Ballarat Writers is excited to announce the final shortlist for the Southern Cross Short Story Competition. These final 12 stories were chosen from an initial 215 entries, which is a magnificent achievement.

Judge Julie Koh is working hard to decide a winner from this strong bunch of stories. Winners will be announced at the Ballarat Writers’ November meeting on Wednesday the 24th. This is scheduled to be held at the Bunch of Grapes hotel in Pleasant Street, Ballarat, from 7.30pm.

Congratulations to the shortlisted writers, in no particular order:

Body Parts by Helga Jermy

How To Leave Your Childhood Behind by Ros Thomas

Millie Lorraine by Josephine Sarvaas

The Cakemaker by David Campbell

Dogs by Timothy Loveday

Orbit by Jake Dean

Listing by Ian Reid

Epilogue by Rosemary Stride

Be Your Own Hero by Vicky Daddo

Driving by Christine Kearney

Feeling Through The Blue by Taylor Mitchell

Wheeler by Benjamin Forbes