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.

www.jackiehoskingblog.wordpress.com

Lower Primary section judge – Kristin Martin

Kristin Martin is a poet, picture book author and primary school teacher from Adelaide, South Australia. Her books include Where Shall We Travel Today?, Banjo Frog’s Concert Spectacular, and her children’s poetry collection, To Rhyme or Not to Rhyme?

Her poems also appear in magazines, anthologies, art exhibitions and websites around the world. Kristin lives near the sea with her family, frogs, turtles and a bearded dragon named Ash.

www.kristinmartin.net

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.

www.joelmckerrow.com

 

Joel McKerrow

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