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Violet’s ‘Hope’ recognised with literary award

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Year 4 student Violet Bloxsom has been awarded second place in the Year K-6 Prose Category of the Mosman Youth Awards in Literature. This highly esteemed competition is for primary and secondary students across the state. We caught up with Violet to hear about what she wrote.

The Mosman Youth Awards in Literature were inaugurated in 1993 as part of the Mosman Council’s Centenary Celebrations. The participants write a piece of prose that is no more than 1000 words of poetry that is at least 20 lines. Students can write on a theme of their own choice. The Mosman Library displays the winning entries as well as publishing them in a compilation of short stories. Violet wrote a moving piece of prose called ‘Hope’. Below are some reflections from Violet and an excerpt of her work.

What was your writing about?

My story was about a dingo pup who got lost when she was out exploring. She was captured by a ranger and taken to an animal shelter. She sits waiting in the shelter, losing hope, until a young girl finally chooses her to take home.

Why do you enjoy writing?

I love writing because there is no right or wrong. I like getting lost in my stories and I often close my eyes to help me describe what I see. I love the editing process where I can use my vocabulary to make my writing amazing and full of detail.

Do you have any writers that you admire?

One of my favourite writers is Australian author Katrina Nannestad. I recently recommended one of her books to Mrs Cotter who read it and agreed it was wonderful! I also admire J.K. Rowling. Both of these writers have an amazing ability to describe people and places and when I read their books I feel like I am there in the setting.

Why did you enter the Mosman Youth Awards competition?

I was encouraged to enter the Mosman Youth Awards competition by Mrs Birts. She knows I love writing and she has always given me opportunities to share my stories.

An excerpt from ‘Hope’ by Violet Bloxsom

A paw or two in your face, a squished tail, warm and cosy. That’s what it must feel like to be in the middle of a dingo pup litter of seven at bedtime. The smallest dingo pup wriggled and twisted to find a comfortable spot as she settled down for the night. The night sky was like a vast black canvas filled with millions of tiny dots all shimmering, completing the painting. The enormous round moon glowed, lighting up the den. An icy breeze swept across the land but the pups were happy to be snuggled in a pile.

The dingo pups were five months old. The bigger ginger-coloured pups were rowdy and always fighting, nipping tails and rumbling together. The smallest dingo pup was different. Her fur was the colour of sand, her eyes sapphire blue and her ears big and fluffy. She was gentle, kind and a little bit shy but that never stopped her from exploring her home which she liked to do on her own.