By KATHRYN BERMINGHAM
THE next generation of iconic Australian writers may currently be sitting in a Pakenham classroom.
Budding writers from Beaconhills College were recently recognised for their literary talents at a national awards ceremony.
Five middle school students from the school received prizes at the Fellowship of Australian Writers National Literary Awards.
The presentation was held at the Brunswick Masonic Halls, with the students receiving accolades for their creative writing work in a 2014 English extension class.
First prize, the Michael Dugan short story award, was awarded to Year 6 student Elliot Perez for his short story, ‘The Fairytale Crisis’. The piece tells the tale of fairytale characters coming to life and emerging in different stories.
Elliot said he found great enjoyment in creative writing.
“At first, I wanted to write a story in Rudyard Kipling’s style. He wrote about how animals developed their unique features, for example how the camel got his hump,” Elliot said.
“My first idea was to write about how books got their spine but my story evolved, completely changing everything.
“I came to love my main character, the magician ‘Arcanum Magus – one day I might go back to this character and write more about him.”
Bastiaan Swart and Hayley Drake, also of Year 6, received second prize and Jalen Atkins of Year 6 and Jasmine Holding of Year 7 received third place.
The National Literary Awards are run by the Fellowship of Australian Writers annually.
