A Story in Miniature - 2025 writing competition winners

Thank you to all entrants in the 2025 A Story in Miniature writing competition! It was a pleasure to read your work and get an insight into the creative minds of the VATE Village. 

This year, the competition received 342 entries from 120 schools across Victoria. The Year 7 and 8 category continues to be the most popular (150 entries) and the most adventurous with entrants in this category writing about all manner of funny, quirky, unique and interesting things. All entries to the competition were read by Emma Jenkins, VATE’s Education Officer, and a shortlist was compiled and judged by author Averil Robertson. Entries were judged anonymously.

Congratulations to all who bravely entered the writing competition. VATE is pleased to share the winning and highly commended entries below. General feedback about the writing competition from judge Averil Robertson is available here.

Year 7 and 8 category
Winner: ‘Canteen Line’ by Kitty Le, Albert Park College
Highly commended: ‘Routine Procedure’ by Lyra Moxham, Brunswick Secondary College
Highly commended: 'Polar' by Loukya Balasuriya, Melbourne Girls Grammar School
‘Kevpa’ by Amelia Breen, Sacred Heart College Geelong
The Dance’ by Heidi Orr, Templestowe College

Year 9 and 10 category
Winner: ‘The Last Lemon’ by Joshua Loftes, Melbourne Grammar School
Highly commended: ‘Moon Chased’ by Phoebe Richmond, Beaconhills College Pakenham
Highly commended: ‘Dying Glow’ by Hana Shirazi, Presbyterian Ladies’ College
‘Jason’ by Kenny Shao, Albert Park College
‘Happy Meals’ by Michelle Ngo, Huntingtower School

Year 11 and 12 category
Winner: ‘Penny For Your Thoughts?’ by Aathanah Akilan, The Mac.Robertson Girls’ High School
Highly commended: ‘Small Lives, Big Stories’ by Raayed Mustansir, Cornish College
Highly commended: ‘PLEASE CONFIRM YOU ARE NOT A ROBOT’ by Naomi Dellar, Ballarat Grammar School
‘The Edge’ by Merilyn Nishitha, Swan Hill College
‘Replay’ by Mahreen Naaz, Virtual School Victoria

Teacher category
Winner: ‘Letters’ by Nicole Heber, Yarram Secondary College
Highly commended: ‘Grab The Tissu’ by Helen Begley, Bundoora Secondary College
Highly commended: ‘The Umbrella Man’ by Emily Frawley, Maribyrnong College
‘Before’ by Helena Brain, Sacred Heart College Geelong
‘Stand in the Light’ by Martin Toman, Beaconhills College Berwick

Thank you to Allen & Unwin and Text Publishing for their support of the 2025 A Story in Miniature writing competition.