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Breaking Free: an anthology from the
NSW Rape Crisis Centre

"We are sure that readers will enjoy reading Breaking Free-an anthology from the NSW Rape Crisis Centre. There is much to gain from the amazing insights the stories and poems in this collection give-a collection that can be read as entertainment or as a learning tool, useful for anyone in the helping professions." Beatriz Copello and Robyn Ianssen, Editors

"Cry, laugh, be saddened, get angry, celebrate, dream and be challenged. Put it down and pick it up again. Read bits to your friends and find some of yourself in the words and expressions of others. Use it in your classes and courses, mark the parts that have special meaning for you. Use the stories and poems in this book in any way that gives meaning for you. The only thing you won’t be able to do is ignore the painful, heart wrenching, poignant, uplifting and inspirational stories and poems in Breaking Free or the amazing, wonderful, incredible, creative, skilful, intelligent and innovative women who created them." Karen Willis, Manager, NSW Rape Crisis Centre

To celebrate it's 30th Birthday, the NSW Rape Crisis Centre organised a national poetry and short story competition. The guidelines for entry required that the poem or short story cover any or all of the following topics: surviving rape and sexual assault, women’s strength, being a woman, feminism and women’s survival stories. Selection was based on literary merit and the topic or theme covered. Breaking Free is a compilation of the best of those entries.

The Anthology was launched by Rosie Scott, Writer & Activist, Vice-President of PEN, at Parliament House, Macquarie Street Sydney, on 27 October 2004.

Two judges, with extensive experience in judging and literary merit were invited to assess the entries. They were Pearlie McNeill and Carolyn Gerrish. The following winners were announced at the launch:

POETRY
1st Prize - Clare Sandal for her poem "Ladder of Ancestors".
2nd Prize - Jan Dean for her poem "What's New?"

SHORT STORY
1st Prize - Erin Dwyer for her short story "Letitia"
2nd Prize - Maggie Bolitho for her short story "A Matter of Choice".

There were also four Highly Commended awards, presented to:

• Margaret Bradstock for her poem "Sailing"
• Rhonda Cotsell for her short story "Sundays"
• Irma Gold for her short story "Playing with Dolly".
• Alexia McIlroy for her short story "Lost".
  

Breaking Free is for sale at $19.95 (including GST). To order a copy of the book, you can either download the order form below or contact the NSW Rape Crisis Centre on (02) 9819-7357.

Download Order Form (PDF file - 219BK)

BREAKING FREE SPONSORS

Launch sponsored by:
The Hon Robyn Parker MLC
Member of the Legislative Council NSW

Awards and Judging Sponsors:
HESTA
First Choice Computer Solutions
Zonta Club of Sydney West
Department for Women

Typesetting Sponsor:
Bookhouse