'Seemingly simple' Gunnedah poem wins 2024 Kurrumbede Award

A three-line poem was all it took for Gunnedah’s James Perrett’s to win the 2024 Kurrumbede Award (Primary) at the nation-wide, Dorothea Mackellar Poetry Awards.

The Gunnedah-based poetry competition is this year celebrating its 40th anniversary.

The Kurrumbede award recognises the best poetry entry from a school within a 100km radius of Gunnedah.

James’ poem was titled simply ‘Gunnedah’ and featured classic imagery of rain and wind across the plains.

The Year 5, Gunnedah South Public School student said “it felt great” to claim top honours among thousands of entries.

“I never thought I’d win,” James said.

When he is not penning poems about his home town, the 10-year-old also enjoys writing about his other interests such as aviation and motorbikes.

Proud parents Jason and Jaclyn were thrilled by the young achiever’s tremendous success and said it was great to see James’ work recognised on the national stage.

Judges said the build up of rain in James’ “seemingly simple” poem was “beautifully captured”.

‘Gunnedah’

The air flows over the plains of Gunnedah

The wind rises for the first kiss of rain to come

The bandaar waits to hear the heavy and light syncopated music.

Winner of this year’s Kurrumbede Award (Secondary) was Maggie Shannon from Coonabarabran High School.

Maggie’s poem ‘Static Paroxysm’ was commended by judges for its “conversational tone with striking images”.

Another Gunnedah winner in this year’s national poetry awards was GS Kidd Memorial School.

The school’s Emu Class won the Assisted Learning Secondary Award for its poem ‘Dhinawan’ – an indigenous word for the class’ namesake.

The poem vividly describes the emu’s movement in its surroundings and the protective instincts for its young.

The judges were equally impressed, praising the poem for its “simple, effective language to evoke imagery”.

GS Kidd educator Sue Houston accepted the award on behalf of the Emu Class which was unable to attend the ceremony last week.

Ms Houston paid special mention to colleague Brooke Wyllie, who alongside the students, was the inspiration behind the winning entry.

Dorothea Mackellar Memorial Society president Pip Murray said 7300 poetry entries were received for the 2024 awards – one of the highest number of submissions in years.

She said it was incredible to reflect on the achievement of each entry, especially at a time when the competition for students’ attention has never been greater.

“It’s a testament to the support of all involved,” Ms Murray said.

“It shows the depth of our education system and the wonderful students who are prepared to put their heart on paper to enter this competition.”

The awards were announced via a livestream broadcast, beaming the ceremony into homes and schools across the country.

“It’s been a phenomenal tool to promote the town over the years, we’re reaching a lot more people,” Ms Murray said.

She added Gunnedah’s reputation as one of the premier poetry centres is assured but the award winners showed there is talent in equal measure at schools across the country.

Winner of the Primary Schools Award was Redeemer Baptist School at North Parramatta, while winner of the Secondary Schools’ Award was North Sydney Girls High School at Crows Nest. Also to feature in the individual awards were students from schools in Tasmania, Canberra and Perth in Western Australia – a truly national event.

James Perrett reciting his poem ‘Gunnedah’. James won the 2024 Kurrumbede Award (Primary) at this year’s Dorothea Mackellar Poetry Awards.

James Perrett with Dorothea Mackellar Memorial Society president Pip Murray.

Sue Houston (accepting on behalf of GS Kidd Memorial School), Winner of Assisted Learning Secondary; Maggie Shannon, Coonabarabran High School, Winner of Kurrumbede Award (Secondary); James Perrett, Gunnedah South Public School, Winner of Kurrumbede Award (Primary) and Dorothea Mackellar Memorial Society president Pip Murray.