Celebrating the fifth anniversary of our Ripples Schools Program, our writing competition theme was centred around wood, the traditional five year anniversary gift.
‘Into the Woods’ represents stepping into the unknown, perhaps the dangerous or the exciting – and the entries were filled with all these things!
The entries were blind judged and scored on the following criteria:
- Includes 5 words: Five, olive, minute, thump, wood.
- Interpretation of Into the Woods
- motivations, flaws, inner conflict, skill set and arc- do they grow as a character?
- Structure beginning , middle, end
- Plot Rising, Climax, resolution
- Originality scenario/ idea/concept
- Language
- Enjoyment
From 108 entries, the top ten entries from each category were passed to judge Fran Carson to choose our top 3 winners in each grade. Entries came from:
- 14 Primary Schools
- 5 Primary Homeschools / via parents
- 5 Secondary Schools
Winner: The Ripples Ripper Award
The Forest of Relics by Knoa Casey Fernandez, St Philips Christian College Gosford
A beating in my head, mimicking the pounding of a heart, awoke me. My eyes snapped open, panic flooding my chest. I was lying on cold, hard rock—my back pressed against stone slick with moisture. Fire spat into the air, casting violent shadows across a chaotic scene. Flames licked at what looked like makeshift huts and tents, sending dark smoke curling into the darkening sky. Wood was burning, and flames had formed a ring of fire.
The beasts were everywhere.
They screeched and howled, darting through the ruins like demons. Their skin was thick and pale, like bark stripped of life, their eyes glowing faintly yellow in the firelight. I didn’t understand what they were or why they had taken me. My arms were bound with some kind of sinewy rope, and my legs ached from being dragged. I felt exposed—like prey.
One of them noticed me stir.
It approached—tall, hunched, and snarling. Its teeth were yellowed and jagged, five long fangs pushing outward from blackened gums. It reached for me with clawed hands, but suddenly, a sharp whistling sound tore through the air.
Then a scream.
An arrow had pierced the beast’s neck. It dropped to its knees, choking on blood, and collapsed beside me with a heavy thud.
From the forest shadows came movement—figures, swift and silent. Not beasts, but humans. One knelt beside me, a woman dressed in furs and leather, her face streaked with ash.
“You’re lucky we found you,” she whispered urgently, cutting my bindings with a bone handled blade. “Can you walk?”
I tried. My legs trembled, but with her help, I rose.
“We have to move.”
We ran—or rather, stumbled—through the charred remains of the camp. More arrows flew from the trees, hitting targets with brutal precision. The creatures were being hunted. As we escaped into the woods, the night closed around us like a velvet curtain—damp and suffocating.
Eventually, we stopped in a clearing surrounded by tall trees wrapped in ivy. A dozen others were there—rough-looking people, armed with bows and spears. Survivors.
“Who are they?” I asked, my voice hoarse.
The woman looked at me grimly. “We call them the Hollow born. Creatures of the deep woods. Some say they were once human cursed, twisted.”
“Cursed by what?”
She looked up at the trees, as if the answer hung from the branches themselves. “The forest doesn’t like outsiders. It protects itself.”
I was silent, trying to process everything—the beasts, the fire, the strange club I’d found that had somehow eased my pain. Then the thought struck me.
“The stick,” I said. “The one I used to walk. It felt… right. Like it wasn’t just a stick.” The woman’s eyes narrowed. “Show me.”
I reached into my pack—I hadn’t even realized they’d recovered it—and pulled out the club. Now that I saw it again in the firelight, I noticed faint carvings along its head—symbols I didn’t recognize. The moss wasn’t just growing on it. It was part of it.
She took a step back.
“That’s an Ironwood relic,” she whispered. “You were chosen by the forest.” I blinked. “Chosen? For what?”
She didn’t answer. Not fully.
Instead, she said, “You’ve been marked. The forest brought you here for a reason. You survived the Hollow born. That means something.”
That night, I sat alone by the fire, staring into the woods. The pain in my body had dulled, but the fear hadn’t. Still, for the first time, I wasn’t entirely alone.
I didn’t know what the forest wanted, or what destiny had chosen me for. But I knew this: I would survive. I would find answers.
And I would return to the heart of the woods.
Because the trees were watching.
And now, they whispered my name.
The forest was calling me—calling me for some higher purpose or reason, as if I were the key to something far greater, far more dangerous and serious than what I had experienced.
My pain returned—worse than ever. My head throbbed, and something deep inside told me to move, to go somewhere.
My body followed, mindlessly, like a zombie—each step full of agony.
I screamed in pain. It felt like my body was melting, my flesh peeling, but still I kept walking.
Then I noticed something. The closer I got to this mysterious place, the less pain I felt.
Ahead of me lay a mountain with a steep path that looked almost man-made. I followed the path. I knew something was up there. Something important.
As I climbed, I passed relics and paintings—marks left behind by my ancestors. Finally, I reached the top.
An arch made of stone and twisted tree roots stood before me. And beyond it, five glowing spheres of magic, each a different colour—yellow for the sun, blue for water, green for nature, brown for earth, and red for fire.
A voice whispered to me:
“Welcome to the Hall of Purpose.”
A great tunnel opened before me—a cave lined with red carpet and paintings of past “chosen people.”
I felt powerful.
I felt brave.
I felt at home.
Knoa’s school received an author visit from Melbourne based Karys McEwan as part of his prize package.
Click here to read Knoa’s entry in last year’s Short Story Competition, A Ripple Towards Anti-Racism, which won the ‘Simply Swell Award’.
Runner-Up: A Whale of a Tale Award
The Home in the Woods by Maya George, Central Coast Adventist School
Golden sunlight illuminated the cold stone steps as I rise into the clearing .The vast valley of quaint little houses was speckled below, as I breathed in the lovely fresh air. It was cooler up here than in the clustery, rocky village. Taking one last longing look at the view, I started trekking back down the hill. I have explored everywhere around our village and there is nothing but rolling hills.
I walked down the hill into the main square full of busy people . I dodged past them and up the road . House number five loomed out of the fog. Smoke was spiraling out of the chimney as I pushed the door open. Mother was fiddling around with the pot on the stove. “ Where did you go?” she asked . I said “ The north mountain again”. As she nodded I grabbed my water bottle and swung a sip as I headed out the door again.
I followed the right and walked along the bumpy road . The path led to the old church that had been destroyed by the bad winds years ago. I walked through the rubble which was scattered with glass from the once beautiful stained glass mural. I approached the door frame and brushed the wood out of the way and entered. The semilit room had smashed windows and cracked walls but vibrant flowers and plants burst out too. A rusted lectern was on the platform and paper was scattered around it, torn up.
My feet walked me over there with curiosity. I bent down and picked up the pieces. A faded map was scruffily drawn on it , so I examined the map. There were two marks , one in a valley labeled home that must be here. And another in the middle of the woods further than anyone has gone before , labelled lost home. My heart thumped like a loud drum, I had to find the lost village. I scooped up the map and ran back home. Back at home I grabbed my backpack and stuffed food,water and other essentials then set out the door ready for adventure!
Sweat soaked the collar of my shirt as I kept walking up the massive mountain. The sun was crawling down the sky so quickly as I rose . I clicked my flashlight on as the sun said goodbye and a canvas of stars was sprayed across the sky. I reached the peak of the mountain and a vast forest spreaded out before me longing to swallow me whole.
Unsure about the dark woods at night , I set up camp for the night. I lay on my mat and gazed into the galaxy of stars ahead as a soft breeze fluttered by. I had always been eager to explore everything all the time so I was thrilled to find out that there was another mysterious place to uncover!
The sunlight slapped my face as I opened my eyes blindingly. I jumped up and packed my bag eager to keep venturing. Today I would face the deep depths of the woods and what was inside! I grabbed an apple from my bag and ate it as I took a step into the woods. Sticks snapped as I wandered along for a while , breathing in the new environment . The trees were lush and fresh, surrounded by soft grass floors and plants unlike the steep , rocky valley of my home. Minutes turned into hours as I trudged on. I pulled out the map and glanced at it . We were nearly there! Questions flashed through my head . Are there people at the village? Did we used to live there? And What’s it like? As I trudged on.
Butterflies and Moths soared around me as I entered the heart of the woods. The quietness was peaceful but lonely and for the first time I had realized that I was alone since I came into the woods. With a sigh I brushed my brown hair out of my face and pulled the map out. I glanced at the mark of the Lost Home : we were here!
Now pushing prickly bushes out of my way and jumping over the logs as I walked into the wreckage. There were concrete and wood splinters everywhere and smashed glass windows sprinkled across the ground. But one thought stood out : What happened here? Then I noticed small plants poking out from the rubble . The small leaves were wilting and ashen . I glanced around and realized all the leaves and plants in this clearing were the same . They were dying.
Why were the plants dying? Is that why we left this lush , lovely home? The cold gray colour was seeping into me like a stream of sadness.This was our home we need it back. I swung around and headed forward , looking for any reason why a whole forest would be dying. I spotted a creek leading downwards and followed the glistening stream. Dull leaves sprinkled in the mix of water flowing downstream , gloomy branches falling into the water . I caught a glimpse of a beautiful wisteria tree full of colour across the bank. My heart thumping quickly , I took a leap over the creek and made it but my other foot plunged into the water’s depths. I pulled my cold foot out then sprinted to the base of the tree.
The magnificent tree had tassel-like flowers in a deep rich purple colour sprinkled around the base and on the limbs of the tree. Its thick promising brown trunk stood strongly spreading out in different ways filling the bank with its presence like a bright red car in a grey city. I threw my bag next to it and pressed my cold hand against it. Its smooth trunk was warm and its vibrantness was filling me up with happiness. Soft petals danced out of the tree , showered around me like cool rain. Then I noticed the rich purple turning into a grey just before it hit the ground. My heart sank as I realized that greyness was slowly creeping up the trunk.
I felt the base of the trunk and its dryness so I grabbed the water bottle from my bag. I emptied the lot on the tree and the water soaked its way into the earth. The thick trunk was still dry! I jumped up and ran down to the creek. My heart thumping again now as I used my numb hands to dig a deep channel in the dirt up to the tree. Dirt was flying everywhere as my hands hit the trunk , I stood up admiring my work hoping this would work. The river bubbled past the channel and slowly spread down it, prancing its way towards the trunk. Water consumed the dirt around the tree and colour spread from the roots of the magical tree into leaves. The Magical tree of the whole forest spread its vibrant and lively warmth through the forest. I spun around as colour flooded through the trees and plants again. I took a breath and listened to the liveliness of the woods again.
I walked through the forest and the familiar business of people was echoing here. My people had come back to their original home! We had rebuilt our home back amongst the Olive trees and the songbirds. The river was flowing right through the main square making a pleasant bubbling sound and insects whizzed around me. I glanced around , This was our true home.
Highly Commended: Simply Swell Award
The Guardian by Esther Mathey, Central Coast Grammar School
My heart drums rapidly in my ears, mismatched with the slow pounding of my feet, knowing that each step I take brings me closer to the tall, unfamiliar gates. High school. Worries swirl around my head as I make my way down the garden path, until I am pulled from the mess by a small tug on my sleeve.
“Aubree?” I look down and see my little sister, Willow, staring up at me with her soft brown eyes. In one hand she clutches an olive green stuffed toy rabbit with long, floppy ears. “Will you come into the woods with me?”
I sigh. “No, Willow, I don’t have time. I can’t be late for my first day of big school.” Of course, Willow wouldn’t understand. She’s only five.
“Please?” she asks, and it’s hard to resist those sweet brown eyes. The patch of bush in our backyard is incredibly tempting, especially when the alternative is a new, terrifying school.
“Alright, then. But only for five minutes. Understand?”
She nods, her face lighting up, and slips her small hand into mine. As we walk towards the trees, she cuddles the large rabbit to her chest.
“This is our guardian,” she explains. “He’ll keep us safe in the woods.” “It’s dangerous, then?” I ask, and she nods solemnly.
“There are wood goblins, they’re very tricksy. And giants.” Her voice drops to a whisper as the shadows of the trees fall over us, and a shiver actually runs down my spine. I look around, taking it in. The trees arch over us, ghostly pale and whispering in the breeze, and the whole place feels full of secrets buzzing in the air and earth. There’s a sort of peacefulness hanging in the cool air. My little sister tiptoes ahead of me, winding through trees, her toy rabbit flopping up and down with every step. It’s almost as big as her. Suddenly, she freezes, her eyes wide.
“Shhhh!” she hisses. “It’s a giant!”
“Oh no!” I cry. “Run!” Willow starts to protest, but I scoop her up and pull her along. I know it’s just a game, but for some reason, my heart hammers hard and fast, like I really am running from a giant.
“Stop!” Willow cries suddenly. “Our guardian knows what to do!” She holds the rabbit up to her ear, and listens seriously, nodding her head. “He says we need to tickle the giant’s feet.”
“Tickle its feet?!” I cry incredulously. “But then we have to get close to it!”
“It’ll be okay,” Willow assures me. She wriggles out of my arms and runs forward. “Come on!”
I squeeze my eyes shut, and I can almost feel the presence of the giant towering over me. I take a deep breath and crouch beside Willow, and together, we tickle the giant’s feet. After a moment, Willow gives a soft cry of triumph.
“He went away!” she cries. “We did it! See, our guardian knew the giant wasn’t that scary after all!” She throws her arms around me, squishing our rabbit guardian between us, then lets go.
“You don’t have to worry anymore, Aubree. The giant’s gone.”
“I know,” I say. “I’m not.”
She looks at me with concerned brown eyes. “Your heart is beating very fast.”
I straighten. “I’m fine,” I assure her. Suddenly, she gives a gasp of delight and clutches at my sleeve.
“Look!” she breathes. “Now the giant’s gone, the fairies have come out!” The joy on her upturned face is so real, eyes shining with wonder, that I can almost see the fairies flitting between the pale shadows of the trees, dancing in the slices of light filtering through the branches. She turns her glowing face to me.
“Let’s have some sugar leaves!” she cries and runs to the nearest tree, then her face falls. She cranes her neck to look up at the swaying branches high above us. “The best ones are at the top, but I’m too small.” She turns to me hopefully. “You can get them, Aubree!”
“What, climb?” I ask doubtfully.
“Yes!” she cries eagerly. I sigh, drop my bag and heave myself up into the saddle of the tree. The wood is cool and smooth against my skin. Carefully, I pull myself up into the next branch.
“Is this high enough?” I call down to Willow. She nods. I grab a fistful of leaves, then twist in the branch, and suddenly I feel a cold hand close around my heart. It’s a long way to the ground …
“I don’t think I can get down!” I cry.
“Yes, you can!” Willow calls back. “Our guardian says to jump, and the fairies will carry you!”
Jump? I start to tremble, but then I find Willow’s soft, serious eyes. I lock my gaze with hers, and I jump. For a moment, I am flying, soaring on a swarm of fairies, then I land with a thump on the spongy, leaf-littered ground. Willow helps me up, and I hand her a leaf. She lifts it reverently to her mouth and takes an invisible nibble.
“Thank you, Aubree!” she exclaims with delight.
I wish I could stay in the shade of the trees with my sister forever, but I check my watch. “I’m sorry, Willow. I have to go.”
“Okay,” she agrees, and we leave the woods together. Back in the sunlight, she holds the rabbit out to me. “Our guardian wants to come with you, for your first day of big school.”
Suddenly, I am blinking back tears. I take the toy from my little sister. “Thank you, Willow,” I whisper, then I turn away quickly.
It only takes a minute to walk down the road to school. My heart aches with yearning to be back with Willow, in her small, carefree world. I know I’ve left the woods, but it feels like I’m only just entering them.
I take a deep breath, place my stuffed rabbit guardian on my shoulders, and walk through the gates.
Encouragement: Keep On Swimming Award
The Boy by Tadhg Clinton-Chubb, Niagara Park Public School
The Ugly Alien by Kovi Stanton, Brooke Avenue Public School
About the Judge
Fran Carson: Fran was a teacher in both government and Catholic schools, for many years. She has been the Secretary and active committee member of the Children’s Book Council Central Coast, NSW Sub-Branch for over 25 years, and a facilitator for the Shadow Judging initiative in 2022 and 2024. She has a Master of Applied Science (Teacher Librarianship) from CSU.
