Our judges
Upper Primary section judge – Jackie Hosking
Jackie is a children’s picture author and poet.
Her books have been published by Walker Books, Scholastic, The National Museum of Australia and Larrikin House.
Jackie has 4 new picture books coming out this year with Walker Books.
Her poems have appeared in magazines, anthologies, educational texts & websites all over the world.
Jackie loves to write in rhyme and metre and when she’s not doing that, she is helping others do the same and when she’s not doing that she is looking after gorgeous little poppets as a professional nanny.
Lower Primary section judge – Kristin Martin
Secondary section judge – Joel McKerrow
Joel McKerrow is an award-winning writer, keynote speaker, children’s author and one of Australia’s most successful performance poets. Full time in his creative work for the last sixteen years, he performs and presents sessions in over fifty schools a year, as well as within many of Australia’s leading literary festivals.
Joel has twelve books/albums of poetry, a teen HEIST series with Penguin Random House, as well as a graphic novel series (URBAN LEGEND HUNTERS) and a murder mystery (GRAVE ROBBING AND OTHER CURIOUS ACTIVITIES) with Larrikin House.
Judging history
| Year | Name | Name |
|---|---|---|
| 1984 | Rosemary Dobson | Joan Phipson |
| 1985 | Rosemary Dobson | Joan Phipson |
| 1986 | Rosemary Dobson | Joan Phipson |
| 1987 | Rosemary Dobson | Joan Phipson |
| 1988 | Rosemary Dobson | Joan Phipson |
| 1989 | Rosemary Dobson | Joan Phipson |
| 1990 | Barbara Ker Wilson | Kate Llewellyn |
| 1991 | Barbara Ker Wilson | Anne Bell |
| 1992 | Barbara Ker Wilson | Anne Bell |
| 1993 | Bill Scott | Mavis Scott |
| 1994 | Bill Scott | Mavis Scott |
| 1995 | (Henry) Maurise Saxby AM | Gwen Harwood AO |
| 1996 | (Henry) Maurise Saxby AM | Alison Hoddinott |
| 1997 | (Henry) Maurise Saxby AM | Alison Hoddinott |
From 1998, due to the number of entries being received, judging was split into two sections – Primary and Secondary.
| Year | Name | Name |
|---|---|---|
| Primary section | Secondary section | |
| 1998 | Dr Elaine Moon | Ken Moon |
| 1999 | Dr Elaine Moon | Ken Moon |
| 2000 | Robin Morrow | Patricia Morgan |
| 2001 | Robin Morrow | Dr Maurice Saxby AM |
| 2002 | Colette Tucker | Ernie Tucker |
| 2003 | Colette Tucker | Ernie Tucker |
| 2004 | Di Bates | Bill Condon |
| 2005 | Lorraine Marwood | Claire Saxby |
| 2006 | Lorraine Marwood | Claire Saxby |
| 2007 | Prue Mason | Sue Gough |
| 2008 | Prue Mason | Sue Gough |
| 2009 | Dr Robert Kimber | Sue Gough |
| 2010 | Dr Robert Kimber | Joanne Horniman |
| 2011 | Sally Murphy | Joanne Horniman |
| 2012 | Glenda Millard | Sally Murphy |
| 2013 | Glenda Millard | Sally Murphy |
| 2014 | Corinne Fenton | Nette Hilton |
| 2015 | Corinne Fenton | Nette Hilton |
| 2016 | Sophie Masson | Stephen Whiteside |
| 2017 | Catherine Bateson & Leonie Tyle | James Roy |
| 2018 | Catherine Bateson & Leonie Tyle | James Roy |
| 2019 | Kathryn Apel | Meredith Costain |
| 2020 | Kathryn Apel | Meredith Costain |
| 2021 | Michelle Taylor | Sherryl Clark |
| 2022 | Michelle Taylor & Ross Clark | Sherryl Clark |
| 2023 | Rebecca Newman | Sarah Day |
| 2024 | Rebecca Newman | Karen Comer |
| 2025 | Jackie Hosking & Kristin Martin | Karen Comer |