Peacekeeping

1A - True Wartime Experience

True Wartime Experience Judge: Major General (Retd) Mike O’Brien
Major General (Retd) Mike O’Brien is an Infantryman who joined the Army in 1965 and served in Vietnam as an Infantry platoon commander and intelligence officer. The history of his battalion (7th Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment) was published in 1995.

1st Prize and Sir Edward “Weary” Dunlop Memorial Award:
Joseph Tennant – Young Love in War
Joseph Tennant served for five years during WW2 in the South African Navy in sub chasers and minesweepers in the South Atlantic and Mediterranean. His service included the escort of supply convoys in support of the Australian Division besieged in Tobruk, and magnetic minesweeping ahead of supply convoys in support of the advance of the 8th Army along the coast of North Africa to El Alamein westward. Joseph’s first efforts at story writing commenced in the mid 1990’s, when he learned of the SWAC through his local library at Inverloch. He says, “I thought people of another generation might be interested in my experiences”.

2nd Prize
Arthur Cusick – Six Days on a Life-Raft
Arthur Cusick joined the RAN in 1937 till 1939. He fought in the Battle of Britain. Arthur later rejoined the RAN in 1941 and went on to join the fleet, which fought in The Battle of Crete. He returned to Australia in 1942 and served in the Pacific until the end of the war. Arthur first started writing when the SWAC commenced back in 1962. The inspiration to create his entry was the opportunity to win first prize in this competition.

3rd Prize
Arthur Haskell – Tail Ender
Arthur Haskell served in the British Merchant Navy from 1944 to 1952. He served in the English Channel and North Sea, then later, the Atlantic and the Middle East. His interest and love of writing and especially poetry, inspired him to enter in this year’s competition.

The Australian Defence Force Journal Award
Percy Titchener – Never Take Life Very Seriously
Percy Titchener served in Vietnam as an infantry section commander, with the Tracker Platoon and 3 Platoon, 6 RAR / NZ ANZAC Btn during 1969 to 1970. He and all of his section were wounded in action on 28 February 1970. Percy first started writing approximately two years ago. Some of this story appeared in “We Too Were Anzacs” – A history of the 6 RAR / NZ ANZAC Btn., which was the inspiration to contribute and enter his story in this year’s SWAC.

The Ron Brockie OAM Memorial Award
Marilyn Baldwin – Reflections on the Hindenburg Line
Marilyn Baldwin is the daughter of an ANZAC veteran – Daniel Eric Baldwin who served in France in WW1. Major Baldwin also served in New Guinea in WW2. At the age of eight, ‘The Age’ published her first poem. Marilyn loves writing and is especially interested in Military history and stories from veterans. The inspiration for her entry was that she believes it is important to preserve for the next generation the dedication and suffering of our soldiers in war and their role in Australian history.

Honourable Mentions:
Raymond Jenner – Flying Doctor Goes to War
George Logan – Unofficial History - One Night in Malaya
Donald Thomas – A True Hero

1B - True Life Experience

True Life Experience Judge: Lyn Price
Lyn Price has written short stories and articles for books, magazines, newspapers and websites. She has written and edited text for Museum Exhibitions on a wide range of subjects including indigenous culture, marine life, dinosaurs and Vikings. She says, “As a SWAC judge, it is very special to read the stories of so many veterans and widows.”

1st Prize
Michael Madden – The Tide Is Turning
Michael’s father – John Madden was a Vietnam Veteran. He served with the 32 Small Ships and landed in Vietnam on the 18th August 1966, right in the middle of The Battle of Long Tan. Michael marches with his dad each Anzac Day, wearing his dad’s WW2 war medals. His dad was a Captain in New Guinea and won the OAM. Michael has always written short stories and his creative writing skills assisted him at high school. The inspiration for this entry was designed to highlight the plight of our Vietnam Veterans and to honour my father and his suffering.

2nd Prize
Walter Davies – First Tripper
Walter Davies served with the British Merchant Navy from 1935 to 1946. He was awarded several medals for his service, eg. 1939 – 1945 medal, Atlantic, North Africa and Pacific campaign stars. Walter first started writing back in his school days. The inspiration to create his story entry was the importance of a Merchant Fleet to an island nation, and for the men and women who served in it deserve better public recognition.

3rd Prize
Delme Pilgrim – The Corpse
Delme is the widow of Corporal Lloyd James Pilgrim, who served in the AIF from 1942 to 1946 in the 2/8 Australian Armoured Regiment. Delme first commenced writing while at school at PLC in the 1920’s. After her husband died in 1991, she attended a writing course and then began entering competitions. The inspiration to create her entry was due to real life events as the catalyst, to which she has added some imaginative ideas.

Legacy Novice Award for a First Year Entrant
Janet Cram – Grandad
Janet is the daughter of veterans. Her father – Corporal Ernest Reginald Dixon, was in the Medical Corps in England and Africa. Her mother – Joyce Ivy Dixon, was in the Catering Corps. Janet was born in Kent during the war in 1942. She first commenced writing about four years ago and has worked in libraries for over 30 years. The inspiration to create her entry was the various stories she heard from her grandfather, father and mother over the years.

Honourable Mentions:
Kathleen Grimsey – Fragments of a Memory
David King – Dave The Milkman
Thomas Newth – A Young Tom - The First Forty Years
Gloria Welch – The Myth of the Great Depression - My Experience

1C - Fiction

Fiction Judge:: Carolyn Morwood
Carolyn Morwood is a crime fiction writer based in Melbourne and this city is a feature in her novels. Her three novels have been published by (The Women’s Press) in the United Kingdom. She has also published a wide range of poetry and short stories in the UK and Australia. They are: The Blessing File (1998) winner of the Tom Howard Mystery Novel Contest; An Uncertain Death (1999) listed for the Ned Kelly Awards; and in 2001, A Simple Death was short listed for the Ned Kelly Awards.
In 2002, Carolyn won the Davitt Award, which is “The Sisters In Crime Award” for the best adult crime novel by an Australian woman. Carolyn teaches in the Professional Writing and Editing programs run at the Council of Adult Education and Box Hill TAFE.

1st Prize
Letitia Gregory – Something Borrowed
Letitia Gregory is a war widow. Her husband – Ian Lindsay Gregory served with the RAAF from 1940 to 1946. Letitia’s first memory of writing was making up little story notes to leave out for the fairies. Her father and husband who both served, have each left her with a legacy of memories and ideas for writing. The inspiration to create this entry was that sometimes she wonders at the plight of those, both young and old, deprived of the rich and multi-faceted experiences of these relationships.

2nd Prize
Joan Larkin – Map of Africa
Joan Larkin is a war widow. Her husband – Desmond Larkin enlisted with the RAAF in 1940 and served in England, North Africa and New Guinea as a navigator in a Lancaster bomber. Joan first commenced writing when she was 70 years old and writes mainly fiction, poems and short stories. This entry was inspired about a lady Joan saw one day in the city.

3rd Prize
Tess Evans – St Vinnies, Mr Quinlan
Tess’s husband was a National Serviceman who served in Vietnam with the 106 Field Battery from 1967 to 1968. Her father also served in World War 2 in the 9th Division Cavalry. Tess commenced writing about four years ago. This entry was created and inspired while working on a food van for St Vinnies some years ago.

Legacy Novice Award for a First Year Entrant – Runner-up
Esme Walsh - The Long White Road
Esme’s father – Pte Leslie W Dorrington enlisted with the Australian Army during WW2 and served in Darwin and the Islands. Esme has always liked writing – even as a child. The inspiration for this entry was her actual experience of the Long White Road, and recalls travelling with her younger brother and their cousin.

Honourable Mentions:
Marjorie Ward – Jesse Come Home
Margaret Vawdon – What The Eye Doesn’t See
Tess Evans – Keeping Faith
Marjorie Ward – Episode In a Bush Fire

1D - Poetry/ Prose

Poetry / Prose Judge: Garth Madsen
Garth Madsen enjoys writing poetry, fiction and non-fiction for children and adults. He started writing professionally in 1990 while he was in Japan. Since then, he has published over 100 articles, 200 poems and over 100 short stories.
Garth became an English teacher in 1984 and throughout his teaching career, has promoted both writing and literature among young people. He currently does casual work at Monash University to supplement his writing. Garth has published two collections of poetry, called “Portraits of Rust” and “Thirteen Jesuses”.

1st Prize
Colin Montfort – To Have Been or Not To Have Been
Colin was conscripted into National Service in 1969 and served in Vietnam from 1970 to 1971 with 106 Battery 4 Field Regiment. In WWII, Colin’s father served in the AIF and was Prisoner of War under the Japanese in Singapore, Malaysia and the Burma/Thai railway. Colin first started writing poetry at Primary School and years later turned to song writing for fun. His career as an artist working in glass was from 1976 to 2000. Colin suffered from PTSD and is on a T&PI pension. He was unable to work or even think creatively until 2003. It was then that he re-discovered poetry and pastel drawing, which are now his main source of inspiration and therapy.

2nd Prize and the Vice Admiral William Rooke Creswell Poetry Encouragement Award
Rosemary McLoughlin – In The Case Of…
Rosemary’s father – Mervyn Brown served in New Guinea with the 39th Battalion during 1941 to 1943. He contributed his personal accounts to the book. Marjorie began writing seriously in the early 1980’s and has had several pieces published. She has also studied Art and is interested in Photography. The inspiration for this entry was by watching films over the year and documentaries and became fascinated with the importance of ‘The Little Brown Suitcase.’

3rd Prize
Gladys (Gaye) Robinson – Cherry Blossom
Gaye is the wife of Ian Robinson, ex RAAF aircrew member who served in R.A.F. Bomber Command over Europe in 1943. He later spent time in a P.O.W. camp in Germany. Gaye also went to night school and then completed a degree in literature and history at Monash University. She had watched a video of Princess Diana’s funeral and instantly started writing her first short story. Gaye has been happily writing ever since. The inspiration to create her entry was the Cherry Blossom Festival in Japan, which is a magical time.

Honourable Mentions:
Margaret Hay – A Block from Punt Road
Joan Lupson – I Can’t Stop Being a Mother
Gordon Russell – The Last Race
Pauline Brown – The First Woman Hanged in a Victorian Gaol

1E - Special 60 years of Australian Peacekeeping

“Australia’s Contribution to World Peace and Security” Special Award Judge: Barry Dickins
Barry Dickins is a writer of poetry, plays, films, children’s fiction and humour, a columnist, an illustrator and a performer. His powers of story telling have been entertaining audiences for over twenty years. Barry has also collaborated as writer on a number of film projects with Paul Cox and others. He writes regularly for The Age and Sunday Age newspapers.
In 1999, Barry published “Ordinary Heroes”, a series of interviews with World War I, World War II and Vietnam veterans. Then in 2000, the publisher Hardie-Grant, published a second book called “Heart and Soul - Recollections of the Victorian Police Force”, including police widows.

1st Prize
Frank Lees – Australia - Peacekeeper in Japan
Frank Lees enlisted with the RAAF in 1944, and qualified as a RAAF electrician. He later volunteered and joined the BCOF and served in Japan from late 1945 to 1947. Frank first started writing as a 10 year old boy by keeping a diary, which he kept and wrote during his service in WW2 and Japan. He commenced writing stories in 1948 (Hiroshima – Before and After) and attended writing classes from 1997 to 2004. This entry was inspired by his time serving in Japan as a member of the BCOF.

2nd Prize
Pauline Brown – A Contribution from My Community
Pauline is the widow of Sgt. Keith Brown, who served with 2/2 RAE 6th Division. Keith also later enlisted with the RAAF, and served as a Rear Tail Gunner in the Pacific area. Pauline returned to study after being widowed in 1990 and completed a Diploma in Writing and Editing. She joined the Boronia and The Basin Community News in 1994 and has been involved in volunteer work ever since.

3rd Prize
Joyce Taylor – The Empty Box
Joyce Taylor’s father, John Gabriel McConnell was in the Militia AIF and served from 1939. His father was killed during WW1. Her mother’s father served in WW1 in the Light Horse Brigade. Joyce started writing about 25 years ago. In the last 15 years, she commenced writing about something or someone in particular. This entry was inspired by her telling a story of an experience during this year’s Mother’s Day.

Honourable Mentions:
Arthur Haskell – Freedom, Peace and Security
James Crockart – Australian Contribution
Robert Fleming – World Peace
June Payne – Australia’s Contribution to World Peace and Security
Graham Ryan – Peace