BMA hosts cultural events and gatherings to unit the vibrant migrant community. Discover a sense of belonging and embrace a home away from home, as our events create cherished memories and foster a strong community spirit. Don't miss out on the opportunity to connect, celebrate, and make lasting connections with fellow migrants and the broader community.
We will have our annual Diwali event on 3rd of Nov at The Mural. Follow our Facebook page for more info. Click here to view.
Our Short Story Competition was a great success, with many entries submitted for our first-ever writing contest. We recently held the presentation day and awarded the prizes. You can read the winning stories below.
First Prize: Click here to view.
Second Prize: Click here to view.
Third Prize: Click here to view.
Winner of Benalla Entry: Click here to view.
we are launching our inaugural story writing competition for mature writers, and we invite you to engage your imaginations and share your ideas about a world without racism.
Frist Prize: $500
Second Prize: $200
Third Prize: $100
Benalla Resident Additional Category Prize: $200
Important Dates to Remember:
Submissions are open from 21st March to 15th June, 2025
No entries will be accepted after 15th June, 2025
Scenario:
On 20th of February 2025, scientists discovered a new virus. The virus first appeared in a cluster of tourists and staff who had attended the Fairy Penguin Parade in Philip Island on February 13th. The new virus was identified to have originated in penguin chicks, and was dubbed ‘Fluffy Penguin Virus’ or FPV, by the scientists who isolated the virus. The symptoms of FPV have been described by doctors treating the first patients infected with the virus as:
- Everyone who catches the virus displays exactly the same symptoms;
- Soft, downy feathers sprouting on eyebrows, armpits, and knees;
- All feathers drop out after 7 days;
- Altered sense of taste and smell – everything smells like chocolate and tastes like lollypops;
- Complete recovery within 8 days of first symptoms, except;
- Total loss of memory of racism and no ability to recover the logic of racism following recovery from FPV.
FPV is extremely infectious, and, by March 21st 2025, over 70% of the world’s population has been exposed to the virus and have recovered. It is expected that everyone in the world will have recovered from FPV by July 1st 2025.
What will Benalla be like after everyone has forgotten racism in July 2025?
Develop a character, or group of characters, who lives in Victoria / Benalla. Write a fictional journal entry for a character, or characters, dated July 1st 2025. Ideas to consider include what the characters writing the journal entry do on this day? What does their world feel like, are they able to notice any changes? Has recovery from FPV changed anything about your character’s life and experiences on that day?
Rules:
- Maximum of 1000 words per entry.
- Maximum of one entry per entrant.
- Must be in the style of a diary or journal entry.
- Must be the entrants’ original work.
- Our link language is English. While we are happy for people to submit their stories in any language, we can only judge and award prizes to entries submitted in English.
- Minimum age of entrants – 16 years of age at the close of competition.
- Entries are to be submitted in either PDF or as a Word document format.
- Entries are to be submitted to info@benallamigrants.org.au. Please include the completed cover sheet with your entry. Click here to download the Cover Sheet.
- Entrants agree to allow Benalla Migrants Association to publish prize-winning entries on their website and social media pages.
Benalla Migrants Association holds a community potluck on the last Saturday of each month. This event is a great opportunity to come together, share food and culture, and enjoy a wonderful time with the community.
