MALLEE artist Maurice Conway has had six of his Mallee town songs shortlisted in a major Australian song writing competition.

Mr Conway, from Goyura, just out of Hopetoun, said the shortlisted songs were inspired by growing up in the Mallee and returning to the area in 2005, 43 years after leaving.

He said that when he moved back to the Mallee, he was surrounded by song writing ideas.

"It was s...