They include a winner and runner-up in each of the School and Open divisions and three authors in receipt of a judges’ commendation.
Total prize money across the competition is $10,500.
The winner of the Open Division is Western Australian author Serena Moss with The Apology Factory, a humorous but poignant takedown of what happens when spin mixes with remorse. Serena wins prize money of $7500.
The runner-up is Queensland author Natalie Sprite with Watersong, an account of a musical debut overlaid on a family loss. Natalie wins prize money of $1500.
The judges have also commended two authors: Queenslander Gil Liddle for The Colours of Sand, which tracks a relationship to its tragic end, at the same time telling the story of K’gari, the world’s largest sand island; and New South Wales author Jay McKenzie for Douce Sirène, a story of the cruelty of personal power.
The separately judged Secondary School Division was won by Charlotte Serisier (Brisbane) with Flies, a gothic mystery set around an outback Australian roadhouse. The author wins prize money of $1000.
The runner-up is Tara Moghbelpour (Gold Coast) with Sirens, also a mystery, set around a car wreck with no sign of a victim. Tara wins prize money of $500.
Judges in that section also commended the work of Emily Smith (Brisbane) with The Final Stitch, the story of an extraordinary newspaper obituary writer.
Chair of the two judging panels, Mr David Fagan, said there was a noticeable improvement in quality across both competitions as writers focused on the craft of short story writing, particularly the need to be on point while quickly drawing the reader into a fictional world.
Professor Sussex said all the winning entries were, without reservation, excellent and memorable.
“This year’s entries have an intensity which I haven’t seen before,” he said.
“I am more chuffed than I can express to have my name associated with work of such clear quality, character and excellence.”
The English-Speaking Union’s Queensland Branch commenced the awards in 2015 to encourage short story writing and to honour the work of Emeritus Professor Sussex, a leading Australian linguist and frequent media commentator on language.
The ESU’s administrator of the award and chair of the competition committee, Despina Cook, said, “Each year, this competition reminds us of the enduring power of the short story, which the ESU has promoted since 2015. I congratulate all writers who entrust us with their work. It is a privilege to have led the ESU’s competition in 2025.”
Here are the winning and highly commended entries in the 2025 Roly Sussex Short Story Competition.
To read a story click on its title. To read the notes, click on “Judges’ notes”.
Open Division
Chief Judge of the Open Division David Fagan said: “The writers dug deep to explore themes that go to the heart of all our lives, successfully portraying the very real daily dramas of life and the dilemmas that accompany them. The winning entries each told a story and told it concisely, barely wasting a word and holding the reader from beginning to end.”
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First Prize |
Serena Moss |
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Second Prize |
Natalie Sprite |
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Judges’ Commendation |
Gil Liddle |
The Colours of Sand Not published |
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Judges’ Commendation |
Jay McKenzie |
Douce Sirène Not published |
Secondary School Division
The Chief Judge of the Secondary School Division, Mr Brian Clarke, said: “In the 78 stories this year, our secondary division writers explored numerous diverse themes, such as family relationships, loneliness, peer pressure, ethics, survival and guilt. We commend them for their individual insights into life and for their work in developing such an exciting array of storytelling styles.
Most submissions showed a good understanding of the short story format. Some writers ventured into difficult territory – fantasy, historical fiction and gothic fiction, where mystery, horror and dark emotions lure readers into uncertain worlds, and where personal morality is determined by sinister forces.”
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First Prize |
Charlotte Serisier |
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Second Prize |
Tara Moghbelpour |
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Judges’ Commendation |
Emily Smith |
The Final Stitch Not published |
This year’s judges for the Open Division, chaired by author and retired newspaper editor David Fagan, are Kerry Davies (editor and publishing consultant) and Erica Fryberg (author and previous winner of this competition). The judges for the Secondary School Division, chaired by writing consultant and editor Brian Clarke, are Talisa Pariss-Proby (communication and arts educator) and Georgie Steele (freelance copy and creative writer).