From HSC English to published authors

Seventeen students from last year’s English Extension 2 course were honoured at the WordeXpress award ceremony, with their works proudly published in the ‘Young Writers Showcase’ anthology that will go on sale to the public on Monday.

Their exemplary HSC writing projects included short stories, poems, critical responses, scripts and speeches, all showcasing the diverse and impressive writing talents of the class of 2017.

Mr Tom Alegounarias, Chairperson of the NESA Board, said the students deserve to be extremely proud to see their work in print.

“These 17 young writers have been selected from the more than 1600 students who studied HSC English Extension 2 in 2017 and to be included in this anthology is testament to their extraordinary writing skills.”

“The creativity, maturity and literary excellence demonstrated by them is quite remarkable and no doubt will be well regarded by future employers in whatever field they pursue.”

Bianca Briscas, whose poems are in the anthology, is now studying Medical Science and has been an avid reader from an early age.

“I always had a book open and sometimes even got into trouble for reading in class. I’ve loved poetry right from primary school and later sought out and explored all styles and forms of it through social media.”

“I see poetry as the most personal and emotional form of literature, allowing you to explore the way words explore emotions.”

Newcastle’s Cameron Shaw-Carmody was thrilled to find out his story had made it into print.

“It’s a huge reward for all the hard work I put into my major work and it’s nice to know that it was considered good enough to be published so that others can read it.”

A collaboration between NESA and the NSW State Library, WordeXpress was first held in 2012, and showcases the work of HSC students onsite at the Library, online through the Library’s website and on tour to regional NSW public libraries. The anthology will go on sale through the NESA shop online.

WordeXpress is one of eight HSC showcases which collectively celebrate excellence across a range of HSC subjects. Other NESA showcases include ARTEXPRESS for Visual Arts students, OnStage for Drama students, CALLBACK for Dance students, Encore for Music students, and Shape for Design and Technology, Textiles and Design, and Industrial Technology students.

What: WordeXpress – Launch of Young Writers Showcase anthology

Where: Metcalfe Auditorium, NSW State Library, Macquarie St, Sydney

When: Friday 17 August, 17:30 – 19:30

Who: Tom Alegounarias - Chairperson NESA, Dr John Vallance - State Librarian, 17 2017 HSC English Ext’n students published in the anthology.