https://bestaustralianyarn.com.au/PRESENTS:
Are you the author of
Australia’s best short story?
Short stories have the power to transport us to another world, they educate and entertain us, and can make the everyday seem extraordinary.
The West Australian and Minderoo Foundation present The Best Australian Yarn, a search for Australia’s best short story. It is a celebration of creative writing and the arts across Australia.
Everyone has a story to tell, and now we are calling on Australians everywhere to put pen to paper and take part in the world’s richest short story competition for published and unpublished writers.
Your story doesn’t have to be long, just 1500 - 2500 words.
Anyone can enter - published and unpublished writers, students, anyone over the age of 12.
There is a prize pool of $50,000 to be won across a range of categories:
OVERALL WINNER $30,000
WA WINNER $4,000
REGIONAL AUSTRALIA WINNER $3,000
YOUTH WINNER $2,000 + MENTORING
READERS' CHOICE $2,000
NINE SHORTLISTED FINALISTS $1,000 EACH
“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 clause 2.2, entry is open to all residents of Australia aged 12 years or older at
the closing date of the competition. 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 Seven Network
(Operations) Limited (Channel 7), West Australian Newspapers Ltd (West Australian
Newspapers), Minderoo Foundation Limited (ACN 651 422 141) (Minderoo), Tattarang
Pty Ltd (ACN 055 961 361), Fortescue Metals Group Ltd (ACN 002 594 872), prize
suppliers, third party contributors (including Perth Festival and Writing WA Incorporated)
and their respective associated agencies and companies are not eligible to enter.
2.3 Employees (and any Immediate Family Member of an employee) of member
organisations of Writing WA Incorporated, as well as individual members of Writing WA
Incorporated (except those who are employees of Writing WA Incorporated) are eligible
to enter.
2.4 In this clause 2, a reference to a “Immediate Family Member” includes a spouse, defacto
spouse, parent, natural or adopted child or sibling.
2.5 To be eligible for the Western Australian prize, the entrant’s primary residential address
must be in the state of Western Australia (“Western Australian Entrant”).
2.6 To be eligible for the Regional Prize, an entrant must be 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:
www.modifiedmonashmodel.com/ (“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”).
3. HOW TO ENTER
3.1 The Competition commences on Saturday, 26 February 2022 at 11:00am AWST and
concludes on Monday, 31 May 2022 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 less than 1500 words, and no more than 2500 words;
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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. Appearance 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 31 December 2022.
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. writer’s name) relating to the
entrant must not appear on the manuscript, including in the header or footer.
3.6 No more than one entry per writer may be submitted. It is the responsibility of the writer
to make sure that no more than one of their stories is submitted in total.
3.7 The entrant warrants that the entry is suitable for publication by West Australian
Newspapers in any media it deems appropriate, including digital or print.
3.8 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.
3.9 By submitting an entry, entrants agree to make themselves available for public relations
activities at a reasonable request wherever possible. In the event of being shortlisted,
entrants agree to attend the ceremony (if one is held), and in the event of winning
undertake a mutually acceptable limited program of activities. Any publisher or agent
who submits an entry on behalf of an author shall be responsible for ensuring the
author’s attendance at the prize giving ceremony and any further activity agreed.
3.10 Entrants 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.
3.11 The writer’s name, biography and image may be used in marketing and publicity materials
and any announcements, publications and communication relating to the Competition
winners.
3.12 In all matters relating to conditions of entry, the decision of the organisers of the
Competition is final.
3.13 Any entries considered to be of an offensive nature may be rejected by West Australian
Newspapers, in its absolute discretion.
3.14 In all matters relating to judging of the Competition, the decision of the judges is final and
no correspondence will entered into.
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3.15 The judges will not be required to make an award if they do not consider the entries to be
of a sufficient standard.
3.16 Only shortlisted writers will be notified.
3.17 Entries must include all requested contact details to be eligible to win.
3.18 Neither West Australian Newspapers nor any prize suppliers are responsible for any data
or other information related to this competition that may be lost, 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.
3.19 Entrants may only enter in their own name.
3.20 Incomprehensible, illegible, and incomplete entries will be deemed invalid.
3.21 Entry details and entries remain the property of West Australian Newspapers and will not
be returned to the entrant.
3.22 Entries are submitted unencumbered and unrestricted, with full first publication rights
available to West Australian Newspapers and/or its nominated publisher.
3.23 Copyright remains with the entrant save as follows:
3.23.1 by submitting an entry, all Competition entrants agree to grant West Australian
Newspapers and Minderoo a 12-month non-exclusive licence 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, amendment,
abridgement, or modification of the entry or any part of the entry, transmission
and distribution of the entry or any part of the entry on and through the
websites
www.thewest.com.au,
www.minderoo.org 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,
audio download, audiobook, electronic databases, e-paper, mobile device
application, 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;
3.23.2 by submitting an entry, entrants of all winning or runner-up entries agree to
ensure that in the event that any winning or runner-up entry is published,
including in any anthology publications, it will carry approved credits if
requested to do so and provided all materials bearing such approved credits,
logos or trademarks are pre-approved by West Australian Newspapers;
3.23.3 all stories submitted to the Competition will be considered for publication by
The West Australian and may be used for marketing and publicity in
conjunction with the Competition. In submitting their stories for publication
authors indicate their consent to these initiatives;
3.23.4 all stories submitted to the Competition may be used for marketing and
publicity in conjunction with the Competition by Minderoo. In submitting their
stories for publication, authors indicate their consent to these initiatives and
for West Australian Newspapers to provide Minderoo with entry details and
entries for the purposes of these initiatives;
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3.23.5 the writer’s name, biography and image may be used in marketing and
publicity materials.
4. PRIZES
4.1 There will be fourteen prizes awarded to winners judged on the skill, creativity and
originality of entrants’ writing, 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 - $30,000
4.1.2 9 x shortlist winners (excluding the first prize winner) - $1,000 each
4.1.3 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.
4.1.4 Youth winner - $2,000 (“Youth Prize”). The Youth Prize winner will be selected
from all entries from Youth Entrants. In the event a Youth Entrant is awarded a
prize from any other category they remain eligible to also win the Youth Prize.
4.1.5 Readers’ choice winner - $2,000 (“Readers’ Choice Prize”). The Readers’ Choice
Prize winner will be selected by readers, from the longlisting judging panel’s list
of the top 50 entries, via an online voting poll. The longlisting panel’s list of top
50 entries will be published on the thewest.com.au website after the long-list
judging has been completed . Online voting will open at a time and date to be
confirmed and close at the end of the Competition Period.
4.1.6 West Australian prize winner - $4,000 (“Western Australian Prize”). The West
Australian Prize winner will be selected from all entries from Western
Australian Entrants. In the event a Western Australian Entrant is awarded a
prize from any other category they remain eligible to also win the Western
Australian Prize.
4.2 The total prize pool value is (up to) AUD$50,000. 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 2023. 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
winners grant West Australian Newspapers and prize suppliers a perpetual and nonexclusive 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
conditions of use of the Competition and West Australian Newspapers’ requirements.
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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.
4.8 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 fourteen prizes. The judging criteria will be set by the 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, 31 May 2022 23:59 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, and is more fully set out in the Competition FAQs.
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.
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
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.
5.3 A member of the Seven West Media (WA) Marketing department will contact the prize
winners by a phone call within two business days of the judging date and a letter advising
the prize winner of their prize will also be emailed to the email address on the entry. The
winner’s entry details will be published on
www.bestaustralianyarn.com.au following the
prize giving ceremony, expected to take place by November, 2022.
5.4 The prize winners 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. Winners must provide bank transfer details before 31 November 2022.
5.6 Additional terms and conditions may apply, subject to the means of provision of the prize.
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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 take no responsibility for prizes damaged or lost in transit, or late, lost or misdirected
mail.
6.3 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:
6.3.1 during the entry process or the judging;
6.3.2 in the participation, acceptance or use of any element(s) of the prize;
6.3.3 as a consequence of late, lost or misdirected mail;
6.3.4 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;
6.3.5 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
6.3.6 arising from or related to any problem or technical malfunction of any
telephone network, internet connection,
www.bestaustralianyarn.com.auwebsite outage or lines or mobile communications network related to or
resulting from participation in this promotion.
6.4 West Australian Newspapers, Minderoo, 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
Best Australian Yarn terms and conditions
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destruction or unauthorized access to, or alteration of entries, and reserves the right to
take any action that may be available, subject to state government legislation.
6.5 If for any reason the Competition is not capable of running as planned, due to causes
including but not limited to tampering, unauthorized 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.
6.6 All entrants must submit ONLY their own original answers, designs and works. Any such
answers, designs or works cannot be previously published in any forum worldwide. 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. 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 this term.
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.
6.7 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
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 All entries and any licence subsisting in the entries become and remain the property of
the Promoter who may publish or cause to be published any of the entries received. 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
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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@wanews.com.auor post to Privacy Officer, GPO Box D162, Perth WA 6840 and 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.
Australian Competitions Club
