National Storywriting Competition winners

Thanks to everyone who submitted entries and James Phelan for judging them. Congratulations to the following:

Winners & Commended

Open Section

First
Jeannie Haughton, Drouin
This is where they stood

Second
Vicki Thornton, The Patch
Drifters

Third
Janet Wilson, Montrose
In my backyard


Commended

Jason Cotter, Langwarrin - Bloodbirds
Graham Lacey, Richmond - Boys night out
Cheryl Bennett, Upwey - Nirvana Interruptus
Cally Jetson, Upper Ferntree Gully - The Sketch
Clancy Tucker, Eildon - The Long Paddock
Julie Hopper, Bendigo - Joey’s Drought
Emily Storey, Belgrave - Changes



Local Award

Deidre Oliver, Upwey
Chair for One


Special Encouragement Award

Amy McDonald, Mornington
Yarn for Alma Rose


Teenage Section

First
Rebecca, Ringwood East
Scarlett

Second
Anna, Bellerive,Tas.
Breakfast

Third
Monika, St Georges, SA
Never Again


Commended

Morgan, Emerald - The Dress Collector
Laura, Thornton, NSW - Stargazing
Grace, Rowville - Moira May Jump
Lauren, Warranwood - Hate Hurts
Nicole, Rowville - A Disgusting beautiful kind of thing
Monique, Blackburn - The Wren
Olivia, Mt Eliza - Addiction
Monika, St Georges SA - When the Fighting Begins



Junior Section

First
Thomas, Kalorama
My Brother the Bum Wart

Second
Melissa, Rowville
A Strange Day in July

Third
Abbey, Knoxfield
Flying Free


Commended

Maeghan, Belgrave - Touch the Sky
Sue, Balwyn - The Treasure Hunt
Joseph, Mont Albert - Just Another Monday
Hannah, Kardinya WA - The Blitz Raid
Stephanie, Hoddles Creek - Ln’t a story of Love and Loss
Erika, Kardinya WA - On Board with Columbus
Allison, Croydon - The Beginning of William Tongue: Boy Warrior


The Presentation Night is on Thursday 15th November 7pm at Belgrave Library. Poet Tricia Sykes will be reading extracts from the winning entries, and guitarist Geoff Penny will be providing some music. Coffee and cake will be served.

Cheers, Maryanne

Storywriting update

Well we have the winning stories and all but one of the winners has been contacted by phone. All I can tell you is that the person is an adult and is a winner of the 20th Anniversary Encouragement Award. Make sure your phones are charged and turned on as we endeavour to contact the last person, maybe it's you!

I hope to be able to officially announce the winners very soon.

Cheers, Maryanne

Christmas Hours

I've just uploaded the Christmas and New Year hours for our library branches. Please note that our branches will be closed on Monday 24th December.

View the Christmas/New Year hours (pdf, 95Kb, 1page, requires Adobe Acrobat Reader)

I'll upload the mobile library hours as soon as these are finalised.

Cheers, Maryanne

Croydon Library closed this Sunday

Eastern Regional Libraries has been notified that Croydon Library will need to be CLOSED on Sunday 11th November (this Sunday) due to power/cabling work at the new Croydon pool.

Cheers, Maryanne

Gideon Haigh Literary Lunch

For our final lunch of the year we take pleasure in presenting writer, journalist and commentator Gideon Haigh.

Familiar to viewers of the ABC Offsiders show and listeners to Jon Faine's Conversation Hour on 774, as an entertaining and informed commentator,Gideon is a writer of great versatility. He has written many books on sport, especially his great passion cricket, and on business topics. His book The Asbestos House: the Secret History of James Hardie Industries won the NSW Premier's Literary Award Gleebooks Prize 2007 and the Blake Dawson Waldron Business Book of the Year. Winner of the John Curtin Prize for Journalism in the Victorian Premier's Awards 2006, Gideon's latest book Ashes 2006-7: the Return Match was published in September 2007.

When: Thursday 29th November 12:30 pm
Where: Belgrave Library, Reynolds Lane, Belgrave
Cost: $7.50 includes lunch

Bookings essential phone 97547266

Cheers, Maryanne

Meet Andrew Cooper

Andrew Cooper is passionate about the environment, and his latest Little Things diary for 2008 will be released in early September. Packed with hints for the home, garden and business this book is a must-have.

'It's got a sustainability tip for every day of the year; everyone should get a look at this.' - Peter Garrett

When: Friday 16th November 1:30pm
Where: Mt Evelyn Library, 50 Wray Cr, Mt Evelyn

Bookings essential phone 97363851
Copies of Andrew's book will be available for sales and signing.

The Little Things website

Cheers, Maryanne

Melbourne Cup Day - Libraries closed

All Eastern Regional Libraries branches and mobiles will be closed on Tuesday 6th November 2007 for Melbourne Cup Day.

Items may be renewed online if you have your library card number (userID) and PIN. If you need to apply for your PIN you can do so on our PIN application form. With the public holiday it might take us a little longer to work our way through the PIN requests and website feedbacks that have come in over the weekend.

Items may be returned through the bookchute at our branches (except Croydon Library which does not have a bookchute operating). CDs should ideally be returned when the library is open because the cases are easily broken when returned through the bookchute.

Have an enjoyable Melbourne Cup day everyone. If you're looking for something to do this weekend check out That's Melbourne and CitySearch. For anyone going to The Cup, check out the official Melbourne Cup site and book early.

Cheers, Maryanne

Storywriting competition update

At present we're still waiting to find out the winners of the Storywriting competition. Once we do this the winners will be phoned and then an announcement will be placed on the blog.

The presentation evening is organised for Thursday 15th November at Belgrave Library.

Cheers, Maryanne