Kick-start your dream career with the inaugural $1000 Crusader Youth Encouragement Award. From 2005, up to three runners-up will win a full set of books (value approx $150 per set). First prize winner will also appear as a cameo role character in the next book of the series. Entry is open to teenaged and mature aged students who are Australian citizens currently studying their final year of senior in an Australian high school. Judges reserve the right to share first prize with up to 2 high achievers.

Aim of the Competition:
To offer a substantial opportunity to readers of the Kirby's Crusader series of financial action thrillers and to increase the percentage of profits from the series which are used to encourage children and teenagers to become creative thinkers, achievers and model citizens. As creator of the series, I grew up *wishing* that I could win such a competition myself to help me get ahead despite living in a suburb with very few opportunities, so sponsorship of the Youth Encouragement Award is one of my ways of helping to improve such opportunities for teenagers. In theme with the Crusader series, entries will also be accepted from teenagers who work tirelessly as a model citizen in preventing crime, working as a volunteer in the community or generously assisting to improve the lives of others less fortunate than themselves.   

All entries which receive a prize shall become the property of Anita Bell for use and publication in promotion of future competitions and as examples for the ongoing encouragement of other students to shoot for their dream goals. However, since money is only "a means to an end", the winner of the grand prize will also be required for an interview after spending the money to explain if (or how) the $1000 helped them the way they expected it to.  

Entries Close on the 30th of November each year. Winners are announced through the Crusader Club Newsletter by the 25th of December each year as well as the winners' local newspapers and the "Previous Winner(s)" table below.

CLICK HERE FOR YOUR ENTRY FORM

Previous Winner(s):

2004 -Inaugural first prize winner of $1000 was Carlene Heise, aged 16 (Qld), who worked 3 jobs during her last 2 years at highschool to pay for flying lessons and help follow her dream of becoming Australia's first female fighter pilot, whilst still struggling to keep her grades high enough to get into the RAAF Academy. Carlene's submission was over 6 pages long, detailing her dreams of desiring to defend our country and the many other things she and her family had done in trying to set goals despite financial hardship and living in a rural community that's more than an hour from the nearest airport. Carlene's favourite character from the Kirby's Crusader series is Kirby, who she relates best to because of the suffering they both share in attempts at achieving their goals. Carlene achieved her first pilot's licence at age 15 and soon after winning this award, was accepted as a full time flying cadet with the RAAF. Go Carlene! Fly high!

2005 - will it be you?