A tender story of a young girl who spends her Friday nights giving sustenance and her own brand of warmth to homeless people on the streets of Sydney has nabbed first place in the Writers' Resource Centre's Best New Australian Writers competition.

The short story, penned by Jonathan Hill of Old Erowal Bay in NSW and entitled The Angel from Annandale, was plucked from a plethora of stories sent in from all over Australia to win the contest. Amanda Spedding's The Crone was awarded second place and third place went to Alan C Hughes' piece The Symbiosis of Don.

The inaugural contest has honoured 20 stories, with 17 receiving commendations.

This year's judge Smink Works Books publisher and Writers' Resource Centre co-chief Suzanne Male, said she was impressed with the quality of the stories entered. "It is proof there is some incredible writing talent in Australia," she says, adding that she chose stories based on originality of content and delivery. "If the story hooked me in then it is definitely on the list," she says. "The Angel from Annandale brought tears to my eyes at the end of the story, The Crone was equally heartwrenching but was written in an entirely different style, and I loved the quirkinees of The Symbiosis of Don."

The story drew entries from experienced short story writers and novices alike and both appear on the winners list.

The winning and commended stories will appear in a short story anthology to be published early next year in printed paperback and e-book formats.

The full list of winners is below.

WINNER
The Angel from Annandale
by Jonathan Hill

SECOND PLACE
The Crone
by Amanda Spedding

THIRD PLACE
The Symbiosis of Don
by Alan C Hughes

HIGHLY COMMENDED
Forsaken
by Cassie Argent

One Man's Fish
by Jacob Edwards

Cooee Calling
by Barry Rosenberg

Driver
by Daniel Boyce

Enjoy the Silence
by Luke Myers

I'll Send you the Bill
by Daan Spijer

The Need for Darkness
by Jacqueline Battin

The Model
by Pam Farley

On with the Motley
by Margaret Dakin

The Crossing
by Antony Clarke

Shining Houses
by Judith A. Steele

Pockets
by Victor Figeczki

Paradise
by Jenna Sten

Surprise Party
by Michael O'Sullivan

The Last but One
by Zak Zavod

Homecoming
by Carole Cogdon

Barney
by Loretta Leslie