Hundreds of people who might not otherwise attend have embraced the first online version of a Border literary festival.
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Write Around The Murray ended on Sunday after five days of author talks, performances, exhibitions and competitions, all virtual and free as a result of COVID-19 restrictions.
Festival director Ann-maree Ellis said some sessions attracted 500 viewers live and many others catching up later. Past Tense, a panel discussion about history held late Saturday afternoon, had been watched more than 900 times on Facebook and another 300 via YouTube.
"Just such an important discussion about how we view history and particularly in relation to Indigenous history, First Nations history," Ms Ellis said.
"That was pretty profound and that is going to be one of those events that we'll watch over and over again."
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The festival heard from a former attendee in Canberra saying she appreciated this year being able to share the experience with her husband, who had limited mobility.
"It's clear to me we need to retain a livestream element," Ms Ellis said.
"I think people are going to take notice and we're putting some important conversations out there."
The weekend highlights included author Kate Grenville discussing her latest novel A Room Made of Leaves, with Jason Steger and Somebody's Story, the only festival event where all panel members were in the same room.
Croydon writer Rob Johnson won the short story competition ahead of Claire Aman, of Grafton, and Newtown's Ellen Rodger. while the River of Stories contest awarded prizes to primary and secondary school students for their stories and poetry.
Ms Ellis said although nothing could replace live events, there had been a "pouring in of gratitude" from viewers able to watch from any location in their own time.
"We couldn't have hoped that it would go as well as it has, so I'm pretty excited," she said on Sunday.
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River of Stories results
Short stories, primary division:
Year 3-4 - Winner: Emily Elske (The Scots School Albury), first runner-up: Iris Johanson (The Scots School Albury), second runner-up: Charlie Cook (Trinity Anglican College).
Year 5-6 - Winner: Ebony McGee (Trinity Anglican College), first runner-up: Max Royal (St Patrick's Parish School Albury), second runner-up: Sienna Lawler (Bandiana Primary School)
Short stories, secondary division:
Year 7-8 - Winner: Amelie Schubert (Trinity Anglican College), first runner-up: William Walsh (Xavier High School), second runner-up: Caitlin Parker (Xavier High School).
Year 9-10 - Winner: Amelia Spinks (Albury High School), first runner-up: Maddi Cook (Catholic College Wodonga), second runner-up: Jessica Wicks (Trinity Anglican College).
Year 11-12 - Winner: Elise Lancaster (Catholic College Wodonga), first runner-up: Paul Hicks (Catholic College Wodonga), second runner-up: Elise Lancaster (Catholic College Wodonga).
Primary poetry division:
Year 3-4 - Winner: Ruby Edwards (Trinity Anglican College), first runner-up: Alexandra Dover (Trinity Anglican College), runner-up: Charlie Cook (Trinity Anglican College).
Year 5-6 - Winner: Breanna Phillips (Glenroy Public School), first runner-up: Sophie Shields (Kiewa Valley Primary School), second runner-up: Joshua Smith (Glenroy Public School).
Secondary poetry division:
Year 7-8 - Winner: Jamieson Hunter (Galen College, Wangaratta), first runner-up: Abbey Quinlan (Victory Lutheran College), second runner-up: Melena Wallace (Trinity Anglican College).
Year 9-10 - Winner: Lylah Ellao (The Scots School), first runner-up: Will Hogg (Trinity Anglican College), second runner-up: Emily Murphy (Trinity Anglican College).
Year 11-12 - Winner: Rachel Goodwin (Albury High School), first runner-up: Lois Beloved (Trinity Anglican College), second runner-up: Tessa Quinlan (Victory Lutheran College).
