WORDfest 2023 Judges

Apollo Bay Wordfest is pleased to introduce the judges for the 2023 short story competition, sponsored by Great Ocean Properties. The judges all live and work locally, representing the wonderful talent we have in the region!

Sue Gillett is a local writer, reader and school librarian, and the co-editor of The Otway Light. In previous lives she was a senior lecturer in Literature, Film and Cultural Studies at La Trobe University and poetry editor with Melbourne Poets Union.

Alex Baird is a writer who has worked in community newspapers for over 10 years. Alex completed his cadetship with the Alpine Observer in North east Victoria, then moved to Apollo Bay in 2014 where he currently works for the Colac Herald.

Lyndi Whalen trained as a teacher and worked in Apollo Bay School for a few years before coordinating the Apollo Bay Children’s Centre and Visitor Centre. She was a founding member of the Steiner playgroup in Apollo Bay and now works on her own arts practice, and is part of Studio Forrest and Apollo Bay Arts.

Christie Thompson is a published novelist whose debut novel Snake Bite was released in 2013 to critical acclaim. She has previously taught creative writing to secondary and tertiary students, and currently teaches English at Apollo Bay P-12 College.