The Shoalhaven Arts Board,	Bundanon Trust
and the Fellowship of Australian Writers - Shoalhaven are pleased to announce:

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Shoalhaven Literary Award 2011

First Prize - The Lotus King -
Dominic Counahan, Fitzroy, VIC

Dominic grew up on the South Coast of NSW and from a young age developed a keen interest in the ocean. He is a surfer, diver and fisherman and enjoys camping. Dominic is currently based in Melbourne where he is completing his studies in creative writing at The University of Melbourne.

Click here to read Dominic's award winning story

Second Prize: 
Branches - Hamish Brooks, Barwon Heads, VIC.

Third Prize:
The Puzzle Woman - Michelle Lopert, Kendall, NSW

Shoalhaven Local Writer Award
The Way It Was - Chris Moon, North Nowra

Chris Mansell's comments

After a difficult judging process, fourteen finalists were chosen for a long-­list. These arose from an excellent field. Overall, the entries were ambitious and the themes suggested that they came from all over Australia. Most of the entries, with a few notable exceptions, chose serious romantic or cultural issues. Some risked the difficult waters of comic writing. It was a pleasure to read all of the entries, but an especial pleasure to read these long-­listed entries, many of which dealt with important and affecting themes. The difficulty came, of course, in choosing a single winner.

The three nominations above share a confidence in handling their material, did not over-­explain or over-­write, and tackled difficult subjects with courage. During the course of The Puzzle Women, the story nominated for Third prize, it becomes clear that the oppressive regime, which one had assumed was in some far off country, was in fact set in Australia some years hence. It cleverly draws a parallel between the disappeared of other countries with what is potential in all countries, including Australia, and points out moral and ethical difficulties without becoming didactic.

Branches, nominated for second prize, deals with very difficult personal and social problems with intimacy and sensitivity. It draws together, through the main character's connection to two young men in tragic circumstances. The main character is a bridge between black and white and two young men in very different backgrounds. The writer has tackled very large themes by bringing the central character's perceptions and reactions to centre stage and allowing us to have some insight into the effect of the events described. Its conclusion is simple and symbolic of the commonalities we share.

The winning story, The Lotus King, brings rural and coastal, farmer and surfer, cultures together in a story that ends up in a surprising place. The voices heard in the story are authentic and distinctly Australian. It is not a conventional story in many ways. It is told is a relaxed, conversational style, as if reminiscing. The last third of the story casts a different light on the eponymous Lotus King and subtly shifts our perception of him – from eccentric to deeply troubled individual.

All of the long-­listed stories showed a confidence of execution and a willingness to tackle difficult subjects while having an authenticity of diction. They were well-­observed and, generally, well-­structure. In short, they had something to say, and they said it well.

Congratulations to our winners.