Local Yarn FAQs

A: Please see Competition Rules. This is the place where you really need to start when considering if and how to enter.

There are three main reasons for this:
• How will the images and written pieces be used?
• Copyright and license information
• Submitting entries correctly, the format and description
 

A: The Australia Day Council of NSW (ADCNSW), in conjunction with NewsLocal

A: The competition has been developed by the ADCNSW and NewsLocal as part of a wider campaign by the ADCNSW that aims to get people involved in and contribute to our larger sense of national identity. It’s an opportunity for proud Aussies to get creative and showcase their visions and their thoughts on their local area and how it fits into the theme ‘Make Your Mark Australia’.

A: It is an opportunity for NewsLocal readers to celebrate and reflect on the many varied and valuable local contributions that inspire them everyday. Entrants are invited to respond to the question ‘How has your local area made a mark or contributed to your life?’ The entry should showcase the entrant’s local area.

A: Each NewsLocal Newspaper will run its own competition. There will be one winner from each newspaper. There are 20 participating newspapers:

- Blacktown Advocate
- Canterbury-Bankstown Express
- Central
- Central Coast Express Advocate
- Fairfield Advance
- Hills Shire Times
- Hornsby Advocate
- Inner West Courier
- Liverpool Leader
- Macarthur Chronicle
- Mt Druitt-St Marys Standard
- North Shore Times
- Northern District Times
- Parramatta Advertiser
- Penrith Press
- Rouse Hill Times
- Southern Courier
- The Manly Daily
- The Mosman Daily
- Wentworth Courier
 

A: All NSW residents that live within NewsLocal distribution area. The entry must reflect that local area.

A: Firstly, you will need to be a registered user of www.AUSSIEVAULT.com.au with a valid password and login combination in order to submit an entry. You will need to read and accept the Competition Rules, complete the entry form, attach your image, write your written piece in the text box, and submit. You will be asked to confirm or change your submission – once satisfied, please submit your entry for approval.
Please see Competition Rules.
 

A: Yes, provided you check with a parent/guardian to ensure that they consent to you uploading any images. Your parent/ guardian will also need to accept the prize, however, expenses associated with acceptance of the prize or the prize itself will not be covered for the parent/guardian.
We encourage all persons under 18 years to read the Competition Rules with a parent or guardian.
 

A: Yes, the competition is open to all Australian citizens who live in the participating NewsLocal distribution area and we welcome professional and amateur photographers and writers to participate.

A: A judging panel formed at each newspaper’s discretion will judge the entries submitted to their newspaper’s competition. They will select up to five finalists between 8 December and 12 December 2011. Entries will be individually judged based on each entry’s ability to reflect the theme ‘Make Your Mark Australia’ in ways which:
• are creative
• are innovative
• represent the local area from which the entry was submitted
• demonstrate artistic merit
• are suitable for reproduction in a local NewsLocal Newspaper
 

ADCNSW will not be involved in selecting the finalists or winners it is up to each NewsLocal newspaper.

All Finalists will be highlighted on www.AUSSIEVAULT.com.au in the Finalist section of the Local Yarn tab, and each NewsLocal Newspaper will also feature the finalists from their area on their website.
 

A: Yes. Finalists eligible for the Prize will also be announced on www.AUSSIEVAULT.com.au after 12 December 2011 and in their local NewsLocal Newspaper and website during the week commencing 12 December 2011. Finalists will also receive a confirmation email.

A: A winner from each newspaper will be decided via public vote. Members of the public are able to vote on entries by visiting the website of a participating NewsLocal Newspaper and clicking on the Local Yarn section.

The entry from each newspaper with the most votes will win that newspaper’s competition.
 

A: Members of the public can enter the competition by submitting images and written opinion pieces based on the criteria as well as being able to view all entries and vote on the finalists.

A: Yes. You can vote by visiting the website of a participating NewsLocal Newspaper and clicking on the Local Yarn section. The links will also be listed on www.AUSSIEVAULT.com.au.

A: There will be one winner from each NewsLocal newspaper – 20 winners in total. Each winner will receive:

• Entry for you and three guests to Taronga Zoo for the exclusive NewsLocal Australia Day BBQ
• Food and beverages at the Australia Day BBQ
• Spectacular views of Sydney Harbour on Australia’s biggest day
• At the Australia Day BBQ an overall winner will be selected to win the Taronga Zoo Photography course and digital camera
 

A: Finalist and winning images may also be used to promote Australia Day and NewsLocal through the websites, newsletters, media outlets, social media networks and other forms of marketing.

A: In order to be eligible for the prize, entries will not be accepted after 8 December 2011 for the competition (The closing date has been extended). Please refer to Competition Rules

 

A: You may submit a maximum of two different entries per person. Each entry must include a photograph and a written piece of no more than 300 words and must relate to your local NewsLocal Newspaper area.

A: In order to be eligible for the prize the images submitted need to be different from images submitted for any previous Australia Day or NewsLocal competitions and need to best reflect the theme.

A: All photographs and written pieces must not have been submitted to any other competitions in the past six months. Any entrants that have entered another photography or written word competition with the same image or opinion piece within six months of the commencement of the Local Yarn Competition will not be accepted.

A: All entries must include both a photograph and a written piece of no more than 300 words in order to be considered. Entries containing just a photograph or just a written piece will be disqualified.

A: Images in either portrait or landscape view may be uploaded, however, please make sure that your image has been saved to open without the need to rotate to view it.

A: In order to be eligible for the prize, images should be supplied as High-Quality JPEGs measuring at least 3,000 pixels on the longest side or a minimum size of A4 at 300dpi.

We recommend using a camera with a minimum of 6 Megapixels. Files should range from minimum file size 500KB to a maximum 8MB to facilitate easy uploading.
 

A: Yes. Entries submitted after using image editing software will be valid as long as the image meets the criteria. Remember less is more and it is about capturing the competition theme. Please do not include text or graphics on the photograph.

A: No. All written pieces must be 300 words or less. If your entry contains a written opinion piece of more than 300 words it will not be considered.

 

A: No, but once you accept the Competition Rules, ADCNSW and NewsLocal will have the license to use your entry for the Local Yarn Competition and the promotion of all Australia Day related activities and programs. Australia Day sponsors and supporters will also be permitted to use your entry to promote Australia Day, and NewsLocal will be permitted to use your entry to promote themselves and their sponsors.

A: Approved entries will be viewable on the AUSSIEVAULT within 48 hours.

A: This means that your image has not been accepted by ADCNSW or additional information has been requested. If you believe this has been done in error, please contact australiaday@dpc.nsw.gov.au.

A: No, once you have submitted your entry you will no longer be able to edit any of your details on your entry form. Please fill in the detail section carefully and review before submitting.
 

You will be able to change your contact details as part of your AUSSIEVAULT website registration.
 

A: Yes, your personal details will not be released to any third parties outside ADCNSW, NewsLocal and sponsors involved in the competition. Email and contact details will not be viewable on the website to the public. The ADCNSW and NewsLocal may contact you in regards to media requests and other opportunities. Your name, suburb and local NewsLocal Newspaper will be displayed with the entry you upload.

A: No, it does not cost anything for you enter the Local Yarn Competition. But you could win a great prize and be part of Aussie history.