Through the Eyes of Nature
2024 Winners Announced
Once again, the RD Walshe Writing for the Environment Awards, has provided people from around Australia and opportunity to use their writers skills to wonder about and work towards shaping a sustainable world.
This year, writers were asked to see the world from an alternative perspective. The competition invited them to ‘become’ in their writing an endangered animal anywhere on the planet, an island sinking, sinking in the Pacific, a mountain, a tree, a fish in the sea, an albatross, an elephant, an insect, a koala, your favourite fruit or meandering river….
The media release that accompanied the launch of the competition earlier this year carried this quote from Ian Hill, Chair of SSEC: “We forget, sometimes, that we are but one species amongst millions. This year, we’d like writers to select some non-human element of nature and write from that perspective. You might choose to be a waterfall or a cold, crisp morning in the desert. You might choose to write from the perspective of a dolphin playing in the surf. Or say what the world looks like through the eyes of a lost puppy in a city of cars. We are keen to hear about our world, our environment, our actions for sustainability from non-human eyes.”
We received 68 entries across the three categories:
- Under 19: 42 entries
- 19-26: 9 entries
- Over 60: 17 entries
Three teams of judges were created. Thank you to all judges who helped determine the winners. Their rankings are vital. But so, too, are their insightful comments about content and style. Thanks you Pete, Sharelle, Grant, Cooper, Helen, Dawn, Syd, Rowan, Pat and Nic.
Overarching comments
Judges in each category commented on how writers were able to take on different perspectives and view what humans are doing to the planet from that viewpoint. All observed the damage. Some writers saw little way out. Others offered hope.
Under 19
First place ($500)
Change (Hey Boss) by Emika Saville
Second place ($250)
Was it Worth it? by Sarah Polkinghorne
Third place ($100)
Eldara: The Sentinel of Time by Aanya Singh
The Pat Strong Award for a Young Writer ($100)
Glimmer of a Dream by Sarelia Kresevic
“This was a tough category to judge. So many writers. So many good perspectives. So many different narrative styles.
“The judges welcomed the creativity and passion and vivid descriptions. Writers captured beautifully in words their emotions of hope and despair, frustration and determination, and anger and gratitude. Many submissions are full of the power and concerns of youth, and, as with last year’s entries, some of the writing was very moving.
In Change, the story spans a little more than a decade. It experiments with narrative, jumps time, tells a story, addresses the challenge of the task, makes the environmental points, but does so in a non-declarative/listing way. There is despair and there is hope, and the author comes down on the side of the latter, and also suggests that one person can make a difference. An imaginative and creative literary response.”
19-26
First place ($500)
Small by Connor Finn
Second place ($250)
It isn’t all for me? by Jessica Gough*
Third Place ($100)
Changing Times by Luke Waldie
“The quality of writing in this group was very high, with many writers demonstrating a lyrical and/or poetic style of writing.
“Small was a standout. It resonated with all the judges. Humans are put under the microscope in this ominous story written from the perspective of a mountain. The result is a critical though empathetic analysis of our species, and the judges welcomed the strong last line.”
*Jessica won Third Place in 2023.
Over 60
First place ($500)
The Watering Place by John Scholz*
Second place ($100)
The Storm by Jenny England*
“The judges were very impressed with the imagination and creativity of the over 60 group and by these three stories specifically.
“The Watering Place took the top spot as all three judges listed this as their number 1. For me, this story feels like the start of a novel, and I wish it was a novel as I was so immersed in the story. It is a bittersweet story about our connectedness to nature that reminds us we have the power to revive and reinvigorate the natural world, should we choose to apply ourselves to the work.”
*John Sholz won the 2023 competition in this age category. Perhaps a novel is in the making!
*Jenny England won the ‘highly commended’ prize in the 2023 competition.
Phil Smith & Alex Talbot
