Entries are called for in August, Grief Awareness month, and in November awards are presented during a live reading event. Calvary Mater Newcastle has been a partner in this initiative from its beginning, through judging the entries, sponsoring an award and reading at the live reading event to which all winners and the wider community are invited. While the Hunter Writers Centre values the work of the Mater in caring for those who are dying and the bereaved. This anniversary year Calvary Mater Newcastle would like to pay tribute to the centre director Karen Crofts who realised very quickly, writing was a meaningful and helpful way for people to grieve. We congratulate her and all those whom she has trusted to realise this significant contribution to the wellbeing of bereaved people far and wide. The winner of this year’s Calvary Mater Newcastle Award is Fiona Jarvis, for her piece, The Brother. A note from Fiona follows:

“As the 2022 recipient of the Calvary Mater Newcastle Award in the Grieve writing competition, I want to express my sincere appreciation for the opportunity to contribute to the Grieve anthology. My story, The Brother, was difficult for me to write, but writing it helped me explore not only my own, but my brother’s thoughts and feelings about the experience of his illness and death. I regard the story as a tribute to our connection and all it means to me. Thank you for your role in giving me a voice.”

This year’s live reading and celebration takes place on Saturday 5 November at Adamstown Arts (Adamstown Uniting Church, cnr Glebe and Brunker Rds) beginning at 1.30pm. All are welcome.