Short Story 

Introducing the Literature – Short Story category winners of our first ever Sydney Catholic Schools’ Lockdown Arts Festival.

The short stories of our category winners and highly commended artists – including the creators’ descriptions of their own work – are sure to capture your imagination and stir your emotions.

Early Primary (K-2)

School: Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic Primary School, Miranda
Story: The Pelican and the Treasure

The story is inspired by a pelican we saw during lockdown.

Read the story here.

School: St Raphael’s Catholic Primary School, Hurstville
Story: Roar’s Adventure in Africa
This is a story about Roar, a lion cub who has an adventure in the rainforest in Africa. He made some friends, fought against piranha and became stronger, braver and full of hope. The story is an original story created by Jaxton, trying to send out the message about “never give up, looking positive” to the community during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Read the story here.

School: Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School, Cabramatta
Story: Spring Lockdown
Spring lockdown 2021.

Read the story here.

Middle Primary (3-4)

School: St John Bosco Catholic Primary School, Engadine
Story: Being Free
My name is Hayley Prodinger. I wrote this story to describe what I would like to do after lockdown.

Read the story here.

School: St Aidan’s Catholic Primary School, Maroubra Junction
Story: Adventures of Super Dog
A story about Super Dog defeating the evil shark Monwies.

Read the story here.

Upper Primary (5-6)

School: Holy Spirit Catholic Primary School, Carnes Hill
Story: Escape Route: Beyond Lockdown
Short story written by me during the remote learning and lockdown period. My parents, teachers and principal gave me feedback for further inspiration to spark my creativity in my writing.

Read the story here.

School: Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School, Randwick
Story: FRIENDSHIP: You Never Know Until You Give It A go!

This is a story about special friendships and how we can make a difference in people’s lives.

Read the story here.

Lower Secondary (7-9)

School: Brigidine College, Randwick
Story: Return to school
It is about a person who returns to school and finds it deserted. Bianca Smith is the original author.

Read the story here.

School: Holy Cross College, Ryde
Poem: The Peculiar Mirror in the Attic
The author of this short story is named Sebastian Lee, “Me”. I am in year 8 and love to write engaging and mysterious stories. I have entered competitions before but have never won, would love to see where this opportunity takes me!

Read the story here.

Upper Secondary (10-12)

School: Freeman Catholic College, Bonnyrigg Heights
Story: The Wrong Beach
I wrote this story for my English assessment in term 3. I believe the word cap took away from the depth it originally possessed. I took inspiration from Richard Flanagan’s “The Narrow Road to the Deep North” in my short story, especially in the moments of horror, gore and synesthesia. “Charge the windmill” is a reference to Don Quixote, a moment of brave stupidity.

Read the story here.

Staff member or group

School: De La Salle College ASHFIELD
Story: Take me back…
This piece is a deeply personal and heartfelt ode to my childhood, growing up on a flower farm in the Hills District of Sydney in the 1980s and 1990s. I’m the daughter of Italian immigrants who brought with them traditions and ways of the old country trying to find their place in the Australian sun. Being in lockdown and away from my family has made me so nostalgic and yearn for those ‘greener’ days. The beautiful memories I have of that time will be cherished forever.

Read the story here.

School: Freeman Catholic College, LIVERPOOL
Poem: Vignettes of a Lockdown
Vignettes of a Lockdown

Read the story here.