Congratulations everyone! Announcing the results of The Long Way Home writing competition 2025.
Open section (up to 2,500 words)
Winner – Kate Begbie, HEART OF GOLD, a beautiful, quiet meditation on love and grief, told by a flight attendant who has been chatting to her passengers on a long flight.
Highly commended – Sonia Reid for WE’LL MEET AGAIN. This story made us laugh. There’s a twist. Fairly short, very clever.
High school section (up to 500 words)
Winner – Ada Sage for THE ART OF BEING BROKEN, YEAR 12, HOME EDUCATED. A very moving and reflective story about becoming the keeper of memories, about making a quilt out of pieces from your life – a pocket from your mother’s jacket, a sister’s scarf, a piece of a childhood dress. Such a young writer, so good!
Second place – Eamon Mawn for THE HEART OF THE BUCCANEERS Year 8, Maclean High School. A wonderful action story about a football game, told with skill and good pace. About the great heart of a football team, their determination.
Highly commended – Evie Rae for FIELDS OF GOLD, Year 8, Maclean High School. A story of beauty and kindness about the life of a beloved grandmother.
Primary school section (up to 200 words)
Winner – Gracie King for HEART OF GOLD, Year 4, Maclean Public School. A very well-written story about the cross-country race, where kindness wins the race.
Highly commended – by Declan Mawn for HEART OF GOLD, Year 4, St James’ Primary School. There’s a cyclone in Yamba. “Rivers were rising. The rain was relentless. The wind was a wolf howling all over the town.” The best line of the competition!
Highly commended – Tiarni Benn for THE BRONZE ROBOT’S SACRIFICE Year 6, South Grafton Public School. An original take on the Heart of Gold theme. A robot with a gold heart who has feelings!
Congratulations to everyone published in the book. And a big thankyou to everyone who sent us a story. We had more good stories than we could fit in the book. See you next year.
The Long Way Home 