The Dorothea Mackellar Poetry Awards has attracted almost 12,000 entries this year, with the awards ceremony to take place on September 2 at 10am in The Civic.
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The event is hosted by the Dorothea Mackellar Memorial Society which celebrates one of Australia’s most renowned poets, Dorothea Mackellar.
The poetry awards were established 33 years ago with the aim of promoting literature through poetry and a love of country among the youth of Australia.
Award categories include lower primary (K-Year 3), upper primary (Years 4-6), assisted learning primary, junior secondary (Years 7-9), senior secondary (Years 10-12), assisted learning secondary, multicultural NSW award, and schools award (primary and secondary).
The multicultural NSW award is for the poem which best highlights the value of cultural diversity in the Australian community.
The schools awards is for schools that demonstrate a high standard of entries and is awarded at the judge’s discretion.
Prize packs include a unique trophy and a collection of books from a number of publishing houses and local businesses.
This year’s guest speaker is ABC journalist Heather Ewart, a national affairs correspondent for the 7.30 Report.
She will be joined by the society’s three patrons, Margaret White AO, Mark Vaile AO and Professor Peter Shergold.
The awards ceremony will be followed by the official opening of the upgraded Mackellar Centre building in Anzac Parade.
The building has undergone renovations which included new windows, doors, security fittings, paint, and a pedestrian path.
A recent working bee saw the committee members arm themselves with gloves, gardening tools, new and donated plants to landscape the grounds before the awards ceremony.
The centre’s new gallery houses a Jean Isherwood watercolour collection which is a a tribute to Dorothea Mackellar’s most well-known poem I Love a Sunburnt Country. It also provides a base for the society’s committee, including an office for project officer Mila Stone.
The newly elected committee includes president Philippa Murray, vice president Shirley Urquhart, secretary Sandy Carter, treasurer Kathy Mayoh, membership secretary Heather Martin, community members Jenny Darley and Jo McCalman, and Gunnedah Shire Council representatives, Cr Rebecca Ryan and Lisa Davis. The committee is supported by around 80 members.
The society was founded in 1983 by Mikie Maas with the support of volunteer judges Rosemary Dobson and Joan Phipson and local poet Anne Bell.
