The Hill of Content Bookshop

17th Annual Hal Porter Short Story Competition 2010

Submission Guidelines & Conditions of Entry

  1. Australian writers are invited to enter a short story, written in any style for the first prize of $1000. Manuscripts must be original works, in English, and must not have been previously accepted for publication, which includes websites. Any style of story is acceptable. No entry form is necessary. Stories will not be returned. Short-listed writers will receive UQP publications.
  2. Entries must be typed, double-spaced, and on one side of A4 sized paper only. They must not exceed 2,500 words and only the title of the story, not the author’s name, is to appear on the manuscript. In order to ensure anonymity, your name, address and the title of the story should be on another page, accompanying the entry. Entry is on the basis that the short story is your own original work.
  3. The judges’ decision will be final and no correspondence will be entered into. The judges are responsible to the East Gippsland Art Gallery, the auspicing body. The winner and shortlisted writers will be notified. If you wish to receive notification of the winners, send a stamped, selfaddressed envelope (SSAE) with your entry.
  4. Each entry must be accompanied by a $6 administration fee which will be used to pay for judging and assist with advertising and postage costs. Make cheques and money orders out to East Gippsland Art Gallery.
  5. The judges reserve the right not to award the prize should the quality of entries be deemed not high enough.
  6. The winning entry will be published on the East Gippsland Art Gallery website.

Entries postmarked on or prior to December 17, 2010 will be accepted. Mail entries and entry fees to Hal Porter Short Story Competition, East Gippsland Art Gallery, 2 Nicholson St, Bairnsdale, Victoria, 3875.

If you have any queries, please contact Peter Millard after business hours on (03) 5152 6731 or by email to pedrom53@bigpond.net.au

Sponsors:

The Hill of Content Bookshop - Major Sponsor
Collins Booksellers, Bairnsdale
East Gippsland Newspapers
Community College, East Gippsland
East Gippsland TAFE
Porters Electrical

Supported by:

University of Queensland Press
East Gippsland Art Gallery
East Gippsland Shire Council

download the above info as a pdf


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.

Read 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.

Short listed stories...
The anonymous entries were read by one judge who shortlisted to 11 stories. Next the other two judges shortlisted to their top four. Discussion then took place.

The shortlist in random order from 295 entries:

  • The Front by Nicole Smith (Victoria)
  • Safe Haven by Natalie Scott (NSW)
  • Communion by Claire Aman (NSW)


These winners receive book prizes donated by the University of Queensland Press. The judges congratulate and encourage 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


Competition organiser – Peter Millard