The GSV is pleased to announce the result of its 2025 Writing Prize competition.
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Purpose of the Prize
- to encourage the writing of family history
- to provide an opportunity for recognition and publication
- to publish the winner in the GSV's Ancestor journal as an example of quality family history writing
The Judging Panel
The judging panel of the 2025 Writing Prize consisted of Dr Cheryl Griffin FRHSV as guest judge, Dr Phil Roberts OAM as President’s nominee, and three members of the Ancestor Editorial Team, Tina Hocking, Emma Hegarty and Margaret Vines. The competition was administered by Sue Blackwood.
Judges Report
There were nine entries. From a short list of four, a winner was selected.
All the entries this year were set in Australia, and we were pleased to receive so many interesting stories. We also appreciated the wide range of styles that the authors employed in their storytelling, reflecting the diversity of approaches to family history writing that we see in the GSV and more broadly.
The difference good storytelling makes cannot be underestimated in making your family story accessible and interesting to others. Some entries with real potential needed further work, either with a little added research or with structure – in organisation, developing a theme, a crisp introduction or a satisfactory conclusion. In some instances, the lack of a concluding paragraph to sum up the story left the reader a little dissatisfied, and the article incomplete.
We encourage writers to focus on their story, and not include unnecessary detail about other family members which will distract and confuse the reader. Other stylistic concerns were the overuse of abbreviations and exclamation marks.
Referencing is improving. But entrants are advised to check the Ancestor guidelines, to refer to original documents in preference to relying on secondary accounts, and to make sure each citation is complete - for example, page numbers for books, and dates viewed for websites.
Proofreading was sometimes not sufficiently thorough, and entrants would be wise to plan for a final meticulous re-read before submitting their entries. Hearing a story read out loud can often help to identify simple errors.
The Winner
The winning entry was "The Hostile Houskeeper " by Louise Millar-Hoffman. It was an engaging mix of family history, social history and interesting personalities. It told of the growing conflict between Bella McQuillen, housekeeper to the parish priest, and Frank Floreani, the artist decorating St Mary’s parish church in Bairnsdale. It was well written and succinct, showing empathy for the individuals and an understanding of the social context. The writer was selective, showing the skill of understanding what to leave out and what to include. A good variety of sources was consulted.
From the Ancestor Editorial Team
The Ancestor Team is grateful to guest judge, Cheryl Griffin for her continued membership of the judging panel, and to incoming President’s nominee judge, Phil Roberts for his fresh perspective on family history writings. We thank them for contributing their time, experience and wisdom.
All entrants are to be congratulated for taking the time and making the effort to be a part of this annual competition. The GSV Writers Prize is a valuable event on the GSV’s calendar, offering writers the opportunity to polish a piece and submit before a deadline.
The Ancestor team encourages all GSV writers to consider preparing a piece for entry in the 2026 Writing Prize.
Ancestor and the GSV thank Ancestry for their continued support and provision of the first prize of a 12-month subscription to their Worldwide Membership plus a DNA test kit.
2026 Writing Prize
Details of the 2026 GSV Writing Prize competition and how to enter will be posted on the GSV website early in 2026 and published in the March 2026 issue of Ancestor.
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Winners of the GSV Writing Prize
The Prize was first awarded in 2013
2013 Kath McKay: Finding Shakespeare in family research
2014 Anne Cavanagh: Elizabeth and the doctor elope: the story of Elizabeth Ware
2015 Marilyn Fordred: Every photo tells a story
2016 Emma Hegarty: Finding Mary Jane
2017 Helen Pearce: Thomas Owen: the skeleton in the family’s closet
2018 Helen Pearce: Daniel Elphinstone: his son’s secret exposed
2019 Louise Wilson: Masters of the road
2020 Brian Reid: ‘Tom were the naughty lad’
2021 Susan Wight: The mystery of the extra Booth Hodgetts
2022 Ian Penrose: Finding Emma: a story of my Lutheran ancestor
2023 Anne Prince: The ancestor box
2024 Sue Reid: Speak now or forever hold your peace
2025 Louise Millar-Hoffmann: The hostile housekeeper
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