By LACHLAN MOORHEAD
READING and writing won’t die if Casey’s youth has anything to say about it.
Last year students throughout the municipality were given the chance to prove their writing talents as part of Casey’s Fresh Words Young Writers Competition.
Council held a special awards ceremony to congratulate the winners, selected from 164 entries across four different categories – Creative Writing, Poetry and Lyrics, English as a Second Language, and Honouring the Anzac Centenary.
The Anzac category was specifically added this year to mark the commemorative milestone.
‘No matter what you do in life, the ability to express yourself well will always be a great asset,” Casey Mayor Mick Morland said.
“It is remarkably easy to tap out a witty remark on Twitter or leave a thought-provoking comment on Facebook.
“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 was guest speaker at the Casey awards ceremony, while local resident Samantha Chapman emceed the evening.
Winners of the competition included Courtney Ould, Russell Reader, Priyanka Simini, Katie Corley, Thomas Harris, Adrian Harper-Gomm, Mansoor Ali, Adilah Hussaini, Navena Segar and Matthew Harper-Gomm.
“To receive a record number of entries this year, which were of very high-calibre, shows that the art of the written word is still alive and Casey might be home to some of the rising stars of the literary world,” Cr Morland said.
“I love being part of a council that recognises the creativity and contribution of young people, and I am very proud of the success in the Fresh Words Young Writers Competition.”
