Writer and poet Cate Kennedy has taken out the Furphy Literary Award for 2022 with her short story Art and Life.
The short story won the Castlemaine-based literary figure a prize of $15,000 in addition to a residency at La Trobe University and publication in The Furphy Anthology 2022 ― to be published later this year.
Ms Kennedy received her award on Saturday, July 23, at a ceremony held at the Shepparton Art Museum.
She was chosen out of 600 entries by a judging panel of Anson Cameron, Tara June Winch, Margaret Hickey, John Harms, Thornton McCamish and John Kerr.
“Cate’s Art and Life had us smiling and nodding from the beginning. It’s so funny and insightful, so light of touch,” the judging panel said.
“We felt like we knew parents like that, and we knew pressured students like that. And the response of the young classical musician is brilliant.
“The story is totally engaging and entertaining and invites us to ask ourselves questions.”
Ms Kennedy has published two collections of short stories, one novel and three volumes of poetry. She’s currently working as a writing mentor and teacher.
“Short stories are the form I find myself returning to again and again,” she said.
“Learning how to compress and distil my ideas, seeing ways to take the reader on a journey, reflecting on how the form brings out our instinctive storytelling powers to make each other laugh, cry and think.”
In second place, Lisa Moule was awarded $3000 for The Game and Natalie Vella won $2000 for Winter is for Regret. Both pieces will be published in The Furphy Anthology 2022.
The Furphy Literary Award is named after Australian writer Joseph Furphy and celebrates Australian story-telling in the short story format.
After 28 years as a Goulburn Valley local competition, The Furphy Literary Award re-launched in 2020 as a national award.
In addition, there are also four Junior and Youth Short Story and Poetry categories, open to Goulburn Valley young people.
The News will publish the junior awards ceremony on Tuesday.
Congratulations to the 2022 Furphy Literary Award winners and shortlisted writers
1st: Cate Kennedy Art and Life
2nd: Lisa Moule The Game
3rd: Natalie Vella Winter is for Regret
Shortlisted:
Thomas Alan — All the Way Through
Daniel Alwan — Sunshine
Isabella Ballestrin — 00:00
Craig Billingham — Breadcrumbs
Dean Croxon — Bat on a Wire
Marian Edmunds — The Flood
Janet Fuller — Hardly David
Christine Jackman — A Brush Turkey’s Guide to Life
Scott Limbrick — Fake Plants
Deborah May — Protection
Magdalena McGuire — Pause, remember?
Sue Osborne — Moon Standing
Kym Tyzack — Leaving