I want to recognise the storytellers in our community: those who capture the experiences, emotions and perspectives that make Newcastle unique. The recent announcement of winners of the 2026 Newcastle Herald short story competition highlights the depth of creative talent in our region, and I would particularly like to congratulate this year's winner, Karen Whitelaw.

Through her writing, Karen has demonstrated the power of storytelling to connect us, to reflect our shared experiences and to shine a light on the moments that define who we are. The competition invites local writers to transform everyday life into something meaningful and memorable: stories that reflect our community, our resilience and our creativity. Competitions like this are so important because they create space for voices to be heard, they encourage people to tell their stories, they build confidence in emerging writers and they remind us of the power of words to bring people together. Congratulations, again, to Karen Whitelaw on receipt of this highly regarded award.