1. 2020 Writing Prize Judges Report
Martin Playne, co-ordinator of the Ancestor Editorial Team, briefly outlined the history of the GSV Writing Prize competition. Last year the composition of the judging panel was changed and now includes a President’s nominee and a Guest Judge as well as three members of the Ancestor Editorial Team. Ancestry has sponsored the prize from its inception, and last year generously increased the winner’s prize and provided a runner-up prize.
The President’s nominee was, for the second-year running, Joy Roy, FGSV, while the guest judge was well-known historian and author Gary Presland, FRHSV. The Ancestor Editorial Team members of the judging panel were Bill Barlow, Tina Hocking and Margaret Vines, who took on the role of chair of the panel. Margaret spoke of the good standard of entries and encouraged authors to start planning now for next year’s prize by thinking about aspects of their family history that would make a good journal article. Gary congratulated the entrants on undertaking the work required to enter and expressed his enjoyment of stories which took him to various times and places and gave him food for thought.
The winner was Brian Reid, with his story ‘Tom were the naughty lad’, which you can read in this issue of Ancestor. This companion piece to his recently published ‘Cissie, who are you?’ takes us back to rural Cumbria in the nineteenth century and tells us of his great grandfather Tom’s ‘naughty’ exploits, against a background of ancient customs and class prejudice. Brian wins a year’s subscription to Ancestry’s worldwide membership and a DNA test. In accepting the prize, Brian spoke of how daunting it had been, but also helpful, to have his work discussed in the GSV Writers Circle, and told us how surprised his high school English teachers would be to see him win a writing prize.
Susan Wight was the runner-up with her story ‘Webster Soda Water’, which will be published in the March issue of Ancestor. It tells of the ups and downs of her ancestors as they established a soft drinks business, initially on the goldfields and later in other parts of Victoria. Susan wins a six-month subscription to Ancestry’s worldwide membership. We were pleased to hear that Susan found out about the prize though the Queenscliffe Family History Society, as we encourage members of our Member Societies to enter. Susan expressed appreciation of the opportunity and encouragement the prize affords to people to write up their family history.
Back to top2. 2021 Writing Prize Judges Report
The judging panel of the 2021 Writing Prize consisted of Cheryl Griffin, the guest judge, Joy Roy FGSV, the President’s nominee, and three members of the Ancestor Editorial Team, Barbara Beaumont, Sue Blackwood and Tina Hocking. The competition was administered by Leonie Elliss, who received all the entries and sent them on to the judges.
There were fourteen entries. The judges found the entries interesting and admired the work put in by the authors to tell the story of their ancestors. The stories covered a wide variety of settings of time and place and included accounts of immigrants, convicts, missionaries, research journeys and family tragedies in what were all essentially Australian stories. Some authors used novel approaches, such as introducing fictional elements or relating their ancestors’ lives to literature.
The research component of the criteria was generally well covered, but the standard of referencing ranged widely. Most authors attempted a coherent structure, including an introduction and conclusion, but some entries contained material that did not advance the story.
The most successful stories engaged the reader’s attention from the start, and used analysis, interpretation and contextualising to enrich their tale rather than presenting a string of facts. A clear focus and an individual author’s voice were also in evidence.
The winning story is ‘The Mystery of the extra Booth Hodgetts’ by Susan Wight. This story deftly deals with the author’s original knowledge of the four Booth Hodgetts in her tree, then leads us on her research journey to solve the mystery of the extra Booth Hodgetts. It is clearly written and explained and serves as a model of how to go about dealing with anomalies thrown up by our research.
The runner-up is ‘The secret life of Mr Crisp’ by Bernard Metcalfe. The title and the opening quotation entice the reader to want to know about the secret life of the apparently model family man and citizen. The author has uncovered much that was hidden from his family during his lifetime.
Back to top3. 2022 Writing Prize Judges Report
The judging panel of the 2022 Writing Prize consisted of Cheryl Griffin, the guest judge, Joy Roy FGSV, the President’s nominee, and three members of the Ancestor Editorial Team, Bill Barlow, Martin Playne and Margaret Vines. The competition was administered by Barbara Beaumont. The panel met twice, first to establish a short list, and secondly to select the winner and runner-up.
There were eleven eligible entries. The judges found the entries interesting and admired the work put in by the authors to tell the story of their ancestors. The stories covered a wide variety of settings of time and place and included accounts of immigrants, convicts, settlers, research journeys and family tragedies almost all set in Victoria and in Tasmania.
The winning story - ‘Forgotten Emma: a story of my Lutheran ancestor’ by Ian Penrose evokes an emotional response in the reader, is well-written and well researched. The poignant story was told sensitively against a backdrop of the wider family story and in the context of Lutheran migration to South Australia. The author made good use of speculation based on fact and there was a judicious use of long quotes, well chosen to illustrate the change in circumstances. The writing is succinct, the prose is smooth. The author set the scene well and the context was clear with good use of ‘hooks’ to keep the reader engaged. The author demonstrated an ability to smoothly transition from the factual story to a personal reflection. This was a unanimous selection by the judges.
The runner-up, ‘When this you see’ by Kathleen Rutherford is the story behind a convict love token held in the National Museum of Australia. The story traces a young convict’s life in Van Diemen's Land and his success in later life. This was a great idea, well-researched and clearly told. A great deal of information was included – possibly too much. The author gave good explanations without being verbose; the work flowed smoothly and concluded well. A very positive story.
It is vital to consider the wider audience for articles in a journal such as Ancestor and write with them in mind. Nearly all authors had potentially interesting stories, but in some cases were not able to translate the material into a well-written story. Many stories contained material worthy of further development and eventual publication.
Narrative structure and theme are critically important. Authors need a hook; to keep readers involved and they need to keep their prose succinct. Most authors attempted a coherent structure, including an introduction, but in a number the ending was not well-considered. Some entries contained material that did not advance the story or had confused themes.
The research component of the criteria was generally well covered, but the standard of referencing ranged widely, with some over-referencing and providing inadequate detail in their references.
The most successful stories engaged the reader’s attention from the start, and used analysis, interpretation and contextualising to enrich their tale rather than presenting a string of facts. A maintained focus, a good ending, and an individual author’s voice were also in evidence in the better articles.
Back to top4. 2023 Writing Prize Judges Report
The judging panel of the 2023 Writing Prize consisted of Cheryl Griffin FRHSV, as guest judge, Joy Roy FGSV, as President’s nominee, and three members of the Ancestor Editorial Team, Emma Hegarty, Tina Hocking and Martin Playne. The competition was administered by Sue Blackwood.
As there were only four eligible entries this year, the judges decided that there would not be a runner-up award.
The judges found all entries interesting and admired the work put in by the authors in researching and writing their ancestor’s stories. The stories covered a variety of settings of time and place, and included accounts of immigrants, settlers, and research journeys, mainly set in Victoria and Britain. Some incorporated DNA analysis as well. In selecting their topic, all entrants took into account the wider audience for articles in a journal such as Ancestor.
The winning story - ‘The Ancestor Box’ by Anne Prince - uses a family heirloom to continue a generational family history. A wedding gift to the author’s 3x gt grandmother, this wooden writing case contained a wealth of oral history in the form of family correspondence and notes, when it came into the author’s possession. Taking up where her mother left off, the author set out on her own genealogical journey. This is a reflective piece, written in conversational style, in which snippets of the family story are interspersed with well selected quotes from the family correspondence, together with the author’s own recollections of the mother’s forays into archival research. A well-researched and referenced piece, this was a unanimous selection by the judges.
All authors had potentially interesting stories, but in some cases were not able to translate the material into a well-written account. Most entries contained material worthy of further development and eventual publication, however facts alone will not necessarily make an interesting story. Combining traditional research and DNA analysis yielded additional verification for some entries, while the utilisation of lesser- known resources opened up fresh avenues of inquiry.
The most successful stories engaged the reader’s attention from the start, and used analysis, interpretation, and contextualising to enrich their tale rather than presenting a string of facts. A maintained focus, a good ending, and an individual author’s voice were also in evidence in the better articles. The research component of the criteria was greatly improved this year, and the entrants were to be commended on their referencing. It is important that references enable the reader to follow the research trail. Finally, the judges also stress the importance of carefully reading the terms and conditions before entering any writing competition.
Back to top5. 2024 Writing Prize Judges Report
The judging panel of the 2024 Writing Prize consisted of Dr Cheryl Griffin FRHSV, as guest judge, Ms Joy Roy FGSV, as President’s nominee, and three members of the Ancestor Editorial Team, Alison Dennison, Emma Hegarty and Tina Hocking. The competition was administered by Sue Blackwood.
Fifteen eligible entries were received, of which six were shortlisted. Two entrants were members of affiliated societies, and the remainder were GSV members.
The panel was pleased, not only with the number of entries, but with the high standard across most. The majority adopted a consistent approach to referencing but there is always room for improvement. Important details such as the name of the holding institution, title, catalogue or series number, or record type were sometimes missing. References did not always match the text or were not specific enough, and unsubstantiated claims were a concern in some entries.
The entries covered a range of topics, such as deception, duty, bigamy, convicts, disappearance, perseverance, war experience, madness, migration, connection to place, a family object, and a quest or research journey. In particular, the judges noted a strong focus on women’s stories and on Victoria. In subject matter and writing style, all entries were targeted toward the interests of Ancestor readers.
The winning story is ‘Speak now or forever hold your peace’, by Sue Reid.
Sue’s surprise discovery of her great-grandmother’s first marriage led to an investigation into the events leading up to this controversial match. With a strong opening, starting with the most dramatic part of the story, this article unveils a complex tale, involving many players from well-connected families. The action crosses generational and geographic boundaries, but the story flows well, ensuring the reader is not confused or overwhelmed by the detail. This is a well-researched piece that draws on a variety of sources and holds the reader’s interest to the end.
The runner-up is ‘The sisters, the suitor and an old story’, by Angela Rutherford.
From the opening paragraph, the reader is drawn in with the promise of an account of a violent crime that took place in Melbourne 175 years ago. A story of unrequited love, madness, and suicide is pieced together from inquest and newspaper reports, some of it in graphic detail. Brief quotes inserted within the text and the occasional short, sharp sentence between paragraphs are used effectively. A concluding epilogue follows up on what became of the main characters. This entry is a thorough account of a shocking event in colonial Melbourne.
Better entries stand out because they tell a story rather than simply record and report on research. Articles involving a mystery, an unusual event, a quest or a journey of discovery grab the reader’s attention, for example, an investigation into the accuracy of a story handed down in a family. A good title and a strong opening help to draw the reader in. A litany of facts can interfere with the narrative. Carefully selected quotes can enhance the story but should not dominate the piece. Paraphrase longer quotes and weave them into your narrative. Be selective about what additional information you include. Don’t go overboard with peripheral details that do not advance or enhance the story and stick with the characters integral to the story. A well-written article will leave the reader intrigued and hoping for more. Always proofread before submitting your entry. Reading the piece out loud or asking someone else to check or read it to you will help identify areas that need work. Finally, the judges stress the importance of carefully reading the terms and conditions before entering any writing competition.
Back to top6. 2025 Writing Prize Judges Report
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.
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 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.
Back to top7. 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
***
Back to top