International Letter Writing Competition

International Pen Friends

Celebrating 39 Years – 1967-2006

Media Release 10 May 2006
For Immediate Release

International Letter Writing Competition –

‘Why it’s Worth Waiting for a Letter’

For many, email and mobile phone communication have become everyday events. But life requires balance. For some the humble letter has taken a bit of a tumble during this era of modern technology. Ouch! To highlight the fun of receiving letters, International Pen Friends (IPF) has recently launched its first letter writing competition based on the theme: “In this era of instantaneous communication, I am writing to tell you why it’s worth waiting for a letter."

There are four different age group categories for prizes (8-14 years; 15-20 years; 21-60 years and 61 years and over), with prizes ranging from US$25-US$100 in each category. There is also a separate prize group category for students (from 10-17 years) who join IPF through its school class service, with prizes ranging from US$25-US$100 for the winning students, and prizes from US$75-US$250 for the schools of winning students.

Julie Delbridge, IPF’s President said: “IPF receives a huge amount of feedback from people in all age groups regarding their experiences of writing and receiving letters, including school teachers who incorporate the pen friend hobby into their language and cultural studies classes. There are many positive aspects of written communication that cannot be gained through speedy electronic communication. The competition is designed to be a celebration of those positive aspects and to promote both child and adult literacy skills."

Entry is free to everyone who has a current IPF membership, including people who join IPF before the competition’s closing date of 31 July 2006.

Full details and entry form can be obtained at IPF’s web site www.ipf.net.au, or by writing to: International Pen Friends, PO Box 156, Suffolk Park, NSW 2481, Australia.

IPF was founded in 1967 with the aim of promoting worldwide peace and friendship through sincere correspondence. Since then, IPF has provided over 1.5 million people aged from 8-80+ with pen friends. IPF also publishes a full colour magazine that is available by subscription.

Julie Delbridge first joined IPF as a teenager in 1979 when the club was based in Dublin, Ireland.

Subsequently, Julie has written to over 30 pen friends and travelled around the world from the Seychelles to USA to meet many of them. In 2001 when the club’s Founder, Neil O’Donnell, retired, Julie went to Ireland and took over IPF, bringing it to its current home in Byron Bay, Australia.

ENDS

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