The Hill of Content Bookshop

19th Annual Hal Porter Short Story Competition 2012

And the winner of the $1000 first prize is…

Marian Matta of Victoria for her story CLIMB.

For decades Marian Matta wrote whatever was called for, from medical articles to film scripts, but she turned her attention to short stories in 2006 after being inspired by Annie Proulx's Brokeback Mountain and discovering the realm of fan fiction. A grand-mother, history tragic, Internet junkie and circus student, she lives in the hills outside Melbourne, and is pleased to call Heath Ledger her muse.

Read CLIMB


Short listed stories...

The anonymous entries were read by one judge and shortlisted to 12 stories. Next the other two judges shortlisted to their top four. Discussion then took place. The shortlist in random order from 203 entries:
  • 4AM by Nikki Mottram (Qld)
  • Familiar Strangers by Nicholas Brooks (NSW)
  • The Third Rule of Travel by Kerrin O’Sullivan (Vic)

These winners receive book prizes donated by the University of Queensland Press. The judges con-gratulate and encourage all entrants, especially the winner and shortlisted writers.

The Hal Porter Short Story Competition is sponsored by:

  • The Hill of Content Bookshop – Major Sponsor
  • Collins Booksellers (Bairnsdale)
  • Porters Electrical
  • East Gippsland Newspapers

and supported by:

  • East Gippsland Art Gallery
  • University of Queensland Press

Peter Millard
Competition organiser


2009-11 Hal Porter Short Story Competitions

The Hill of Content Bookshop

18th Annual Hal Porter Short Story Competition 2011

And the winner of the $1000 first prize is…

Ryan O’Neill from NSW for his story A Short Story?. Ryan O’Neill’s fiction has appeared in numerous journals and anthologies. His work has won the 2007 Hal Porter and 2007 Roland Robinson awards and been shortlisted for the Queensland Premier’s Steele Rudd Award and the Age Short-Story Prize. His short story collection, The Weight of a Human Heart is forthcoming from Black Inc in May 2012. He teaches at the University of Newcastle.

Read A Short Story?


Short listed stories...

The anonymous entries were read by one judge and shortlisted to 10 stories. Next the other two judges shortlisted to their top three. Discussion then took place. The shortlist in random order from 235 entries:
  • Night-watch by Kerrin H O’Sullivan (Vic)
  • The edge: Notes for a Wiki narrative by Anastasia Xenophon (Qld)

These winners receive book prizes donated by the University of Queensland Press. The judges congratulate and encourage all entrants, especially the winner and shortlisted writers.

The Hal Porter Short Story Competition is sponsored by:

  • The Hill of Content Bookshop – Major Sponsor
  • Collins Booksellers (Bairnsdale)
  • Community College East Gippsland
  • East Gippsland Institute of TAFE
  • Porters Electrical
  • East Gippsland Newspapers

and supported by:

  • East Gippsland Art Gallery
  • University of Queensland Press

The Hill of Content Bookshop

17th Annual Hal Porter Short Story Competition 2010

And the winner of the $1000 first prize is…

Keren Heenan of Melbourne for her story Beyond the Bay. Keren is a teacher of the Arts living in Melbourne. She has been awarded the Southern Cross Literary Competition 2009, and the Ellen Gudrun Kasten (short story) Award ’07. She has been published in Overland, Island, Wet Ink and in other Australian magazines and anthologies. She is currently working on a novel.

Read Beyond the Bay


Short listed stories...

The anonymous entries were read by one judge and shortlisted to 11 stories. Next the other two judges shortlisted to their top four. Discussion then took place. The shortlist in random order from 267 entries:
  • Slipstream by Sinead Roarty (NSW)
  • Holding on by Francoise Thornton-Smith (Vic)
  • Of coffee, vegetables and hair colour by Susan McCreery (NSW)

These winners receive book prizes donated by the University of Queensland Press. The judges congratulate and encourage all entrants, especially the winner and shortlisted writers.

16th Annual
2009 Hal Porter Short Story Competition

And the winner of the $1,000 first prize is:

Kathy George of Queensland for her story Cut Up.

Kathy is a mature-age student studying Creative Writing at Queensland University of Technology and her winning story was originally written for a uni assignment. She lives in Brisbane with her husband and three teenagers.

Read Cut Up

Back
Top

Previous page: Recent Events and Activities
Next page: H2O Squared