Award Winners
Check back in September for the 2022 winners.
2021 AWARDS
Page Sections:
1. 2021 Awards
2. Presentation Booklet
3. Shortlisted, Highly Commended and Commended Poems
4. Anthology
1. 2021 AWARDS
Like 2020, the global pandemic affected our normal way of life here at the Dorothea Mackellar Poetry Awards. We were again forced to conduct a Virtual Presentation Ceremony, and once more, the results were nothing short of spectacular with 7,500 entries from across the nation.
In past years, winners and their families have been flown to Gunnedah to be presented with their prizes, but our virtual alternative allows participants to see it from the comfort of their classroom, lounge room, or whatever room they find themselves in on the day.
The Society engaged a professional film crew to bring our 2021 Ceremony to life, compiling videos from the winners, our President, judges, Ministers of Education, Patrons and trophy artist, as well as shots of the local landscape and the Welcome to Country. We encourage you to view it and trust you’ll love it as much as we do. It truly encapsulates the power of poetry and the breadth of Australia reached through this very special competition. See it here: www.dorothea.com.au/presentation-ceremony.
The Dorothea Mackellar Poetry Awards wishes to thank all the teachers, students and parents who submitted poetry this year, as well as the sponsors, special guests and VIP’s who make this whole competition possible.
We look forward to seeing next year’s entries!
Our winners and runners-up for this year are as follows:
Category |
Poet |
School |
Poem Title |
Lower Primary |
Dihansi Amarasinghe |
Caulfield Grammar School, Wheelers Hill VIC
|
“When I Went Walking” |
Lower Primary |
Aleigha Mudd |
Stanford Merthyr Infants School, Stanford Merthyr NSW |
“The tip of the feather” |
Upper Primary |
Allegra Clarke |
All Saints Anglican School, Merrimac QLD |
“Kombumerri dreaming” |
Upper Primary |
Kathy Luo |
Sutherland Public School, Sutherland NSW |
“Betrayal (villanelle)” |
Assisted Learning Primary |
Cooper King-Seach |
Curlewis Public School, Curlewis NSW
|
“My Aboriginal Teacher” |
Assisted Learning Primary |
Grace Jiang |
Chatswood Public School, Chatswood NSW |
“Unerasable Memory” |
David Maher Award for Small Schools Winner |
Paddy Harris |
Rowena Public School, Rowena NSW |
“Planting” |
Kurrumbede Award Winner (Primary) |
Eileen Murphy |
Fairfax Public School, Maules Creek NSW |
“Namoi Menagerie” |
Junior Secondary |
Olivia Campbell |
Presbyterian Ladies’ College, Burwood VIC |
“Revels with Ravenous Ghosts” |
Junior Secondary |
Esmé Tew |
Ravenswood School For Girls, Gordon NSW |
“Moving On” |
Senior Secondary |
Pippa Attwell |
Presbyterian Ladies’ College, Peppermint Grove WA |
“Creatures of digits” |
Senior Secondary |
Saskia Fleming |
Presbyterian Ladies’ College, Peppermint Grove WA |
“Grandfarmers” |
Assisted Learning Secondary |
Steven Estephen and Matthew Al-Chakty |
Maronite College of the Holy Family, Harris Park NSW |
“Rich and Rare” |
Assisted Learning Secondary |
Nikolas Nissan |
Redeemer Baptist School, North Parramatta NSW |
“The Wonder of the Three Sisters” |
Kurrumbede Award Winner (Secondary) |
Holly Munday |
Gunnedah High School, Gunnedah NSW |
“Killers of the Night” |
Schools’ Award Primary |
Redeemer Baptist School, North Parramatta NSW |
– |
– |
Schools’ Award Secondary |
St Thomas More College, Sunnybank QLD |
– |
– |
2. PRESENTATION BOOKLET
Click here to read the 2021 Presentation Booklet that contains all the winning and runner-up poems, as well a message from our President Pip Murray, the Society’s activities in 2021 and much more! See Section 3 for Shortlisted, Highly Commended and Commended Poems.
3. SHORTLISTED, HIGHLY COMMENDED AND COMMENDED POEMSPRESENTATION BOOKLET
Also worth mentioning each year are the students who received a Shortlisted, Highly-Commended or Commended poem. Our judges gave special feedback for each one. Please see below. Wish to read their commendable poems and the judges’ comments? See Section iv.
[NB: Poems are alphabetised according to surname]
SHORTLISTED
Student Name |
Poem Title |
School Name |
Town/ Suburb |
Category |
FRESH! |
REDEEMER BAPTIST SCHOOL |
NTH PARRAMATTA |
LEARNING ASSISTANCE SECONDARY |
|
MY LOST MEMORY |
CHATSWOOD PUBLIC SCHOOL |
CHATSWOOD |
LEARNING ASSISTANCE PRIMARY |
|
YOU AND I |
INDIVIDUAL ENTRY |
BEACON HILL |
JUNIOR SECONDARY |
|
TO PERSIST BEYOND THE FACT |
ST DOMINICS PRIORY COLLEGE |
NORTH ADELAIDE |
SENIOR SECONDARY |
|
THE AFTERMATH |
GUNNEDAH HIGH SCHOOL |
GUNNEDAH |
KURRUMBEDE AWARD |
|
BITTERSWEET |
PRESBYTERIAN LADIES’ COLLEGE |
PEPPERMINT GROVE |
SENIOR SECONDARY |
|
REMEMBERING FROM OUR DRIVEWAYS |
YOUNG PUBLIC SCHOOL |
YOUNG |
UPPER PRIMARY |
|
CAGED |
ST DOMINICS PRIORY COLLEGE |
NORTH ADELAIDE |
JUNIOR SECONDARY |
|
OUR FATHER (ÁR NATHAIR) |
INDIVIDUAL ENTRY |
BURWOOD |
SENIOR SECONDARY |
|
SNOW |
REDEEMER BAPTIST SCHOOL |
NTH PARRAMATTA |
LEARNING ASSISTANCE PRIMARY |
|
WHERE DO I BELONG? |
MATTHEW PEARCE PUBLIC SCHOOL |
BAULKHAM HILLS |
UPPER PRIMARY |
|
HARVEST TIME |
ROWENA PUBLIC SCHOOL |
ROWENA |
LOWER PRIMARY |
|
THE MENAGERIE |
HOME SCHOOL |
BAULKHAM HILLS |
JUNIOR SECONDARY |
|
THE EARTHQUAKE |
ST PHILIP’S CHRISTIAN COLLEGE |
WARATAH |
LOWER PRIMARY |
HIGHLY COMMENDED
Student Name |
Poem Title |
School Name |
Town/ Suburb |
Category |
COST AN ARM AND A LEG |
ST THOMAS MORE COLLEGE |
SUNNYBANK |
SENIOR SECONDARY |
|
I WILL NOT SINK |
CLANCY CATHOLIC COLLEGE |
WEST HOXTON |
JUNIOR SECONDARY |
|
RIVER |
INDIVIDUAL ENTRY |
PARK ORCHARDS |
JUNIOR SECONDARY |
|
BREAKFAST FOR TWO |
ST DOMINICS PRIORY COLLEGE |
NORTH ADELAIDE |
SENIOR SECONDARY |
|
HOME |
ST DOMINICS PRIORY COLLEGE |
NORTH ADELAIDE |
JUNIOR SECONDARY |
|
THE MACHINE |
ST THOMAS MORE COLLEGE |
SUNNYBANK |
JUNIOR SECONDARY |
|
SALTY SWEET |
INDIVIDUAL ENTRY |
SYDNEY |
SENIOR SECONDARY |
|
GEORGE AND HARRY’S FRIENDSHIP TALK |
INDIVIDUAL ENTRY |
GISBORNE |
UPPER PRIMARY |
|
KINDNESS |
PYMBLE LADIES’ COLLEGE |
PYMBLE |
LOWER PRIMARY |
|
MOTHER NATURE IS A BLACK WOMAN |
BRIBIE ISLAND STATE HIGH SCHOOL |
BONGAREE, BRIBIE ISLAND |
LEARNING ASSISTANCE SECONDARY |
|
PEOPLE’S STORIES |
BRIBIE ISLAND STATE HIGH SCHOOL |
BONGAREE, BRIBIE ISLAND |
LEARNING ASSISTANCE SECONDARY |
|
BETKA PATH |
SCEGGS DARLINGHURST |
DARLINGHURST |
JUNIOR SECONDARY |
|
CHAMELEON |
REDEEMER BAPTIST SCHOOL |
NTH PARRAMATTA |
LEARNING ASSISTANCE SECONDARY |
|
CENTRAL |
INDIVIDUAL – NORTH SYDNEY GIRLS HIGH SCHOOL |
SYDNEY |
SENIOR SECONDARY |
|
OUR LAND |
HOME SCHOOL |
HORNSBY |
UPPER PRIMARY |
|
A LAMENT FOR LEBANON 4.8.20 |
SCEGGS DARLINGHURST |
DARLINGHURST |
JUNIOR SECONDARY |
|
THE PAWN |
TINTERN GRAMMAR |
RINGWOOD EAST |
JUNIOR SECONDARY |
|
YOUR WORDS STUCK |
ST MARY’S ANGLICAN GIRLS’ SCHOOL |
KARRINYUP |
JUNIOR SECONDARY |
|
CINQUAIN |
REDEEMER BAPTIST SCHOOL |
NTH PARRAMATTA |
LEARNING ASSISTANCE PRIMARY |
|
MUSCLE MEMORY |
ST THOMAS MORE COLLEGE |
SUNNYBANK |
SENIOR SECONDARY |
|
SPECIAL DAY |
PYMBLE LADIES’ COLLEGE |
PYMBLE |
LOWER PRIMARY |
|
STARS ON CONSTANCE |
ST THOMAS MORE COLLEGE |
SUNNYBANK |
JUNIOR SECONDARY |
|
TEARS LIKE BULLETS |
MACKILLOP COLLEGE |
PORT MACQUARIE |
JUNIOR SECONDARY |
|
HIPPOCAMPUS |
QUEENSLAND ACADEMY FOR CREATIVE INDUSTRIES |
KELVIN GROVE |
SENIOR SECONDARY |
|
A BEAUTIFUL MESS |
NORTHERN BEACHES SECONDARY COLLEGE MACKELLAR GIRLS CAMPUS |
MANLY VALE |
JUNIOR SECONDARY |
|
MY FRIEND, CELLO |
CHATSWOOD PUBLIC SCHOOL |
CHATSWOOD |
LEARNING ASSISTANCE PRIMARY |
|
THE STREET DANCER |
BRIGIDINE COLLEGE, ST IVES |
ST IVES |
SENIOR SECONDARY |
|
THE BOMBING OF BERLIN |
FINTONA GIRLS’ SCHOOL |
BALWYN |
JUNIOR SECONDARY |
COMMENDED
Student Name |
Poem Title |
School Name |
Town/ Suburb |
Category |
THE GOLDFIELDS OF HILL END |
INDIVIDUAL – CARLINGFORD WEST PUBLIC SCHOOL |
CARLINGFORD |
LOWER PRIMARY |
|
SUMMER RAIN |
ALL HALLOWS PRIMARY SCHOOL |
FIVE DOCK |
LOWER PRIMARY |
|
ECHIDNA |
CRAIGIEBURN PRIMARY SCHOOL |
CRAIGIEBURN |
LEARNING ASSISTANCE PRIMARY |
|
BATTLE AGAINST THE DUST |
ST GREGORY’S COLLEGE |
GREGORY HILLS |
SENIOR SECONDARY |
|
A GREEK WELCOME |
SCEGGS DARLINGHURST |
DARLINGHURST |
JUNIOR SECONDARY |
|
ANTARCTICA |
INDIVIDUAL ENTRY |
PARK ORCHARDS |
JUNIOR SECONDARY |
|
INSECT – PENSEE POEM |
OUR LADY OF THE ROSARY CATHOLIC SCHOOL |
WYOMING |
LOWER PRIMARY |
|
WHIRLPOOLS |
REDEEMER BAPTIST SCHOOL |
NTH PARRAMATTA |
LEARNING ASSISTANCE PRIMARY |
|
I AM |
REDEEMER BAPTIST SCHOOL |
NTH PARRAMATTA |
LEARNING ASSISTANCE PRIMARY |
|
WHAT ARE WE? |
DARWIN MIDDLE SCHOOL |
PARAP |
JUNIOR SECONDARY |
|
CLOUDS (HAIKU) |
REDEEMER BAPTIST SCHOOL |
NTH PARRAMATTA |
UPPER PRIMARY |
|
THANK YOU, AUSTRALIA |
ST DOMINICS PRIORY COLLEGE |
NORTH ADELAIDE |
JUNIOR SECONDARY |
|
STRESS |
CHATSWOOD PUBLIC SCHOOL |
CHATSWOOD |
LEARNING ASSISTANCE PRIMARY |
|
EILENE |
RAVENSWOOD SCHOOL FOR GIRLS |
GORDON |
UPPER PRIMARY |
|
CINQUAIN |
GUNNEDAH SOUTH SCHOOL |
GUNNEDAH |
LEARNING ASSISTANCE PRIMARY |
|
SOVEREIGNTY |
SCEGGS DARLINGHURST |
DARLINGHURST |
SENIOR SECONDARY |
|
FROZEN IN TIME |
RAVENSWOOD SCHOOL FOR GIRLS |
GORDON |
UPPER PRIMARY |
|
STAINED GLASS TEARS |
ST DOMINICS PRIORY COLLEGE |
NORTH ADELAIDE |
SENIOR SECONDARY |
|
WOMAN OF THE FUTURE (INSPIRED BY CATHY WARRY’S POEM OF THE SAME TITLE) |
BRIGIDINE COLLEGE, ST IVES |
ST IVES |
JUNIOR SECONDARY |
|
STORY’S GLORY |
BRIBIE ISLAND STATE HIGH SCHOOL |
BONGAREE, BRIBIE ISLAND |
LEARNING ASSISTANCE SECONDARY |
|
MAN-MADE |
ST DOMINICS PRIORY COLLEGE |
NORTH ADELAIDE |
SENIOR SECONDARY |
|
MUM’S IN A WHEELCHAIR |
GENESIS CHRISTIAN COLLEGE |
BRAY PARK |
LOWER PRIMARY |
|
TONGERLONGETER AND THE BLACK WAR |
INDIVIDUAL – SCOTCH OAKBURN COLLEGE |
KAYENA |
JUNIOR SECONDARY |
|
A REVOLUTION HAS BEGUN |
INDIVIDUAL – PERTH MODERN SCHOOL |
SUBIACO |
JUNIOR SECONDARY |
|
DUST AND DOGS |
BUNDARRA CENTRAL SCHOOL |
BUNDARRA |
UPPER PRIMARY |
|
THE NOISY LIBRARY |
CHERRYBROOK PUBLIC SCHOOL |
CHERRYBROOK |
LOWER PRIMARY |
|
CROSS COUNTRY |
REDEEMER BAPTIST SCHOOL |
NTH PARRAMATTA |
LEARNING ASSISTANCE PRIMARY |
|
I AM THE GRIM REAPER |
TINTERN GRAMMAR |
RINGWOOD EAST |
JUNIOR SECONDARY |
|
HERE I AM |
INDIVIDUAL ENTRY |
BURWOOD |
SENIOR SECONDARY |
|
MY VOICE… |
REDEEMER BAPTIST SCHOOL |
NTH PARRAMATTA |
LEARNING ASSISTANCE SECONDARY |
|
KOOKABURRA |
CRAIGIEBURN PRIMARY SCHOOL |
CRAIGIEBURN |
LEARNING ASSISTANCE PRIMARY |
|
HAIKU |
GUNNEDAH SOUTH SCHOOL |
GUNNEDAH |
LEARNING ASSISTANCE PRIMARY |
|
MOSAIC |
INDIVIDUAL – SYDNEY BOYS HIGH SCHOOL |
MOORE PARK |
UPPER PRIMARY |
|
THE HERD OF HORSES |
ELSTERNWICK PRIMARY SCHOOL |
BRIGHTON |
UPPER PRIMARY |
|
REBELLION |
CHATSWOOD PUBLIC SCHOOL |
CHATSWOOD |
UPPER PRIMARY |
|
AS THE MOON SINGS ALONG |
ST MARY’S ANGLICAN GIRLS’ SCHOOL |
KARRINYUP |
JUNIOR SECONDARY |
|
I MIGHT |
OXLEY CHRISTIAN COLLEGE |
CHIRNSIDE PARK |
UPPER PRIMARY |
|
PHOTO |
NORTHERN BEACHES SECONDARY COLLEGE MACKELLAR GIRLS CAMPUS |
MANLY VALE |
JUNIOR SECONDARY |
|
THE AUSSIE PANDEMIC |
ACTING UP DRAMA ACADEMY |
CORDEAUX HEIGHTS |
LOWER PRIMARY |
|
MY MUM IS COMING |
ASCHAM |
EDGECLIFF |
LOWER PRIMARY |
|
TAMWORTH PUBLIC SCHOOL |
TAMWORTH |
KURRUMBEDE AWARD |
||
THE NURSING HOME |
PRESBYTERIAN LADIES’ COLLEGE |
PEPPERMINT GROVE |
SENIOR SECONDARY |
|
SADNESS |
OXLEY CHRISTIAN COLLEGE |
CHIRNSIDE PARK |
UPPER PRIMARY |
|
SAKURA |
ST DOMINICS PRIORY COLLEGE |
NORTH ADELAIDE |
SENIOR SECONDARY |
|
REFLECTION |
ST STEPHENS CARRAMAR |
TAPPING |
UPPER PRIMARY |
|
THE WORLD IS IN OUR HANDS |
MOUNT SCOPUS MEMORIAL COLLEGE |
BURWOOD |
JUNIOR SECONDARY |
|
I’M SORRY |
RAVENSWOOD SCHOOL FOR GIRLS |
GORDON |
JUNIOR SECONDARY |
|
FERAL CATS |
GUNNEDAH HIGH SCHOOL |
GUNNEDAH |
KURRUMBEDE AWARD |
|
LIGHTNING |
ST ELIZABETH’S PRIMARY SCHOOL |
TARRAGINDI |
LOWER PRIMARY |
|
MY MIND IS PLAYING TRICKS |
LORETO MANDEVILLE HALL |
TOORAK |
SENIOR SECONDARY |
|
AND THE DEAD MARCH ON |
HOME SCHOOL |
YARRAVILLE |
JUNIOR SECONDARY |
|
SILENCE |
SCEGGS DARLINGHURST |
DARLINGHURST |
SENIOR SECONDARY |
|
MY FAMILY |
REDEEMER BAPTIST SCHOOL |
NTH PARRAMATTA |
LEARNING ASSISTANCE PRIMARY |
|
SKELETON WEED |
PRESBYTERIAN LADIES’ COLLEGE |
PEPPERMINT GROVE |
SENIOR SECONDARY |
|
PAIN |
LAKEVIEW SENIOR COLLEGE |
CAROLINE SPRINGS |
SENIOR SECONDARY |
|
BEDTIME |
ACTING UP DRAMA ACADEMY |
CORDEAUX HEIGHTS |
LOWER PRIMARY |
|
MY MORNING STARTS WITH …. |
SACRED HEART BOGGABRI |
BOGGABRI |
KURRUMBEDE AWARD |
|
FIREWORKS |
NEWCASTLE EAST PUBLIC SCHOOL |
THE HILL |
LOWER PRIMARY |
|
A POEM |
VIRTUAL SCHOOL VICTORIA |
THORNBURY |
JUNIOR SECONDARY |
|
ORIGAMI |
ASCHAM |
EDGECLIFF |
LOWER PRIMARY |
|
SPRING |
NEWCASTLE EAST PUBLIC SCHOOL |
THE HILL |
LOWER PRIMARY |
|
NOTHING |
PEEL HIGH SCHOOL |
TAMWORTH |
KURRUMBEDE AWARD |
|
SKIING |
REDEEMER BAPTIST SCHOOL |
NTH PARRAMATTA |
LEARNING ASSISTANCE PRIMARY |
|
SHOPPING IN COVID |
NEWCASTLE EAST PUBLIC SCHOOL |
THE HILL |
LOWER PRIMARY |
|
ODE TO A SHIVERING SPARROW ON A RAINY WINTER’S DAY |
MOUNT PLEASANT ROAD PRIMARY NUNAWADING |
NUNAWADING |
LOWER PRIMARY |
|
MY PET |
ACTING UP DRAMA ACADEMY |
CORDEAUX HEIGHTS |
LOWER PRIMARY |
|
ELEGANT STINGRAYS |
REDEEMER BAPTIST SCHOOL |
NTH PARRAMATTA |
LEARNING ASSISTANCE PRIMARY |
4. ANTHOLOGY
The Anthology is released annually and contains all the winning, runner-up, shortlisted, highly commended and commended poetry from the competition. It also discloses what the judges had to say about each poem in their respective judging categories!
We offer a soft-bound copy of the anthology for purchase as well as a digital version to reduce paper wastage.
To pre-order the 2021 Anthology, complete and return the order form here using the instructions.
Please note that soft-bound orders are expected to be dispatched in October-November. Digital copies are able to be sent immediately once Anthology is available.