History awards banner image of man on bicycle
Entries open: 21 January 2026
|
Entries close: 31 March 2026
|
Awards Presentation Night: 25 June 2026

From timber camps and rail lines to towns shaped by people and time, the story of Serpentine Jarrahdale is carried in memory, place, and lived experience.

The SJ Remembers Community History Awards honour the stories, photographs and memories that have shaped our community. We invite you to take part by sharing your own stories, research and photographs from days gone by.

Continue reading to learn more about the awards, categories and how to participate. Join in preserving our shared history. 

Preserving Our Past

Entry Information

Categories

Choose a category to enter:

  • Written Memoir
  • Photographic Memory (pre-2000)
  • Original Research
  • Oral History

Scroll down for more information on each category.

Prizes

$500 winner per category
$200 runner-up per category

Entrants will be invited to a Community History Awards Presentation Night where entries will be displayed, and winners will be announced.

How to enter

  1. Choose your category
  2. Prepare your entry
  3. Submit online or at Byford Library
  4. Submit by 31 March 2026

Key dates

Milestone Date
Awards open 21 January 2026
Entries close 31 March 2026
Presentation Night 25 June 2026

Category details

We welcome entries in a range of formats, reflecting the many ways our community remembers and records its history. Whether you enjoy writing, research, or storytelling, there’s a category to suit how you’d like to share your piece of SJ's story.

Each category below includes a brief description and submission guidelines to help you prepare your entry. Click on each one for further information.


Written Memoir

Personal recollection of lived experiences within the Serpentine-Jarrahdale area as a current or former resident. Can come in the form of diary extracts, autobiographical information or essays. 

Submissions may be an extract from a longer piece of written work and may also include photographs, illustrations or maps. 

Written entries must be no more than 2000 words. 

File format: doc, docx, pdf, rtf, pages

Photographic Memory (pre-2000) 

A photograph not already held in the Community History Collection, taken prior to 2000. All information on the photograph relating to date, location, subject matter, persons of interest, or relevant event must be included with the submission. 

Please submit digital scans of your original work. Alternatively, residents may visit the library in person to hand in a photocopy for one of our staff members to scan and upload.

Did you know that photo scans can be taken by a staff member at the library? Contact SJ Library Services to find out more. 

Accepted File formats: jpg, jpeg, tiff, bmp, gif, pdf, png, 

Original Research 

Research into various groups, place of interest or events in the Serpentine Jarrahdale area.

These could include: 

  • Groups - individuals, families, local artists, businesses, community groups or sporting clubs, schools and religious or charitable groups. 
  • Places in Serpentine Jarrahdale - histories of houses and buildings, streets, lanes, parks, trees or landmarks. 
  • Events - (Historic or contemporary) in the Serpentine-Jarrahdale area. 

Submissions may be an extract from a longer piece of written work and may also include photographs, illustrations or maps. 

Original research entries must be no more than 3000 words. 

Oral History

An audio recording of an interview with a current or former resident of the Shire of Serpentine-Jarrahdale. This interview may cover wide ranging topics up to but not limited to lived experiences, firsthand knowledge of historical events, recollections of family history. 

Accepted File Formats: mp3, mp4, wav, avi, flac, aac, mov, mpg, mpeg 



Previous winners

Looking for inspiration? Read about the winners from the inaugural 2024 SJ Remembers Community History Awards.


Need help?

If you have questions about categories, formats, permissions, or submitting your entry, SJ Library Services can assist.