Gold Coast students take top prizes in QLD Literary Competition

Local Gold Coast students were honoured with top awards on Wednesday evening at the EU-QNT annual Literary Competition presentation.

One Big Thing: Gold Coast teen Harriet McIvor has clinched first place in the Years 11-12 non-fiction prose category of Queensland’s 66-year-old Literary Competition for her moving piece To the kid in bed 7A.

Four other locals also took out top awards.

Pictured are some of the 2025 Literary Competition judges. From left - Rae White, Rebecca Cheers and Antoinette Mizen.

What’s Happening: The annual contest, run by the Independent Education Union–Queensland & NT and the English Teachers’ Association of Queensland, drew more than 1,500 poems, short stories and essays from students statewide.

Why It Matters: The event is Australia’s longest-running school writing contest, fostering storytelling skills and giving young authors a statewide platform.

What They Said: “To the kid in bed 7A is a reflection on a relationship formed on a hospital ward, and the ways one helps the other in small, profound ways,” judge Jeffrey Lewis said.

“Constructed with grace and care, I encourage readers to get tissues ready before they start.”
“Now in its 66th year, the Literary Competition remains the oldest continuing writing competition in Queensland and is open to students and staff in both state and non-government schools,” ETAQ president Carley Elliott said.

Local Impact: McIvor’s win capped a strong night for the Coast with other local winners including:

• Sophia Piran