Winners of the Katharine Susannah Prichard Short Fiction Awards announced

7/12/97

Arts Minister Peter Foss today announced the winners of the Katharine Susannah Prichard Short Fiction Awards at an award ceremony at the Katharine Susannah Prichard Writers' Centre in Greenmount.

Mr Foss said the award was created in 1986 as an annual event to encourage and reward Western Australian writers.

"The centre plays an important role in the State's literary life and it continues to foster a wide interest and participation in writing activities," he said.

"Literary competitions are an important way of providing a focus and a goal for our writers.

"I am pleased that the Katharine Susannah Pritchard Foundation is continuing to encourage new writers and in particular, young writers."

The centre in Greenmount was the home of Katherine Susannah Prichard, who lived there for 50 years prior to her death in 1969.

The foundation was set up in 1985 and offers residencies, public readings and workshops, as well as establishing the annual short story award.

The winners of the 1997 Katharine Susannah Prichard Short Fiction awards are:

Open Section:

Equal first:

Joy Kilian - Albany -'Tumbling Olives'

Tanya Dalziel - Nedlands -'Elizabeth'

Third:

Kim Ferguson - Bunbury -'Brothers'

Youth Section:

First:

Emily Tsokos - Nedlands -'Reflections'.

Mr Foss said it was essential to foster a wide spread interest and participation in writing activities and the award contributes to a diverse, rich and buoyant writing scene in Western Australia.

Media contact: Chris Morris 9321 2222

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