By BRIDGET SCOTT
A COUNCIL run writing competition has showcased some of the area’s future authors.
Casey’s Fresh Words Young Writers Competition, an annual council event, invited secondary school students to submit pieces for different categories.
A special awards ceremony was held on 28 November to announce the winners, which was attended by shortlisted entrants, their families, teachers and City of Casey councillors.
Two young Cranbourne North boys with a wisdom for words were among those to receive an award.
Brothers Matthew and Adrian Harper-Gomm were both overall winners for their category and age group.
Matthew, who took out the prize for the Honouring the Anzac Centenary category, was the author of Brothers of Blood.
He said it was about the bond which the Anzacs made while fighting and once the words started to flow, it only took him about half an hour to write.
“I had a few different ideas but in the end it came down to this,” he said.
The year 10 student said it was a huge pleasure to win.
“It was a bit of a surprise,” he said.
“There were two other very good poems that I was up against.”
“It was a good feeling.”
Both brothers attend Kambrya College in Berwick and Adrian took out the Poets and Lyrics category as the year 11-12 winner.
The boys were among 10 winners on the night, with their submissions chosen from a record number of 164 entries across the four categories.
City of Casey Mayor Mick Morland congratulated all the winners.
“No matter what you do in life, the ability to express yourself will always be a great asset,” he said.
“It’s much more challenging to take a blank sheet of paper or empty screen and create something where there was nothing, to capture the reader’s imagination and conjure a connection, knowing that your words are being judged.
“To do this well requires not only creativity, but discipline and courage.”
Well-known author Michael Pryor, who published works such as Blaze of Glory and Heart of Gild, was the guest speaker at the awards ceremony.
The competition was open to young people in years seven to 12 who live, work or study in the City of Casey.
