First Prize Illidan Mel King 9/3/2027 Steampacket Gardens Geelong Waterfront Sunset It’s getting dark on the waterfront, a hazy red sunset painting a fiery sheen over the inky black of Corio Bay. The streets should be … Continued
Second Prize The Cold Jesse Harman The storm came from nowhere. We’d known for a long time how vicious these Antarctic winds could be, but this one was different. Unprecedented, given it was midsummer, and unseasonably vicious. We’d … Continued
Third Prize The Landlord’s Ladder Mel King It’s 4 pm on an unseasonably warm April afternoon. You’re sitting cross-legged on your bed, squirming because your back hurts like a bastard from hunching over your laptop. You’ve been perched in … Continued
Honourable Mention The Climb Tanya Scott As my boots skid on the wet platform and my legs shoot out from under me, all I can think is, Not yet. For a wild, panicked moment, I’m falling, weightless. I … Continued
Shortlisted The Queen’s Spy Louisa Bath Maya took a deep breath, adjusting the golden ornaments on her braids as she strode down the corridor. The dungeons of her castle were not overly dark and dingy, but they were … Continued
Shortlisted Dirt is but Matter in the Wrong Place Louise Briggs Her boots were pointing homeward now. Fading light was beginning to creep and curl itself around the trees and shrubs that lined her way. All the swirling … Continued
Shortlisted The Road to Condo Belinda Donald The water shimmers and glistens in the distance. A young girl and a boy walk on the long, straight road towards the magical and alluring water. Although they are both used … Continued
Shortlisted No Excuses Allowed Gail Griffin This was his first gig. But Jack had no excuse for ignoring the basic tenets of things he should definitely not do while being tattooed. They’d been drilled into Jack, repeatedly, by … Continued
Shortlisted Remotely NQR Jenny Macauley Elongated fingers of early morning sun crept across the field, illuminating the tops of the circular hay bales that lay haphazardly across the gently sloped paddock. Each bale cast its own shadow, still … Continued
Shortlisted Momentarily Free Adam Stone It truly breaks Frank’s heart every day, all over again. It has been six months now, and he still feels as though he has failed Joy. It had become particularly bad at home, … Continued