The Elyne Mitchell Rural Women's Writing Award not only commemorates Elyne's life and work, but it has also been established to encourage rural women to write their stories.
2009 WINNERS ANNOUNCED!!
$1000 was awarded to the winner of each category!
Emerging Category: Catherine Noske for "Her Mother's House"
Open Category: Kate Rotherham for "Go Well"
All the 2009 shortlisted stories can be read here ....and also check out the short bios of all the short-listed authors!
A successful Presentation evening was held in Corryong on World Rural Women's Day 15th October where many of the short listed authors were in attendance for the announcement.
A big thank-you goes to the Judges and Sponsors that, along with a lot of hard work by the Friends of Corryong Library, make this Award possible.
2009 Shortlisted Entries
| Name (in alphabetical order) |
Story Title |
| Emerging |
|
| Rani Attwood |
Trip to the Tip |
| Lisa Down |
Brumby Dancing |
| Lisa Down |
Under the Great Gum Tree |
| Lisa Down |
Tangerine Angel |
| Olivia Ellis |
Jenny |
| Katherine McFarland |
Ours |
| Catherine Noske |
Her Mother's House ( WINNER) |
| Catherine Noske |
Back Home |
| April Ortlipp |
My Favourite Handbag |
| Jessica Pilgrim |
Firestorm |
| Open |
|
| Janet Barker |
Post Haste |
| Deb Harris |
The Policeman's Wife |
| Hayley Katzen |
Don't Be A Stranger |
| Catriona Ling |
The Gardener |
| Jane McGowan |
Mrs Cockington's Tomatoes |
| Merryl Parker |
Dingo Dreaming |
| Kate Rotherham |
Go Well (WINNER) |
| Kate Rotherham |
Butterflies and Dragons |
| Elva Rush |
Wally |
| Naomi Turner |
South Westerly |
Don't miss your chance to be there next year! Next year's Award will open again in March 2010 so start writing!
Elyne Mitchell
Elyne was born in 1913 in Melbourne. In 1935, she married Tom Mitchell, a barrister and later parliamentarian, and lived at Towong Hill, 10km from Corryong. Elyne was a keen sportswoman. She enjoyed skiing, perhaps most of all. Although she is remembered particularly for the Silver Brumby series of children’s books, she wrote other novels and non-fiction relating to the Snowy Mountains and family and military history.
Although interested in all facets of nature and particularly the Upper Murray region, Elyne had a soft spot for the Azure Kingfisher. She would often float in the lagoon, hoping that the kingfishers might forget she was there and she would catch a glimpse.
Elyne received a number of awards including:
- an Honorary Doctorate of Letters from Charles Sturt University (1993);
- Order of Australia Medal for services to literature (1990);
- Children’s Book Council awards (1959-1968).
In 2001 the Corryong Branch of the Upper Murray Regional Library was renamed The Elyne Mitchell Public Library and a permanent display of her work can be viewed there.
The Elyne Mitchell Rural Women’s Writing Award commemorates Elyne’s life and work, and hopes to encourage women all over Australia to write their stories and send them in.
Elyne’s love of wildlife, and in particular the Azure Kingfisher, is represented in the logo for this award, designed by Giselle Dosen for Friends of Corryong Library.
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