2026 Bayside Local History Awards - Dr Peter Orlovich Young Historian Award (Yrs 7-9)

The aim of the Dr Peter Orlovich Young Historian Award is to encourage students to learn about the history of the Bayside Council area and to develop their own research and writing skills by submitting a work on Bayside’s local history.

The winner of the Dr Peter Orlovich Young Historian Award Junior Category will receive $500. The entries will be judged on individual merit. The judges have the discretion to divide the prize money equally between entrants whose works they consider of equal merit. The judges reserve the right to award no prize if they deem there are no entries of sufficiently high quality. The judges’ decision is final, and no correspondence will be entered into.

Please carefully read the Guidelines and Conditions of Entry to ensure you submit an eligible paper. You can also see more information, including judging criteria here.

Entry requirements and formats

Students are invited to submit a piece of work investigating a local Bayside story, place, person or theme. The work should demonstrate basic historical research and storytelling
skills. Entries may be submitted in the following formats:

  • Written (e.g., an essay, report or story)
  • Visual (e.g., a poster photo essay or an illustrated timeline)
  • Digital (e.g. video documentary or a filmed interview)
  • Oral history (a recorded interview with a supporting explanation)

Written entries should be at least 1,000 words. Audiovisual entries should be at least five minutes long.

Entries close 5pm, Friday 18 September 2026.

Student's Details

Parent / Guardian / Teacher Details

Do you give permission to make your entry available on Bayside Council's online platforms?
One file only.
64 MB limit.
Allowed types: pdf, doc, docx.

Parent / Guardian / Teacher Declaration

  • I have read the Ron Rathbone Local History Competition Guidelines and I agree to abide by the conditions of entry.
  • The entry submitted is the student’s own work.
  • I understand a copy of the work may be placed in the Local History Collection of Bayside Library Service and on Bayside Council’s online platforms.
  • Winner details may be published in media sources subject to the approval by the entrant / parent / guardian / teacher.
     
Check the box to confirm the details in the above declaration.