Murrumbidgee Short Story Competition 2025 Winners

Western Riverina Arts extends warm congratulations to the winners of the Murrumbidgee Short Story Competition 2025, announced at the Narrandera Arts and Community Centre. The event was a resounding success, drawing a wonderful turnout from across the region to celebrate creativity, storytelling, and community spirit.

This year’s entries reflected a rich diversity of voices and styles, showcasing the incredible literary talent found throughout the Western Riverina.

Categories and Winners

Open Category
Winner: Andrew Alchin for his story “Once in a Once Out”
Runner-up: Cai Holroyd for his story “The Crushing Inevitability of 4” 
Highly Commended: Cai Holroyd for his story “Housekeeping"

Under 18s
Winner: Daniel Bridge for his story “Inching Apart” 
Runner-up: Maddison Weir for her story “Where the Light Falls” 
Highly Commended: Daniel Bridge for his story “Bubble Popping” 
Highly Commended: Mackenzie Lee for her story “Sydney New Year’s Eve” 

Under 12s
Winner: Odette McGuinness for her story “The Kangaroo Friends”

Western Riverina Arts congratulates all the winners and entrants for sharing their fantastic stories and looks forward to the 2026 competition.

Keep an eye out for the December 2025 Wrap-up newsletter, as the winning stories will be published in that issue.

Image courtesy of Western Riverina Arts.