The Stringybark Open Award 2026
has closed.
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Competition Closed: 23 February 2025
205 entries. $1437 in prizes.
Prizes sponsored by Graeme Simsion, Ann Buist and Stringybark Publishing
Judges: Ruth Ellison, Antoinette Merrillees, Daan Spijer and David Vernon
Editor: David Vernon
Cover designer: Jonathan Vernon
Layout: Stringybark Publishing
Australian printer: Prinstant, Canberra
37 published stories. One e-book and printed anthology, From Eternity to Here
Edited by David Vernon, e-book and paperback, Stringybark Publishing,
ISBN: 978-1-7640166-2-9
A$21.95 includes postage within Australia. Discounts for multiple purchases. Please enquire for international orders.
The Stringybark Open Award 2025
Paperback
Ebook available.
A$5.00
THIRD PLACE
Burning
by
Helen Walker
WINNER
From Eternity to Here
by
Rae Blair
SECOND PLACE
The Distance Between
by
S.K. Gold
FOURTH PLACE
A Serving of Justice
by
Shona Levingston
Thirty-seven award-winning short stories fill these entertaining pages. Written by Australian and international authors these stories explore Australian culture — sometimes funny, often poignant, occasionally unsettling, this anthology showcases the best of contemporary short story writing.
Everyone has been embarrassingly kind. When Colin died, I received flowers and sympathy and even two casseroles. A very private person, I had not expected that living in Edenvale Lifestyle Village would be so pleasantly sociable and supportive.
But I can't stay here now.
— From The Underground River by Gaye Spreglewski
He wore pants today, navy chinos. She imagined his legs as they were yesterday, bare and muscled. Too hairy for a cyclist. He probably went to the gym. She swapped his dress pants for a pair of grey gym shorts. He is doing squats, a bar loaded with weights across his shoulders. His legs are tanned, caramel. She wants to run her tongue along the hairless patch behind his knee.
— From Tarred and Feathered by Lesley Day
The sun didn't kiss Alice's skin, it gnawed her like a dog with a bone. Despite the thick, pungent layer of sunscreen that covered her, she felt like she was burning – and the flames were invisible to everyone else.
Why didn't you just tell him no?
— From Burning by Helen Walker
HIGHLY COMMENDED
Golden Hour — Tanya Allen
The Squeaky Gate — Mark Brailey
Neddie and the Mannequin — Andrew Brown
The Java Finch — Adam Byatt
Happy Birthday — Adam Byatt
Improperly Attired — Alyce Caswell
Old Blue Eyes — Pauline Cleary
Tarred and Feathered — Lesley Day
A Suburban Odyssey — Jim Gill
Barry's Gone Missing — Penni Giuliani
Train Lover — Robin Hammond
Stars Over Jacob's Ladder — Margaretta James
A Swift Act — George Lancaster
Heartaches — Nele Leenders
Protection and the Point of Defiance — Courtney Louise
Deeper Water — Courtney Louise
The Essence of Hugo March — Marie Low
"Puk opp Sep!" A Kitchenhands perspective. — Mark Luntungan
Another First Day — Helen Lyne
Out — Kate Manning
Home — Lee McKerracher
Pretty Flamingo — Andrea Pavleka
Calendar Girl — Terence Phillips
The Pendulum — Kate Romey
Like Clockwork — John Ross
Fifty-one Seconds — Jason Samuels
Empty Arms — Irene Sheehan
Centenary Celebrations — Pauline Sorensen
The Underground River — Gaye Sprenglewski
French Linguistics 1.01 — Jo Stubbings
Stronger Together — Harry Thompson
No Red Shoes — Valerie Volk
Meeting Fat Boy — Vickie Walker
