Dr Lorna McDonald, the late Professor David Myers and Dr Liz Huf at the launch of Sin, Sweat and Sorrow back in 1993.Prize to commemorate late CQU Press director

It's 20 years since the late Professor David Myers, as Dean of Humanities and Social Sciences, suggested a group of Capricornia Institute journalism and creative writing students and staff put together a literary magazine.

The first issue in 1987 was called Yapunya. It was a great success. The following year it was renamed Idiom 23, (representing the Tropic of Capricorn at 23 degrees latitude).

Scanning the contents of Volume 2, May 1989, an impact with some very talented writers can already be seen with stories and poetry by David Myers, Ross Clark, R.G. Hay, Richard Tipping and Steve Butler, together with art work by Central Queensland renowned artist Peter Indans.

"Idiom 23 is still produced by a small group of staff and students within Central Queensland University's Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Education, with a strong input from regional writers," foundation editor Dr Liz Huf said this week.

"This year we intend to celebrate the magazine's longevity, with a special edition commemorating our late director of CQU Press, who tragically died in March this year. We will introduce a David Myers Prize, as part of our annual Bauhinia Literary Awards," Dr Huf said.

These awards sponsored by CQU and several local sponsors, have been running for many years attracting open, regional and student entries in short fiction and poetry from all over Australia.

As part of the awards, long-time magazine supporters CQU Bookshop director and manager, Paul Lancaster and Dave Murray, will present a $500 book voucher for this prize.  Judges will choose ‘a unique piece of writing' from the overall entries to receive the David Myers Prize.

Entry for the competition closes on June 29, 2007, with winners announced at the CQU Multicultural Fair and Open Day on August 12. All Queensland writers are encouraged to enter the competition.

The winners' works are all published, and many entries from across Australia are already coming in. Entry forms and information about the awards can be obtained by emailing editor Dr Liz Huf at l.huf@cqu.edu.au  .

Film maker, regional writer and CQU creative writing tutor Jim Douglas will co-edit this year's magazine with Dr Huf.   Dr Geoff Danaher will again take on reviews - and a brand new section for non-fiction writers will also be introduced. CQU photo media students are also keen to submit their innovative photographs, which provided last year's magazine with a strong graphic image.

"Administration assistant and member of Idiom 23's Writers Workshops, Stacey Rodda, is providing an email newsletter for regional writers, and we hope to have Idiom 23's  website working as an  interactive conduit for us all, very shortly," Dr Huf said.

More Idiom 23 news available at http://www.uninews.cqu.edu.au/viewStory.do?story=4289 .