THE Mansfield Readers and Writers (MRW) Festival wrapped up a successful weekend on Sunday afternoon with the highlight being the announcement of the winners of the short story competition and the launch of the subsequent anthology at a gala dinner with guest speaker and author Anson Cameron, on Saturday night at the Delatite Winery.

The short story competition attracted 105 entries with every state and territory represented with each responding to the competition's theme of 'heart'.

The festival's artistic director, Miriam Zolin explained, "For us, as a committee of dedicated readers and writers this was simply a way to signal our commitment to reading and writing, to set the ball rolling and stick our heads above the parapet."

In thanking all the writers who entered the competition, Ms Zolin said, "The celebration of storytelling is at the heart of what we're trying to achieve at Mansfield Readers and Writers, and as storytellers you are doing important work."

One story prompted the festival committee to introduce an encouragement award which was presented to 15–year–old Mansfield Secondary College student, Molly Dunn for her submission 'Held by the Sea'.

The Year 10 student said, "I'm so grateful to be published alongside so many amazing authors.

"I think for everyone who loves writing, it's both a way to escape and understand the world we live in."

The short story local prize was taken out by writer and editor Sinead Reilly with her powerful entry 'Love Thy Neighbour'.

Sinead, who now resides in Melbourne but was living in Mansfield when she entered, was unable to attend the dinner but provided a response on learning of her success.

"Incentives to write can be difficult to come by in a world where it feels increasingly rare to see people reading," Sinead said.

"While I'm thankful to have placed in this competition and so appreciative of the work of the judges and sponsors, I am particularly glad to have been reminded that creative writing is still valued all around Australia."

The national short story winner Deborah May, with her story 'Starry, Starry Cow', said her stories always seem to be about relationships so the 'heart' theme was probably the best possible prompt she could have.

The virtues of the short story were explored in a panel session 'I love Short Stories' on Sunday afternoon with authors Anson Cameron, Justine Sless and Margaret Hickey at the St Mary's Hall.

Anson Cameron, who has family ties to the Mansfield district through his brother Guy, who was shire president in the early 1990s, a mother that lived in Jamieson and time at the Timbertop Geelong Grammar Campus, regaled the audience at the dinner with hilarious tales in his own larrikin manner.

The MRW Festival ended with an afternoon tea on Sunday afternoon provided by St John's Anglican Church where the raffle was drawn and the contribution of volunteers, sponsors and visiting authors was acknowledged.

The short story anthology Heart, which features the artwork of Bonnie Doon artist Jennifer Gibney, is available via the MRW website or Mansfield's Ink Bookshop which was the official bookseller at the festival.