Fleurieu Writers Competition 2026

Announcing the Winners

We are delighted to announce the winners of the Fleurieu Writers Competition and celebrate the outstanding talent, creativity, and storytelling showcased by this year's entrants.

After careful consideration by our judging panel, the winning entries were selected for their originality, craftsmanship, and ability to engage and inspire readers.

Short Story

🏆 First Place: Kristen Rhode – The Book of Lost Things

🥈 Second Place: Annette Wickes – Gracie and the Grump

🥉 Third Place: Jacqueline Waters – Amber’s Butterfly

Poetry

🏆 First Place: Louis Decrevel – The Eagle, the Bear, the Mouse, and the Cheese

🥈 Second Place: Louis Decrevel – Sir Dad

🥉 Third Place: Louis Decrevel – Prankenstein

We extend our sincere congratulations to all winners and thank every participant who contributed to the competition. The quality and diversity of submissions made judging both challenging and rewarding.

The Fleurieu Writers Competition continues to showcase the vibrant literary community of the Fleurieu Peninsula and beyond. We look forward to supporting and celebrating local writers in future competitions.

Congratulations to all our winners! 🎉

For further information about the winning entries and upcoming events, please contact admin@festivalfleurieu.com.au

We are pleased to publish the winning poem and its illustration by the author Louis Decrevel

The Eagle, the Bear, the Mouse, and the Cheese
The eagle and the bear were always fighting tooth and claw,
and the creatures of the forest couldn’t take it any more.
Owl gathered them together at his tree of parliament
to discuss a plan of peace, and this is how it went:
‘To whom among us can we look, to what, to who, to whom?’
And everybody shuffled as they looked around the room.
The wolf and fox barked some excuse and softly slunk away.
The stag just snuffled and the snake had not a word to say.
But just when owl was ready to give up and clear his house,
a tiny little paw shot up and it belonged to mouse.
She scurried up the podium and sat upon the leather,
she cleared her tiny throat and then she rubbed her paws together.
‘Sometimes I get upset,’ she squeaked. ‘Sometimes I’m really mad.
One awful time I even stuck my tongue out at my dad!
But when I’m on the rampage and my mother, she agrees,
I’m normally just hungry, and feel better with some cheese.’

A murmur went around the room for what felt like a minute;
a spark of hope had filled the tree and everybody in it.
‘A feast!’ cried fox, who’d slunk back in, with wolf not far behind.
‘A feast!’ cried stag. ‘Indeed, it’s been too long since we have dined!
Why, let us hold the grandest feast the world has ever seen!
With sausages and sauerkraut and butter toast and beans!’
The snake, she hissed, ‘And carrot juice and pappadums and stew!’
‘And birthday cake,’ said owl, ‘because I’m turning fifty-two!’
Then over the kerfuffle, mouse called out, ‘Oh can we please,’
‘if it isn’t too much trouble, have a little bit of cheese?’
Wolf howled with laughter, ‘Gorgonzola, Wensleydale and Brie!’
You’ll have so much lovely cheese you’ll end up quite as big as me!’
And everyone had so much fun in setting up the feast;
the pouring, stirring, mixing, making, measuring the yeast;
the cooking, baking, decorating — making it look regal —
that no one sent an invitation to the bear and eagle.

But the warm delicious smells and sounds of fun went through the air,
and they reached the field of battle of the eagle and the bear.
And when at last those enemies appeared at owl’s front door,
they were met with cheers and hoots and squeaks and one almighty roar!
They had hors d’oeuvres, they had champagne, they had a bit of salad.
Their anger went away and then the eagle sang a ballad:
‘I’m sorry bear,’ she sang, ‘I shouldn’t snap when I’ve not eaten,
(and even though you stopped the fight ’cause you were being beaten),
I love you really, even if you’re grumpy as can be!’
Then bear crooned back to eagle, ‘Oh my darling — forgive ME!
I could crush you in a second, but I want to hold you near.’
Then he leant right down to mouse and whispered in her tiny ear,
‘Oh I hope she doesn’t leave me — I quite like the way she teases.
(and when I’m mad I’ll visit you and snack upon these cheeses!)’