Thank you to all the young Territory authors who entered the Young Territory Author Awards this year!
The competition is now closed, and our judges are busy reviewing the entries. Best of luck to everyone who participated!
The Young Territory Author Awards is an annual writing competition where entrants write and produce their own book.
It is organised in association with other local Councils, public libraries and schools throughout the Northern Territory.
The competition is in its 34th year of production and showcases the incredible imagination and creativity of young people in the community, providing them with an opportunity to develop their writing skills and have their work nationally recognised.
- Young Territory Author Awards Winners 2024
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2024 Overall Winner
Amy Devlin-Aylott
Book: CASTING OUT
“Set in a contemporary Darwin, Casting Out unfolds at a natural pace, supported by the author’s authentic voice. The story explores the changing tides of relationships and importance of connection at any age.”
School Winner
Milkwood Steiner
Book: THE WORLD OUTSIDE THE HOLLOW
“The World Outside the Hollow: in few words this beautifully illustrated book tells an affecting and relatable story of habitat loss in our own backyard.”
Children's Book Council of Australia NT Wow Award
James Cuff
Book: ANTHOLOGY OF POETRY
“This delightful book of poems is simply a joy to read. The simplicity and variety of styles reflect a love of language and a creative mind. A very worthy winner of the WOW Award.”
8 and under
Winner: Hirudini Bowala
Book: DANNY THE DRAGON
“Independently illustrated and written by this clever 6 year old, Danny the Dragon is a simple, cute and heartwarming story that reminds you that your close friends will always be there for you”
Highly Commended: Esther Manuel & Emmanuel Manuel
Book: NOW ITS YOUR TURN
Encouragement Award: Samuel Herejias
Book: A LAB TALE: UNTROUBLING THE TROUBLE
9 to 12
Winner: Liora Devlin-Aylott
Book: HONEY BEA
“Honey Bea is a sweet, well-researched, and joyfully illustrated picture book by 9 year old Liora. A unique story with a distinctly Darwin flavour, it follows an unexpected relationship between a thoughtful young girl and a furry buzzy friend. The author has clearly put LOTS of effort into her piece and as a reader it is pure delight.”
Highly Commended: Angela Koh
Book: SHADOW’S JOURNEY
Encouragement Award: Zac Trenfield
Book: THE WATER TOWER
13 to 15
Winner: Monte George
Book: SAND TO SKY
“This remarkable narrative follows plane-lover, Leo, as he achieves his greatest dream - becoming a pilot. The author's love of aviation shines throughout the story, one filled with engaging dialogue and adventure, and plenty of flying knowledge. Monte thoughtfully acknowledged his friends, family and teacher for supporting his work - even that part alone was wonderful to read!”
Highly Commended: Audrey Foster
Book: ILE DE BREHAT
Encouragement Award: Liadan M. Young
Book: KARMA
16 to 18
Winner: Chay Keating
Book: THE HOLLOW THREE
“In The Hallow Three the author expertly weaves together place, character and narrative, crafting a suspenseful tale that makes a strong bid for a place amongst the tradition of gothic fiction set in the Australian bush.”
Winner: Maya Purdon
Book: THIS ONYX OCCULT
“As a reader, we are not quite sure where or when this story is set, but the beautifully written prose and almost poetic language takes you on quite an adventure. The characters are carefully crafted, and the settings are well-described and evocative. The only disappointment with this well-written story is that we have to wait for the next in the series to continue the adventure. I hope we won’t have to wait too long!”
Highly Commended: Pak Chan
Book: CITY OF STRINGS
Regional Winners
Darwin: Joash Miles
Book: THE HUNGRY PANDA
Alice Springs: Pippa Frey
Book: THE MYSTERY OF THE HUGHES MANSION
Katherine: Casuarina Street School
Book: TRAVELLING THROUGH TIME
Litchfield: Maya Purdon
Book: THE ONYX OCCULT
Palmerston: Arslan Siddique
Book: MAKING A DIFFERENCE
East Arnhem: Evelyn Flynn
Book: UNDER OUR LAKE
Wagait: Chay Keating
Book: THE HOLLOW THREE
- Young Territory Author Awards Winners 2023
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2023 Overall Winner
Liora Devlin-Aylott
Book: ROOTS TO THE HEART
“A cleverly constructed story that manages to be both an empathetic insight into personal relationships and introduce a satisfying element of the fantastical. The writer skilfully uses language to leave a lasting impression on the reader”.
School Winners
Palmerston College, Special Education Centre
Book: STORIES: A Children’s Anthology
“From sci-fi to historical fiction Stories. A Children’s Anthology is a collection of stories that show how creative our young writers are. The judges appreciated the diversity of the stories, and the sense of teamwork and peer support that came through in this anthology.”
Children's Book Council of Australia NT Wow Award
Dela Jones
Book: PROTEST
“The judges enjoyed the narrative of Protest and the beautiful accompanying illustrations. They felt this was a moving contemporary story about Lee Point and the Gouldian Finches told with lots of nice detail”.
8 and under
Winner: Maya Searl
Book: THE BIRD AND THE CATERPILLAR
“The Bird and the Caterpillar was a beautifully illustrated story of an unlikely friendship between the bird and the caterpillar. One day caterpillar disappears, but fortunately the friendship doesn't end there. When butterfly emerges, the friendship continues. This story was nicely written, engaging and heartfelt”.
Highly Commended: Banjo Beynon
Book: THE HEDGEHOG AND THE FOX
Encouragement Award: Harry Rowlands
Book: AT THE QUARRY
9 to 12
Winner: Demilade Kuteyi
Book: THE NARRATOR AND THE INTERRUPTING PRINCESS
“The judges appreciated the playfulness and joy of this book, both in the story telling and the illustrations. A take on a well-known fairy tale we ask ourselves the question …Have we ever really known what the princess is thinking and what she gets up to everyday?”
Highly Commended: Leo Brown
Book: THE MAGIC CAST NETS
Encouragement Award: Adele Brennan
Book: SUBJECT 001
13 to 15
Winner: Coriel Stay
Book: HEART OF THE BIRCHWOOD
“Heart of the Birchwood asks us to view nature and the world around us through magical eyes. A dialogue rich story, the judges appreciated the sense of adventure and friendship that run deep within the book”.
Highly Commended: Maya Purdon
Book: A HAND IN THE NIGHT
Encouragement Award: Ramneet Gill & Kim Nguyen
Book: THE MYSTERY OF MY MISSING SISTER
16 to 18
Winner: Pryha Allen-Bell
Book: STUPIDLY DYSFUNCTIONAL
“This is a well-written dystopian story that manages to pack an interesting plot and good characterisation into a relatively short story. This writer clearly cares about language and the effects it produces”.
Highly Commended: Gabriella Francis
Book: COASTAL STRAWBERRIES, JUICY ORANGES & SHOREBIRDS: THE GHOSTS OF MY CHILDHOOD
Regional Winners
Alice Springs: Coriel Stay
Book: HEART OF THE BIRCHWOOD
Katherine: Mia Taylor
Book: BALUNG
Litchfield: Pryha Allen-Bell
Book: STUPIDLY DYSFUNCTIONAL
Palmerston: Leo Brown
Book: THE MAGIC CAST NETS
East Arnhem: Banjo Beynon
Book: THE HEDGEHOG AND THE FOX
- Past Winners
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Megan Jacobson - 1992 Young Territory Author winner
Sasha Beekman - Young Territory Author Awards -16 to 18 Age Category winner 2012 & 2013
Previous Young Territory Authors of the Year
2024 Amy Devlin-Aylott
2023 Liora Devlin-Aylott
2022 Freya Galati
2021 Rowan McGrath
2020 Rachel De Kock
2019 Jethro Pollock
2018 Tiger-Lily Clements
2017 Jessica Phelan
2016 Alice Cotter
2015 Sascha Duffy
2014 Irini Melas
2013 Yasna Delo
2012 Shayla Moses
2011 Ella Hardiman & Tjina Stoll
2010 Isabella Hope Tester
2009 Timothy Hansen
2008 Rosanna Cameron
2007 Sophie Philip
2006 Dean Holzwart
2005 Karina Brabham
2004 Lauren Crabbe
2003 Erin Pearce
2002 Amanda Deacon and Penny Cameron
2001 Penny Cameron
2000 Guy Spielman
1999 Jessica Rose
1998 Melanie Robinson
1997 Karen Bryce
1996 David Palmer
1995 Yvonne Medel
1994 Aaron Tucker
1993 Aaron Tucker
1992 Megan Jacobson
1991 Arvin Roach
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