A vibrant postcard series profiling four budding writers has been released as part of the #huonyouth project, which aims to celebrate local young people and highlight their experience of living in a rural community.

The postcard series builds on the online #huonyouth campaign, which was launched earlier this year on the @huonbeings Instagram account. The featured writers, aged between ten and 16, were all recognised for their advanced writing skills and creativity in the Terror Australis Readers and Writers Festival Children’s Short Story Writing Competition in 2019.

“The front of each postcard captures the writer in a local place that inspires them, and on the back, the writers share what they love about the Huon Valley,” said Huon Valley Council Mayors Bec Enders. “There’s also an invitation for other young people to head online and share what they love about living in the Huon Valley.”

At today’s launch event, held at the Huonville Library, the young writers were congratulated and presented with a journal and pen by Cr Enders.

“Council is proud to have Lily, Neve, Abby and Ruby as the faces of the #huonyouth campaign,” said Cr Enders. “Showcasing the achievements of our young people is so important for building their confidence to achieve their goals, while also encouraging other young people to give it a go.”

Community members can collect the postcards at the Huonville Library or request them at Council’s Customer Service Centre. They will soon be stocked at libraries throughout the Huon Valley.

“The postcards are sure to inspire creativity, and will make beautiful keepsakes as a record of the places and ideas that mean something to young people today,” said Cr Enders.

The #huonyouth project invites young people to share a photo that means something to them on Instagram using the hashtags #huonyouth and #huonbeings, answering the question below.

“Why do YOU love the Huon Valley?”

If you have a question about the project or how to take part, please call Council’s Youth Development Officer on 03 6264 0300.

You can read the writers’ winning and shortlisted stories on the TAF2019 website.

The Huon Beings #huonyouth campaign is supported by the Huon Valley Youth Committee, Huon Valley Council, Libraries Tasmania and the Terror Australis Readers and Writers Festival as a way of celebrating and recognising young people from across the Huon Valley.

Feature image: Writers Abby, Lily, Ruby and Neve with L.J.M Owen of TAF, HVC Mayor Bec Enders, and David Gutteridge of Huonville Library.