My Brother Jack Awards

From emerging writers to future literary stars, the awards celebrate local talent and the stories that shape our community. 

Prizes are awarded for short stories and poetry in the categories of Primary; Junior Secondary; Senior Secondary; and Open.

So get writing!  #MBJ2021

Short story judges: Eliza Henry-Jones, Annette Trevitt and Angela Meyer

Poetry judges:  Alicia Sometimes and Ozlem Baro

Key dates

Opens: 9am Thursday 1 July 2021
Closes: 5pm, Monday 6 September 2021
Finalists notified: Tuesday 12 October 2021
Awards Ceremony*: Late October

Entries for the 2021 My Brother Jack Awards have now closed. Good luck to all entrants. Finalists will be notified by email on Tuesday 12 October 2021.

For any enquiries, email mybrotherjack@gleneira.vic.gov.au

Short story awards

Open

3,000 word limit
No age restriction
First prize: $1,000
Second prize: $600
Third prize: $400

Senior Secondary School

1,000 word limit
Years 10 to 12
First prize: $500 shopping voucher

Junior Secondary School

500 word limit
Years 7 to 9
Prize: $400 shopping voucher

Primary School

500 word limit
Years 1 to 6
Prize: $300 shopping voucher

Poetry awards

Open

60 line limit
No age restriction
First prize: $1,000
Second prize: $600
Third prize: $400

Senior Secondary School

30 line limit
Years 10 to 12
Prize: $500 shopping voucher

Junior Secondary School

10 line limit
Years 7 to 9
Prize: $400 shopping voucher

Primary School

10 line limit
Years 1 to 6
Prize: $300 shopping voucher

Judges’ Biographies

Eliza Henry Jones

Eliza grew up in Glen Eira and is the author of the adult novels Ache and In the Quiet and the YA novels P is for Pearl and How to Grow a Family Tree. Her novels have been listed for the QLD Literary Awards, NSW Premier's Literary Awards, Readings Prize for New Australian Fiction, ABIA, Indie and CBCA Awards. Her work has appeared in places such as The Big Issue, The Guardian, The Age and Country Style. She is currently working towards a PhD in creative writing.

Annette Trevitt

Annette moved from Sydney to Melbourne to study animation and stayed. For 15 years, she taught fiction writing in professional writing and editing programmes, and has taught non-fiction, screenwriting and TV comedy. Her short stories have been broadcast on ABC radio and by the BBC and published in literary magazines and anthologies, including Best Australian Stories and in the Fish Anthology in Ireland. She teaches academic writing and communication skills to students entering higher education.

Angela Meyer

Angela Meyer’s debut novel, A Superior Spectre, was shortlisted for an Aurealis Award, the MUD Literary Prize, an ABIA, the Readings Prize for New Australian Writing and a Saltire Award (Scotland). Her novella, Joan Smokes, won the inaugural Mslexia Novella Award (UK). Her work has been widely published in magazines, journals and newspapers, and she has worked as a bookseller, book reviewer, commissioning editor and publisher. She is now a freelance editor and consultant, living in Elsternwick.

Alicia Sometimes

Alicia is a poet, writer and broadcaster. She has performed her spoken word and poetry at many venues, festivals and events around the world. Her poems have been in Best Australian Science Writing, Best Australian Poems, Overland, Southerly, Meanjin, ABC TV's Sunday Arts and more. She is a member of the ABC’s Outer Sanctum podcast and is often reviewing books on ABC Melbourne. She is director and co-writer of the science-poetry planetarium shows, Elemental and Particle/Wave. Her TedxUQ talk in 2019 was about the passion of combining art with science.

Ozlem Baro

Ozlem Baro is a poet and photographer. She has performed poetry in Australia, Turkey, Guatemala and Cyprus. Her photos can be found on Instagram and are mostly of her visits to curious places. Ozlem enjoys travelling and recently spent an entire year having adventures in different countries.

Background to My Brother Jack

My Brother Jack is a novel written by George Johnston, published in 1964. Johnston grew up in Elsternwick, and his mother Minnie was a Voluntary Aid Detachment member during the war.

My Brother Jack is a semi-autobiographical novel that follows the character of David Meredith through his youth in inter-war Melbourne. David’s mother is a VAD at Caulfield Repatriation Hospital on Kooyong Road, and she often brings wounded soldiers into their house. His childhood is filled with injured and traumatised men, and his memories of the hospital are a powerful view of war’s impact through a child’s eyes.

An Australian classic, the novel brought Glen Eira’s post-war experience into the national consciousness. Johnston’s book won the Miles Franklin Award in 1964.

The My Brother Jack Awards, Glen Eira City Council’s annual literary competition, acknowledge the lasting impact of Johnston’s work.

_{Sources:
G Johnston, My Brother Jack, William Collins, Sons, 1964
VAD Register, Red Cross Australia (Victoria)}