National Dorothea Mackellar Memorial Poetry Competition
Subcategory of Awards Australian Awards
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History

'In 1983 Mrs Mikie Maas OAM founded the Dorothea Mackellar Memorial Society in recognition of the contribution Dorothea made to Australian literature. To raise funds for a beautiful bronze statue of Dorothea Mackellar, sitting side-saddle on her horse, Mrs Maas started a poetry competition which had a small entry fee.

'The aim of the Dorothea Mackellar Poetry Awards is to capture the imagination of school students across Australia, inspiring them with a passion for poetry and a love of country. It is a unique national project, giving Australia's youth a voice and an opportunity to strive for excellence in literature.

'The Awards are conducted by the Society through recognition of the contribution Dorothea made to Australian literature and also to ignite a spirit of patriotism among Australia's young people through written verse. The poetry competition attracts some 10,000 entries per year from school around Australia and The Australian Government is the major sponsor of the Awards.' (http://www.visitgunnedah.com.au/index.php/dorothea-mackellar-poetry-awards

Latest Winners / Recipients (also see subcategories)v1814

Year: 2016

winner In My Language They Call Me Ume Ibiegi i "An army came at dawn", Elvice Ikuo , 2017 single work poetry
— Appears in: Award Winning Australian Writing 2017 2017; (p. 228-229) This is Home : Essential Australian Poems for Children 2019; (p. 90)

Year: 2002

winner (Senior Certificate) Gravity i "middle of my", Brendan Mackie , 2003 single work poetry
— Appears in: The Red Room Company 2003;

Year: 2001

winner (Secondary Section) Out of Africa i "There must have been a moment in time", Jessica Thoms , 2001 single work poetry
— Appears in: The Queanbeyan Chronicle , 6 November vol. 7 no. 44 2001; (p. 1)
winner Beyond the Wall i "I visit an ancient grave-", Holly Mason White , 2001 single work poetry
— Appears in: The Saturday Mercury , 25 August 2001; (p. 9)

Year: 2000

winner (Secondary section) Hiroshima i "She sits like a doll", Stephanie Watts , 2000 single work poetry
— Appears in: The Canberra Times , 25 october 2000; (p. 6)

Year: 1994

winner (Secondary Section) Jessica's Poem i "I cannot comprehend why", Jessica Webster , 1994 single work poetry
— Appears in: The Advertiser , 2 November 1994; (p. 7)

Works About this Award

Tiny Urbenville Public School Wins Big at Dorothea Mackellar Poetry Awards Miranda Saunders , 2022 single work column
— Appears in: ABC News [Online] , September 2022;

'Urbenville Public School might only have 21 students but it has just won two coveted awards at Australia's longest-running and biggest schools poetry competition.' (Introduction)

Overflow Rosemary Sorensen , 2007 single work column
— Appears in: The Weekend Australian , 8-9 December 2007; (p. 9)
A column canvassing current literary news including a brief report on the launch of Mullion Park on the site of poet David Campbell's former home in Canberra and a public poetry project in Brisbane featuring the work of Sam Wagan Watson and Luke Beesley. Sorensen also notes the announcement of the winners of the 2007 National Dorothea Mackellar Memorial Poetry Competition.
The Poetic Voice : Lorraine Marwood Sharon Greenaway , 2006 single work interview
— Appears in: Magpies : Talking About Books for Children , July vol. 21 no. 3 2006; (p. 14-15)
y separately published work icon Dorothea Mackellar Poetry Awards The Dorothea Mackellar Memorial Society , Gunnedah : The Dorothea Mackellar Memorial Society , 2002 Z1629918 2002 website

Website for the Dorothea Mackellar Poetry Awards, the oldest and largest poetry competition for school students in Australia. The awards are hosted by the Dorothea Mackellar Memorial Society which is based in Gunnedah, north-west New South Wales.

Source: The Dorothea Mackellar Poetry Awards website, www.dorothea.com.au (sighted 29/09/2009)

Young College Poet Praised for Distinctive Voice Catriona Jackson , 2002 single work column
— Appears in: The Canberra Times , 24 August 2002; (p. 9)
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