The current project officer for the Dorothea Mackellar Poetry Awards, Ruth Macaulay, will be finishing up in mid-November.

The young woman will be returning to theatre and educational shows with her soon-to-be husband, Tim Gilmour. The pair have their own company, Babble Productions, and will be touring Australia next year under the umbrella of School Performance Tours.

Ruth said she has really enjoyed her time as project officer.

“I think my favourite part of it is encouraging kids to explore literature, especially when kids find out writing poetry can be fun,” she said.

“I think it lifts you when you see kids from not so well-off areas or rural areas, get an award, that’s really encouraging for them.

“I think that’s a really great gift we give.”

The local said she has learnt a lot and established new relationships.

“I have a lot of skills I didn’t have at the start of the year [and] I’ve met a lot of people,” she said.

Ruth said the part-time role of project officer would suit someone who’s good at managing lots of different types of jobs including accounting and administration.

“They need to be organised, a love for poetry and good with kids,” she said.

The young woman said the poetry awards are significant to Gunnedah and would like to see them continue.

“I really believe it is an important event and definitely it is really important to a lot of schools each year,” Ruth said.

“Teachers use it as a way of encouraging kids to get into poetry.”

For more information on the role of project officer, email dorotheamackellar@bigpond.com or phone (02) 6742 1200.