Some of the nation’s brightest young wordsmiths have been celebrated at the 2026 Dorothea Mackellar Poetry Awards.
The much-loved annual initiative is administered by Gunnedah’s Dorothea Mackellar Memorial Society and has provided young people with an opportunity to creatively express themselves for almost four decades.
This year’s awards were again a tremendous success with close to 8,000 poems from 5,500 students received, read and judged.
Since it started, more than 350,000 poems have been entered into what is a major undertaking by the society.
Dorothea Mackellar Memorial Society president Rebecca Ryan has highlighted the remarkable achievement of more than 350,000 works submitted since the awards were initiated.
In her welcome message, society president Rebecca Ryan said people often make the mistake of underestimating young people.
“We are surprised by the things they say, the way they see the world, and the honesty with which they express themselves,” she said.
“The Dorothea Mackellar Poetry Competition is an annual reminder to not underestimate Australia’s next generation.”
Rebecca particularly highlighted the achievement of more than 350,000 poems submitted for the competition since the awards were initiated.
Dorothea Mackellar Memorial Society members with patron Heather Ewart. From left, Glen Jones, Susan Wilson, Suzanne Houston, Susie Lyle, Heather Ewart, Peter Wills and Rebecca Ryan.
“This national competition, a major project of the Dorothea Mackellar Memorial Society, has received entries of more than 350,000 poems over the last four decades. It’s mind boggling,” she said.
The awards, which are coordinated from Gunnedah, also strive to support the local region.
This year, local artist Kristie Farquhar created prints for the presentation trophies.
The work was inspired by this year’s optional theme of ‘The Traveller’, with Australia placed at the centre of the world to recognise the poetry awards’ national status.
Member for Parkes Jamie Chaffey with Gunnedah Shire Council representatives at the ceremony – deputy mayor Kate McGrath and councillors Rob Hooke and Ann Luke.
The globe is then encircled by various forms of travel – balloon, train, bus, bicycle and more whimsical modes like a magic carpet and witch’s broom with a black cat.
For the trophies, Kristie scratched the image on a plate using an etching needle, printed it onto paper using her printing press and then hand-painted the print individually to make each award unique.
Judges praised the diverse range of poems entered across a wide variety of subjects.
Kristin Martin served as the lower primary section judge, Jackie Hosking for upper primary and Joel McKerrow for the secondary section.
Tamworth High School’s trophy recipients Lillian Smith and Lily Prendergast with Thomas Guihot.
Tamworth Public School received the primary schools’ award while St Mary’s Anglican Girls’ School (Karrinyup, WA) received the secondary schools’ honour.
Individual awardees this year were:
Lower primary (years K–3) winner Lewis Arkinstall (Terrigal), 9.
Lower primary (years K–3) runner-up Meredith Butler (Normanhurst), 7.
Upper primary (years 4–6) winner Pearl Wong-Francois (Woollahra), 11.
Upper primary (years 4–6) runner-up Abbey Fu (Roseville), 11.
Can Assist Gunnedah provided a delicious spread of food for the presentation celebration. Pictured, Ray Knight, Val Ferguson, Linda Lee, Kate Knight and Debbie Steele.
Assisted learning primary winner Alexander Antanios (North Parramatta), 9.
Assisted learning primary runner-up Ashton Thorne-Small (Dubbo), 12.
David Maher Award (best individual entry from a small school with 30 students or less) winner Arjay Wark (Urbanville), 11.
Kurrumbede Award for primary schools (best entry from a school within a 100km radius of Gunnedah) winner Adele Rankmore (Tamworth), 11.
Junior secondary (years 7–9) winner Lauren Woo (Gordon), 13.
Junior secondary (years 7–9) runner-up Nicole Sun (Pymble), 13.
Senior secondary (years 10–12) winner Lily Prendergast (Tamworth), 15.
Tamworth Public School was the primary schools’ award winner.
Senior secondary (years 10–12) runner-up Caroline Brown (Kirribilli), 17.
Assisted learning secondary winner Sean Zhang (North Parramatta), 13.
Assisted learning secondary runner-up Amrut Mogarkar (North Parramatta), 14.
Kurrumbede Award for secondary schools (best entry from a school within a 100km radius of Gunnedah) winner Lillian Smith (Tamworth), 14.
The Dorothea Mackellar Poetry Awards are presented annually on the first Friday in September.
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