http://eastgippslandartgallery.org.au/index.php?page=words-work-wondersEast Gippsland Shire Council
2014 Hal Porter Short Story Competition
'The Hal' enters its 21st year
This year The Hal (as it has come to be known) enters its twenty-first year.
September 29, 2014 also marks the thirtieth anniversary of Hal Porter's death. To celebrate his literary life, the East Gippsland Art Gallery has launched the East Gippsland Shire Council Hal Porter Short Story Competition.
This year the national prize is $1000. In addition there will be book prizes for short listed stories.
Hal Porter was born in Melbourne in 1911, attending school in Kensington and Bairnsdale where he grew up. He worked as a reporter at The Bairnsdale Advertiser before moving to Melbourne where he worked as a school-teacher for 17 years, as well as in South Australia and Tasmania. Later on he took up the position of librarian back in Bairnsdale. During his life he also studied art and worked as a theatre producer. He died after being hit by a car in Ballarat in 1984.
Hal Porter came to full time writing when he was 50, and the majority of his writing was done in the latter part of his life. His talent was first appreciated with the publication of The Watcher on the Cast Iron Balcony, part of his autobiographical trilogy. He wrote various collections of short stories as well as a number that were published in magazines, mostly in Sydney and Melbourne.
Contemporary writers, resident in Australia, are invited to enter a short story in the competition, written in any style, to be eligible for the national prize.
The competition has been sponsored by the East Gippsland Shire Council (major sponsor) as well as Pattie’s Foods; Collins Booksellers (Bairnsdale); East Gippsland Newspapers and Porters Electrical. It is also supported by the East Gippsland Art Gallery and the University of Queensland Press.
Entries close on December 12, 2014
Announcement of the winning entry will be at the end of January 2015
Details regarding the competition are available by sending a stamped self-addressed envelope to the
East Gippsland Shire Council Hal Porter Short Story Competition, EGAG
2 Nicholson Street, Bairnsdale, Vic, 3875
via email by contacting Peter Millard
pmillard@aussiebb.com.auor download the Submission Guidelines & Conditions of Entry
East Gippsland Shire Council
2014 Hal Porter
Short Story Competition
Submission Guidelines & Conditions of Entry
1. This competition began 21 years ago. Australian writers are invited to enter a short story,
written in any style for the first prize of $1000. Manuscripts must be original works, in English,
and must not have been previously accepted for publication, which includes websites. Any
style of story is acceptable. No entry form is necessary. Shortlisted writers will receive UQP
publications. Stories will not be returned.
2. Entries must be typed, double-spaced, and on one side of A4 sized paper only. They must
not exceed 2,500 words and only the title of the story, not the author’s name, is to appear on
the manuscript. In order to ensure anonymity, your name, address and the title of the story
should be on a separate page, accompanying the entry. Entry is on the basis that the short
story is your own original work.
3. The judges’ decision will be final and no correspondence will be entered into. The judges
are responsible to the East Gippsland Art Gallery, the auspicing body. The winner and
shortlisted writers will be notified. If you wish to receive notification of the winners, send a
stamped, self-addressed envelope (SSAE) with your entry or check the gallery website in late
January/early February, 2015. (
www.eastgippslandartgallery.net.au)
4. Each entry must be accompanied by a $6 administration fee which will be used to pay for
judging and assist with advertising and postage costs. Make cheques out to East Gippsland
Art Gallery, or pay by bank transfer direct to East Gippsland Art Gallery, BSB: 633 000,
Account number: 113274757, with your name in the Reference section. Advise us of this
method of payment on your details page.
5. The judges reserve the right not to award the prize should the quality of entries be deemed
not high enough.
6. The winning entry will be published on the EGAG website. Entries postmarked on or prior
to December 12, 2014 will be accepted. Mail entries and entry fees to Hal
Porter Short Story Competition, EGAG, 2 Nicholson St, Bairnsdale, Vic,
3875. If you have any queries, please contact Peter Millard on (03) 5152 6731
or by email to
pjsmillard@live.com.
Porter’s
Electrical
Australian Competitions Club
