Illawarra Multicultural Services Refugee Week Writing Competition 2023
Writers and and their friends and family gathered at the Wollongong Town Hall Music Lounge to celebrate the Refugee Week Writing competition on Saturday 23 June. An initiative of the Illawarra Multicultural Service and supported by the South Coast Writers Centre, this year’s theme was ‘Finding Freedom’.
2023 is the third year SCWC has supported the competition. This year the adult winner, Khatereh Khoshnejadahmadi, was awarded a membership to SCWC and a mentorship in our Refugee/CALD Writing Program.
Ten members of SCWC volunteered their time as tutors and judges for this year’s competition.
The competition received around 170 written entries — poems, short stories, and essays.
‘These are moving heart-felt stories. Stories of disruption to peoples lives and the long and challenging journeys across the world to find freedom here in Australia.’ said Peter Frankis, Deputy Chair of SCWC.
It was a great family night, with young and adult writers being recognised and reading their work. There was much pride in the room from friends and family members as well as teachers who had supported their student writers.
Thank you to everyone who volunteered their time. If you would like to get involved, look out for the Women’s Writing Competition later this year and the 2024 Refugee Week Competition.
Written by:
Peter Frankis
Port Kembla, NSW 2505
Peter writes on unceded Wadi Wadi land
