Australian Competitions Club

https://bestaustralianyarn.com.au/

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The Best Australian Yarn is back and bigger than ever! Submit your best short story for your chance to win a life-changing $50,000 major prize! Your story deserves to be told. Entries close 12 August 2024.

It doesn't have to be long, we accept any story up to 2500 words.
Whether you're an accomplished author, a budding writer or a complete newcomer to creative writing, we welcome submissions from everyone 12 years and over. The Best Australian Yarn embraces fresh perspectives and gives every inspired storyteller a platform.


Total prize pool of $80,000 in cash prizes across a number of categories:

Overall Winner - $50,000
Runner Up - $4,000
The Navitas ESL (English as a Second Language) Winner - $3,000
The First Nations Storytelling Winner - $3,000
Regional Australia Winner - $3,000
Youth Winner - $1,500 (12-14 years)
Youth Winner - $1,500 (15-18 years)
Comic Story Winner - $3,000
Comic Story Youth Winners - $1,500 (12-14 years) and (15-18 years)
8 shortlisted finalists - $8,000 ($1,000 each)



Best Australian Yarn terms and conditions
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“Best Australian Yarn” competition
Terms and Conditions
By entering the “Best Australian Yarn” competition (Competition), you are agreeing to the following terms
and conditions:
1. STANDARD TERMS
1.1 Information on how to enter forms part of the terms of entry.
1.2 To the extent of any inconsistency between these Terms and Conditions and any other
reference to the Competition, these Terms and Conditions prevail.
2. WHO CAN ENTER?
2.1 Subject to clauses 2.2 – 2.9, entry to the Competition is available to any individual residing
in Australia and is aged 12 years or above at the time of the Competition's closing date. If
a prize winner is aged under 18, West Australian Newspapers reserve the right to liaise
with the parent/legal guardian in relation to the prize in its absolute discretion.
2.2 Employees (and any Immediate Family Member of an employee) of West Australian
Newspapers Ltd (West Australian Newspapers/ Promoter), Seven Network (Operations)
Limited, Navitas Pty Limited, Perth Comic Arts Festival, Department of Education WA,
Department of Premier and Cabinet of WA, Writing WA Incorporated, The Children’s Book
Council of Australia (WA Branch), and their respective associated agencies and companies
are not eligible to enter.
2.3 In this clause 2, a reference to an “Immediate Family Member” includes a spouse, defacto
spouse, parent, natural or adopted child or sibling living in the same premises.
2.4 To be eligible for the Navitas ESL Prize, the entrant must speak a language other than
English at home. The Navitas ESL Prize is designed to encourage writers for whom English
isn’t their first language to express themselves in written form. (“ESL Entrant”).
2.5 To be eligible for the First Nations Storytelling Prize, the entrant must be of Aboriginal or
Torres Strait Islander descent, identify as an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person
and have been accepted as such by the community in which you live, or formerly lived.
(“First Nations Entrant”.)
2.6 To be eligible for the Regional Prize, an entrant must be an ordinarily resident in Australia
and the entrant’s home address must not be within a location classified as MM1 (major
cities) in the Modified Monash Model. You can search locations here (“Regional Entrant”).
2.7 To be eligible for the Youth Prize, an entrant must be aged between 12 and 18 years at
the time their entry is submitted to the Competition. (“Youth Entrant”).
2.8 To be eligible for the Comic Prize, the entrant must be a resident of Australia and aged 12
years or over (“Comic Entrant”).
2.9 Entrants under the age of 18 must obtain consent from a parent/guardian to be eligible to
enter the Competition or win a prize. Failure to provide this consent may lead to the entry
being disqualified. For these Terms and Conditions "Youth Entrant", "entrant", "entrants"
or "prize winner" will also include that person's parent/legal guardian where such consent
is required.
Best Australian Yarn terms and conditions
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3. HOW TO ENTER
3.1 The Competition commences on Friday, 3 May 2024 at 10:00am AWST and concludes on
Monday, 12 August 2024 11:59pm AWST (“Competition Period”).
3.2 Entries must be uploaded, or as otherwise directed, within the Competition Period via the
following link – www.bestaustralianyarn.com.au.
3.3 Entries must be:
3.3.1 a single story of no more than 2500 words;
3.3.2 an original, independent work of fiction;
3.3.3 written by an individual Australian resident;
3.3.4 written in English;
3.3.5 free from any claims, including copyright or trademark claims, by other parties;
3.3.6 unpublished in full. Appearance of the full entry online, such as on a blog or in
an anthology, constitutes prior publication;
3.3.7 not submitted for publication or broadcast elsewhere or entered into any other
competition until the longlisted entrants have been determined, expected to
be by the end of November 2024. If an entrant is not a longlisted entrant, they
are then free to submit their entry elsewhere.
3.3.8 not submitted previously for The Best Australian Yarn Competition.
3.3.9 entrants submitting an entry for the Comic Prizes must follow these
parameters:
3.3.9.1 The comics can be made digitally or by hand but with the
intention of being printed.
3.3.9.2 The comics must be submitted digitally and laid out as A4 page(s)
at 300pdi. If an entrant is scanning their work, they must adjust
and re-crop it appropriately to ensure high quality and to match
these dimensions.
3.3.9.3 Comic Prize entry length: 1 A4 page to maximum 4 A4 pages, with
up to 35 panels.
3.4 All entries must follow the online registration and submission process.
3.5 To preserve anonymity and the blind judging process, uploaded entries must only contain
the title of the entry - any other personal identification (e.g. entrant’s name) relating to
the entrant must not appear on the manuscript, including in the header or footer.
3.6 The entrant warrants that the entry is suitable for publication by West Australian
Newspapers in any media it deems appropriate, including digital or print.
3.7 Entrants warrant that their prize submission is original, entirely their own work, does not
infringe any existing copyright, moral rights or any other rights of any third party and
contains nothing obscene, libellous, unlawful, defamatory or anything which West
Australian Newspapers may otherwise deem to be inappropriate.
Best Australian Yarn terms and conditions
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3.8 By submitting an entry, longlisted entrants, finalists and winners agree to make
themselves available for public relations activities at a reasonable request wherever
possible. In the event of winning, the winner must undertake a mutually acceptable
limited program of activities. Any publisher or agent who submits an entry on behalf of an
entrant shall be responsible for ensuring any further activity is agreed to by the entrant. If
an entrant, finalist or winner is uncomfortable with media or public relations activities,
the Promoter can discuss with them to find an alternative arrangement.
3.9 Longlisted entrants, finalists and winners agree to give an interview that may be
recorded, and/or assist in the production of a follow up article in each case that may be
published and made available to the public by The West Australian, or any website
associated with it or its affiliates, or any other medium at West Australian Newspapers’
sole discretion. In the event that an interview or article is made about an entrant, this
does not mean that the entrant is entitled to an award or prize. As per clause 3.9, above,
if an entrant or winner is uncomfortable with media or public relations activities, the
Promoter can discuss with them to find an alternative arrangement. The use of a
pseudonym may be allowed but will require approval from the Promoter.
3.10 The entrant’s name, biography and image may be used in marketing and publicity
materials and any announcements, publications and communication relating to the
Competition winners. The use of a pseudonym may be allowed but will require approval
from the Promoter.
3.11 In all matters relating to eligibility of entrants to the Competition are at the Promoters
discretion.
3.12 Any entries considered to be of an offensive nature may be rejected by West Australian
Newspapers, in its absolute discretion.
3.13 In all matters relating to judging of the Competition, the decision of the judges is final and
no correspondence will be entered into.
3.14 The judges will not be required to make an award if they do not consider the entries to be
of a sufficient standard.
3.15 Only longlisted entrants will be notified. All longlisted entrants will be notified by the
email address provided with their entry before the longlist is published. A longlisted
entrant is one who is still in contention for the Prizes as the judging moves into the Prize
Jury judging round. All longlisted entrants will be contacted by November, 2024, via their
entry details when they submit their entry.
3.16 Entries must include all requested contact details to be eligible to win. Even if the use of a
pseudonym is permitted; all entrants must enter their legal names to be eligible to win.
3.17 Neither West Australian Newspapers nor any prize suppliers are responsible for any data
or other information related to this Competition that may be lost, or damaged as a result
of any computer software or hardware malfunction. Any issues occurring as a result of
computer / server / software problems will be rectified as quickly as possible.
3.18 Entrants may only enter in their own name for legal reasons. Entrants can submit a
pseudonym for possible publication if they make the longlist or are a finalist. The use of a
pseudonym may be allowed but will require approval from the Promoter.
3.19 Subject to clause 3.24, below, incomprehensible, illegible, and incomplete entries will be
deemed invalid.
Best Australian Yarn terms and conditions
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3.20 Subject to clause 3.24, below, entry details and entries remain the property of West
Australian Newspapers and will not be returned to the entrant.
3.21 Entries are submitted unencumbered and unrestricted, with full first publication rights
available to West Australian Newspapers and/or its nominated publisher.
3.22 Entrants must comply with Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property protocols used in
the arts sector, such as the Protocols For Using First Nations Cultural And Intellectual
Property In The Arts (published by the Australia Council for the Arts and accessible online
here - https://australiacouncil.gov.au/investment-and-development/protocols-and-
resources/protocols-for-using-first-nations-cultural-and-intellectual-property-in-the-
arts/). The Competition reserves the right not to publish or use work in a way that is
considered degrading or offensive by the Indigenous community.
3.22.1 West Australian Newspapers will adhere to the Australia Council for the
Arts ICIP protocols in regard to entrants and the winner of the First Nations
Storytelling Prize. (“First Nations Entrant”)
3.23 Copyright remains with the entrant. save as follows:
3.24 By submitting an entry, all Competition entrants agree that if their entry is deemed a
longlist entrant, finalist and/or winner, they will grant West Australian Newspapers a 8-
month exclusive licence (exclusive from 4 May, 2024 – 31 December, 2024) and a
subsequent 4-month non-exclusive license (from 1 January, 2025 – 24 April, 2025) to use,
distribute, broadcast and sub-licence the entry in any way whatsoever in connection with
the Competition including but not limited to, public performance, public display,
publishing, reproduction, communication to the public, transmission and distribution of
the entry or any part of the entry on and through the websites www.thewest.com.au,
www.navitas.com or any website, app or other digital product associated with them,
and/or any newspaper or other publication published or owned by West Australian
Newspapers or its partners or affiliates in its different present and future forms, talking
book, podcast, e-paper, electronic media or website, including mobile form or any other
facsimile or derivative versions in any medium and acknowledge that they will not be
entitled to any fee for such use and the entrant or their agents will clear the necessary
rights for such publication and distribution;
3.26 All stories submitted to the Competition will be considered for publication by The West
Australian. In submitting their stories for publication, authors indicate their consent to
these initiatives; if an author’s story is published in The West Australian newspaper or one
of its lift-outs, like STM, the author will receive an honorarium fee of $200 in addition to
any prize monies they might receive. By publishing a story in The West Australian or any
of its affiliate publications, it does not mean that the entrant is entitled to an award or
prize.
3.27 Entrants consent to their name, biography and image being used in marketing and
publicity materials. West Australian Newspapers will always credit the author of the work
when reproducing the work (except during the judging process) and will not make any
changes to the work without first seeking the prior written consent of the author. West
Australian Newspapers will also seek to receive prior consent and approval of the author
for any custom illustrations or artwork created to appear alongside their entry. The use of
a pseudonym may be allowed but will require approval from the competition organisers.
Best Australian Yarn terms and conditions
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4. PRIZES
4.1 There will be eighteen prizes awarded to winners judged on the skill, creativity and
originality of entrants’ writing and other criteria as set out by the Competition’s Prize
Jury, see bestaustralianyarn.com.au , who will each win a cash prize, depending on what
category of the Competition/s they win. The cash prizes are as follows:
4.1.1 First prize winner - $50,000
4.1.2 Runner-up / second place - $4,000
4.1.3 8 x shortlist winners (excluding the First Prize and runner-up) - $1,000 each
4.1.4 Regional winner - $3,000 (“Regional Prize”). The Regional Prize winner will be
selected from all entries from Regional Entrants. In the event a Regional
Entrant is awarded a prize from any other category they remain eligible to also
win the Regional Prize.
4.1.5 The Navitas ESL Prize - $3,000 (“ESL Prize”). The Navitas ESL Prize winner will
be selected from all entries from Navitas ESL Entrants. In the event a Navitas
ESL Entrant is awarded a prize from any other category they remain eligible to
also win the Navitas ESL Prize.
4.1.6 The First Nations Storytelling Prize - $3,000. (“First Nations Prize”). The First
Nations Storytelling Prize winner will be selected from all entries from First
Nations Storytelling Entrants. In the event a First Nations Storytelling Entrant is
awarded a prize from any other category they remain eligible to also win the
First Nations Storytelling Prize.
4.1.7 Youth Prize winners - $6,000 ($1,500 each) (“Youth Prize”). The Youth Prize
winners will be selected from all entries from Youth Entrants. There will be four
categories (12-14 year olds and 15-18 year olds and Comic Prize 12-14 year
olds and 15-18 year olds ) and one winner from each category. In the event a
Youth Entrant is awarded a prize from any other category they remain eligible
to also win the Youth Prize.
4.1.8 Comic Prize winner - $3,000 (“Comic Prize”). The Comic Prize winner will be
selected from all entries from Comic Prize Entrants. In the event a Comic Prize
entrant is awarded a prize from any other category they remain eligible to also
win the Comic Prize.
4.2 The total prize pool value is (up to) AUD$80,000. Prize value is correct as at the date of
printing. West Australian Newspapers accepts no responsibility for the change in prize
value between now and the ultimate date on which the prize is taken.
4.3 The prize must be taken by 20 February, 2025. In the event a winner does not take the
prize by the time stipulated, then the entire prize will be forfeited by the winner.
4.4 In the event that an element of the prize outlined in Clause 4.1, above is, for any reason,
cancelled, postponed or not available, that element(s) of the prize will be considered as
forfeited and no alternative offer will be granted in lieu of the part of the prize. If a
winner forfeits a specified element, no alternative offer will be granted in lieu of the part
of the prize.
4.5 The winners must participate in and co-operate with all reasonable media editorial
requests, including but not limited to, being interviewed and photographed, and the
Best Australian Yarn terms and conditions
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winners grant West Australian Newspapers and prize suppliers a perpetual and non-
exclusive licence to use such footage and photographs in all media worldwide and the
winners will not be entitled to any fee for such use.
4.6 It is a condition of accepting any prize that the prize winner must comply with all the term
and conditions of the Competition and West Australian Newspapers’ requirements.
4.7 The prize winners must provide valid identification to West Australian Newspapers upon
West Australian Newspapers’ request. Failure to do so will result in the forfeiture of the
prize at West Australian Newspapers’ sole discretion.
4.7.1 Entrants of the First Nations Storytelling Prize may be asked to provide
confirmation and/or verification of their Aboriginality, as per clause 2.6, above.
(“First Nations Entrant”).
4.7.2 Entrants of the Navitas ESL Prize may be asked to provide confirmation and/or
verification that English is their second language, as per clause 2.5, above. (“ESL
Entrant”).
4.8 Additional terms and conditions may apply, subject to the means of provision of the prize.
4.9 The prize is not transferable.
4.10 Independent financial advice should be sought as tax implications may arise as a result of
accepting the prize.
4.11 Subject to the Australian Consumer Law and state permit authority restrictions, West
Australian Newspapers may reasonably amend these terms and conditions, orally or in
writing, in its absolute discretion.
5. HOW TO WIN
5.1 There will be winners for eighteen prizes. The judging criteria will be set by the
Competition’s Prize Jury, see bestaustralianyarn.com.au for members of the
Competition’s Prize Jury, and will consider, among other things, readability and
originality. Stories should entertain and challenge through a clear understanding of what
it takes to make a compelling story. The winner/s will be the best valid entries as judged
by the judging panel, at West Australian Newspapers’ premises, Newspaper House, 50
Hasler Rd, Osborne Park 6017 WA after Monday, 12 August 2022 11.59pm AWST. West
Australian Newspapers may select additional entries to be used as replacements in the
event that the first entrant chosen as a winner cannot satisfy these Terms and Conditions
or take a prize.
5.2 The judging process will be as follows:
5.2.1 How will the entries be judged? | First, entries will go through a longlist panel
of experienced writers from The West Australian, which will select the best 50
short stories. Those entries will then go to the Prize Jury, who will determine
the final shortlist of 10 and the winners in the various categories. The Navitas
ESL Prize, The First Nations Storytelling Prize, The Comic Prizes and the Youth
Prizes will all be judged separately to the main prize, with the stand-out entries
from these prizes given to the Prize Jury to judge when they judge the longlist
and determine the overall prize winners in each category.
5.2.2 How will the stories be judged? | The judging criteria will be set by the Prize
Jury, and will consider, among other things, readability and originality. Stories
Best Australian Yarn terms and conditions
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should entertain and challenge through a clear understanding of what it takes
to make a compelling story. The evaluation process will be ‘blind’ which means
the entrant’s name will not be known by the panel of judges. All entrants will
be judged on their storytelling merits, not on length.
5.3 A representative of Seven West Media (WA) will contact the prize winners by a phone call
within two business days of the prize announcements and a letter advising the prize
winner of their prize will also be emailed to the email address on the entry.
5.4 Each prize winner must hold an Australian bank account and must provide valid
identification to West Australian Newspapers upon West Australian Newspapers’ request.
Failure to do so will result in the forfeiture of the prize at West Australian Newspapers’
sole discretion.
5.5 Prizes will be distributed by electronic fund transfer to the winner’s nominated Australian
bank account within thirty days of the Prizes being announced. Winners must provide
bank transfer details before 30 November, 2024 or their cannot be fulfilled and will be
deemed forfeited.
5.6 Additional terms and conditions may apply, subject to the means of provision of the prize.
5.7 West Australian Newspapers’ decision is final and West Australian Newspapers will not
enter into correspondence regarding the result. Chance plays no part in determining any
winner.
5.8 West Australian Newspapers and its related bodies corporate reserve the right, at any
time, to verify the eligibility of entrants.
5.9 West Australian Newspapers may in its absolute discretion deem entries invalid
subsequently to a prize winner being notified or a prize winner’s name being announced
if it is discovered that the prize winner did not enter the Competition in accordance with
these terms and conditions. In these circumstances, an additional judging may be
conducted.
5.10 It is a condition of accepting the prize that the prize winner may be required to sign a
legal release in a form determined by West Australian Newspapers in its absolute
discretion.
6. NO LIABILITY
6.1 In the case of the intervention of any outside act, agent or event which prevents or
significantly hinders West Australian Newspapers’ ability to proceed with the Competition
on the dates and in the manner described in these terms and conditions, including but
not limited to a pandemic, vandalism, power failures, tempests, natural disasters, acts of
God, civil unrest, strike, war, act of terrorism, West Australian Newspapers may in its
absolute discretion cancel the Competition and recommence it from the start on the
same conditions, subject to state government legislation.
6.2 West Australian Newspapers, prize suppliers and their associated agencies and companies
will not be liable for any misadventure, accident, injury, loss (including but not limited to
consequential loss) or claim that may occur:
6.2.1 during the entry process or the judging;
6.2.2 in the participation, acceptance or use of any element(s) of the prize;
Best Australian Yarn terms and conditions
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6.2.3 as a consequence of late, lost or misdirected mail;
6.2.4 due to the broadcast of any program relating to the Competition or the
publication of any material, including any statements made by any compere,
staff member, journalist, other entrants or any other person;
6.2.5 in relation to failure of an SMS entry message to be received by West
Australian Newspapers on account of technical problems or traffic congestion;
or
6.2.6 arising from or related to any problem or technical malfunction of any
telephone network, internet connection, www.bestaustralianyarn.com.au
website outage or lines of mobile communications network related to or
resulting from participation in this promotion.
6.3 West Australian Newspapers, prize suppliers, associated agencies and
companies assumes no responsibility for any error, omission, interruption, deletion, defect,
delay in operation or transmission, communications line failure, theft or destruction or
unauthorised access to, or alteration of entries, and reserves the right to take any action that
may be available, subject to state government legislation.
6.4 If for any reason the Competition is not capable of running as planned, due to causes
including but not limited to tampering, unauthorised intervention, fraud, technical failures or
any other causes beyond the control of West Australian Newspapers and/ or a prize provider
which corrupt or affect the administration security, fairness, integrity or proper conduct of
the Competition, West Australian Newspapers reserves the right in its sole discretion to
disqualify any individual who tampers with the entry process, take any action that may be
available, and to cancel, terminate, modify or suspend the Competition, subject to state
government legislation.
6.5 Subject to clause 3.27, above, entrants must submit ONLY their own original answers, designs
and works. Any such answers, designs or works cannot have been previously published in any
forum worldwide. The use of any AI tools or programs, including ChatGPT, in creating
submissions for this Competition is strictly prohibited. Any entries determined at WAN’s
discretion to have been generated in part of in full by AI tools or programs will be ineligible to
be awarded a prize.
6.6 All entries become the property of West Australian Newspapers and cannot be returned.
Entries that are found to have been derived from the designs of a third party will be
considered invalid and, if awarded a prize, that prize must be returned to West Australian
Newspapers.
6.7 The winner may be required to sign a statutory declaration regarding the originality of the
entry. Without limiting the generality, West Australian Newspapers reserves the right to take
legal action against anyone found to have breached these terms and conditions.
6.8 West Australian Newspapers reserves the right in its sole discretion to disqualify any
individual who West Australian Newspapers has reason to believe has breached any of these
conditions, or engaged in any unlawful or other improper misconduct calculated to
jeopardise the fair and proper conduct of the Competition. West Australian Newspapers’
legal rights to recover damages or other compensation are reserved.
6.6 Regardless of anything else in these conditions, nothing in these conditions excludes,
restricts or modifies the application of Consumer Laws or the exercise of any rights or
Best Australian Yarn terms and conditions
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remedies you may have under Consumer Laws where any such exclusion, restriction or
modification would contravene Consumer Laws. “Consumer Laws” refers to the
Australian Consumer Law under Schedule 2 of the Competition and Consumer Act 2010
(Cth), and any applicable similar consumer protection laws in the states and territories of
Australia that mirror the provisions of the Australian Consumer Law.
7. PROMOTER’S DETAILS
7.1 The Promoter is West Australian Newspapers Ltd (ABN 98 008 667 632) of 50 Hasler Road,
Osborne Park WA 6017.
7.2 Entry details remain the property of the Promoter. Western Australian Newspapers
Limited and its related entities (“WAN”) is collecting your personal information for the
purpose of conducting and promoting this Competition, including for the purpose of
identifying and notifying winners and understanding our audiences. WAN will otherwise
handle your personal information in accordance with WAN’s Privacy Policy which is
available on our website at http://www.sevenwestmedia.com.au/privacy-policies (and
which contains information regarding how you can access your personal information,
correct it and/ or make a complaint about our handling of your personal information). By
providing your personal information below, you agree to the terms of the Privacy Policy.
Without limiting the foregoing, WAN may disclose the entrant’s personal information to
its related entities, business partners and external service providers for research and
profiling purposes as well as other purposes reasonably related to the entrant’s
relationship with WAN. In addition, by entering this Competition, you consent to WAN
using your personal information for the purpose of WAN and its related entities sending
you information regarding programs, products and services available through them and/
or through their business partners, and to WAN from time to time sharing your personal
information with carefully selected business partners for the purpose of them sending
you such information directly. We will always provide you with the ability to opt out of
those communications. www.sevenwestmedia.com.au.
7.3 If an entrant does not want their details to be used for the purposes stated in clause 7.2,
they must write to West Australian Newspapers Ltd by email to privacy@seven.com.au
West Australian Newspapers Limited will ensure that the details are not used for that
purpose.
7.4 It is a condition of entry that all prize winners agree to have their name, photo, video and
suburb published for publicity purposes if required. By participating in this Competition,
participants signify their acceptance of all conditions and the requirement to participate
in promotional activity if required. If a winner is uncomfortable with media or public
relations activities, the Promoter can discuss with them to find an alternative
arrangement.
7.5 The Competition sponsors and prize suppliers are:
i. Seven Network (Operations) Limited (prize supplier);
ii. West Australian Newspapers Ltd (prize supplier);
iii. Navitas Pty Limited (prize supplier);
iv. Department of Education WA (prize supplier);
v. Department of Premier and Cabinet of WA (prize supplier);
vi. Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage of WA (prize supplier);
vii. Writing WA;
viii.Perth Comic Arts Festival; and
Best Australian Yarn terms and condit