This year’s optional theme is “I have promises to keep”, with entries closing on June 30.

The competition is open to children from Kindergarten through to Year 12 and is popular with local schools.

New project officer for the awards, Brittany Riley, said it’s time for locals to “click your pens and warm up your keyboards”.

“We’re looking forward to seeing all the entries,” she said.

“Hopefully, we’ll get some local kids involved.”

The awards started in 1984 with the aim of inspiring students to express their creativity through the medium of poetry, just like Dorothea Mackellar.

To find out more about the poetry competition, visit https://dorothea.com.au/How-to-Enter-awards