Nillumbik Prize for Contemporary Writing 2026

Lovely to note Kristyn J. Saunders is the winner of the Local Entry Category for the poetry section of this year’s prize.

Prize winners, along with highly commended writers and poets

Short Story

Winner Open Category

Flight by Terry Donnelly (VIC)

Winner Local Category

Protective Measures by Carmel Macdonald Grahame (VIC)

Winner Youth Category

Burning Cedar by Matilda Mayson (NSW)

Winner Mayor’s Prize

Footfalls Echo in the Memory by Charlotte Elizabeth Chidell (VIC)

Highly Commended Open Category

Driving with Goats by Claire Aman (NSW)

Damages by Hannah Duffus (VIC)

Busting by Kristen Tytler (VIC)

Highly Commended Local Category

Milkmouth by Maggie Januloska (VIC)

Highly Commended Youth Category

The Fencer by Winter Kuhaupt (VIC)

Her by Kelsey Beck (QLD)

Gate 62 by Ayaan Mohiuddin (VIC)

The Bird and the Worm by Jenny Wright (WA)

Poetry

Winner Open Category

Visit to the Columbarium by Richenda Rudman (VIC)

Winner Local Category

Over There by Kristyn J. Saunders (VIC)

Winner Youth Category

Our Candid Colosseum by Raihan Ameur (VIC)

Highly Commended Open Category

Sorry Time by Brenda Saunders (NSW)

Contrapuntal Facing Houla, Southern Lebanon by Dženana Vucic (VIC)

Highly Commended Local Category

Ulupna Island (Non-)Elegy by Anders Villani (VIC)

Memory Like Dory by Fee Sievers (VIC)

Undoing by Zana Fraillon (VIC)

Highly Commended Youth Category

Riding by Bruce Ru (NSW)

Ceiseag by Eartha Davis (VIC)