Helene Castles, a passionate poet from Shepparton, has been honored with Life Membership of the Goulburn Valley Writers Group (GVWG) in recognition of her unwavering commitment to the written word. The award was presented to Castles on Thursday, March 13, celebrating her exceptional contributions to both the local literary community and the GVWG over the years.
Castles’ journey as a writer began in 1994 when she attended the Country Festival of Writing, where she met fellow poets and storytellers. Her enthusiasm led her to join the GVWG, where she became deeply involved in its activities. Over the past 30 years, Castles has volunteered in various roles, including on the Festival Committee for nine Country Festivals of Writing, and has served as Treasurer, Secretary, and Public Officer.
Despite her tireless work with GVWG, Castles has maintained her passion for poetry. In 2011, she published her first collection, Strings of Life, with Ginninderra Press. Her second book, Within the Light, was published in 2021, showcasing her playful and thoughtful approach to poetry.
Castles’ work has earned significant recognition. In 2019, she won the CJ Dennis Poetry Prize for her poem Art in the Singing Garden, and in 2021, her poem Our Dog received a Highly Commended award in the same competition. Additionally, her poem Speaking of Language secured third prize in the Raqayyah Ibourki Ekphrastic Poetry Competition. Over a six-month period, Castles had eight poems published in Quadrant magazine, further solidifying her reputation in the literary world.
Her poetry has appeared in several prominent publications and anthologies, including Wild and First Refuge by Ginninderra Press, Quadrant magazine, Tamba, and Songbirds, published by GVWG.
GVWG President Suellen Drysdale expressed gratitude for Castles’ years of dedication, saying, “Helene, thank you for your dedication to the Goulburn Valley Writers Group, your diligence, your patience, your wisdom, and most of all your friendship. We are delighted to offer you a Lifetime Membership Award to the GV Writers Group.”
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