About the awards
The Dorothea Mackellar Poetry Awards seek to capture the imaginations of school students across Australia, inspiring them to express their thoughts and feelings through the medium of poetry in their pursuit of literary excellence. The standard of entries year after year is consistently high, yet the winning poems never cease to impress the judges. From reading the entries of both the primary and secondary students, one can get an idea of the current events and issues that have had a great impact on young Australians over the decades.
The awards are held every year between the 1 March and the 30 June with the winners announced on the first Friday in September.
Optional theme
Our poets are encouraged to take inspiration from wherever they may find it, however if they are looking for some direction, they are invited to use this year’s optional theme to inspire their entries.
The optional theme for 2025 is “All the Beautiful Things”. Students are encouraged to write about topics and experiences that spark their poetic genius (in whatever form they choose.)
Download the competition poster here.
Our history
1983, Gunnedah celebrated the unveiling of a bronze statue of Dorothea Mackellar sitting side-saddle on a horse (pictured left). The statue is in ANZAC Park Gunnedah, opposite the new Mackellar Centre. The statue was the result of several years of fundraising by locals, led by post-war immigrant Mikie Maas. Mrs Maas, upon relocation to Australia, read My Country and was deeply moved by the patriotism displayed in the poem.
Mikie Maas (1923-2011) was a valuable member of the Gunnedah community and contributed greatly to the cultural development of the town. In 1983, Mrs Maas (OAM PHF), with the support of volunteer judges Rosemary Dobson and Joan Phipson and local poet Anne Bell, orchestrated the foundation of the Dorothea Mackellar Memorial Society Inc. – the body that now hosts the Dorothea Mackellar Poetry Awards. It comprises a volunteer committee of community members from a wide range of backgrounds.
The aim of the Dorothea Mackellar Poetry Awards is to capture the imagination of every school student in Australia, inspiring them with a passion for poetry. It is a unique national project, giving Australia’s young people a voice and an opportunity to strive for excellence in literature.
The poetry competition has grown from 300 entries in 1984 to tens of thousands of entries each year from school students across the nation. The competition also has a dedicated following from teachers whose support is integral to its continued success.
