Compelling essays by five young Australians have been selected from hundreds as winners in the annual Caltex Best All Rounder Award's national writing competition.

The writing competition is launched towards the end of each year and is open to recipients of the Caltex Best All Rounder Award. The award is offered to secondary schools across Australia and is conferred on final-year students who have given of their best in the classroom, on the sports field and in their community.

Entrants were asked to write a persuasive recommendation explaining why Caltex should donate $1,000 to a charity or community organisation of their choice. In addition to winning the donation for the organisation they promote in their submission, the winners receive $500 for their schools and $500 for themselves.

The winners are Tim Bell of Erina Heights, NSW; Perri Burns and Claire Chisholm both of Melbourne, Victoria; Georgina Clutterbuck of Mooloolah, Queensland; and Ashley Leal of Cowra, NSW.

Tim wrote about the role his local Autism and Asperger's Family Support Group played in his remarkable life journey since being diagnosed with autism at five.

Perri described the commitment of the Point Lonsdale Surf Life Saving Club to preserving life at Point Lonsdale's potentially dangerous Back Beach.

Claire presented the achievements of, and challenges facing, Melbourne Youth Music, an institution dedicated to developing the skills of young Victorian musicians.

Georgina promoted the work of the Red Cross Blood Bank, an organisation that quietly saves lives with the help of the community.

Ashley wrote of the dire need for a new cardiotocograph machine in the maternity unit of Cowra's hospital. The machine assesses foetal heartbeats and without it, mothers in her region would have to travel hundreds of kilometres to deliver their babies.

Entrants into the competition wrote passionately about a wide range of charities, clubs and organisations close to their hearts.

"Whether they were speaking up for their local footy team or an international charity, competition entrants displayed a deep desire to help others," said Caltex Managing Director and CEO Des King. "Many drew movingly on personal experiences and collectively the submissions were testimony to the generosity of fine young people - future leaders of our community."

To view the winning entries click here.

Contact
Mandy Mannion
03 9598 5462