As part of our ongoing writing focus, there are external opportunities for our writers. Last month the Extra! Tāpiri Otago Daily Times education supplement ran a writing challenge with a focus on war and remembrance. I am delighted to share that three of our writers had their work chosen for publication. Congratulations to Phoebe for also being awarded one of the additional writing prizes. 

Phoebe Quested 

22 November 2022 

Mother wept as gloomy-looking clouds cover the sun, everything is destroyed. Our belongings, gone. The enemies are crazy. And now, they have blown our house to smithereens. At first, we heard bombs looming in the distance, the sound of military planes roared. The bombs stalked closer, and closer, next thing we know we are standing outside a ruin. As much as I tried to think of the bright side, there didn't seem to be one. Life as we knew it was gone. I couldn't get my head around it. No one was coming to save us. 

Andrew Nagy-Richards 

8th of November 1942 

The day it all turned black, I marched to my position. I could hear V8 engines passing to their certain doom. I was recalling all the great times I had had with my friends and family. The commander was shouting at us to get into the cockpits and go. All I could hear was the thundering roar of my friends' spitfires. We got the green flag, the journey began, and our fleet, the best of the best, joined the fight! John switched his mic on “German bomber southwest two clicks,” he muffled with fear in his tone… the fight was on! 

Emily Fergusson 

One day I will return 

One day when this whole ordeal is over 

One day I will learn 

What is leftover