For a school of just 28 students, Mullaley Public School sure knows how to impress of the national stage.
Mullaley recently won the Primary Schools Award for overall achievement at the nation-wide, 2025 Dorothea Mackellar Poetry Awards.
The local youngsters were among 7000 students from private and public schools across the country to enter this year’s competition.
What’s more, 12-year-old Jorge Firth from Mullaley also won the David Maher Award for his poem ‘Dirt Bikes’.
Mullaley PS teacher Lizzy Bell said the awards were amazing achievements for the little school with the big, country heart.
Mullaley Public School at the awards ceremony in Gunnedah. Teacher Lizzy Bell with students Tom Bradford, Ben Bell, Hunter Sterling and Jorge Firth.
“We were absolutely blown away when heard they had won,” Ms Bell said.
“We had every student submit an entry, something that was suitable for their stage, and we were really proud of what came up with but we really did not expect anything like this.
“We thought might be lucky to get a small mention but to be up against everyone in Australia and to walk away with a couple of amazing prizes was sensational.”
This year’s poetry entries centred around the theme ‘All the Beautiful Things’ which many Mullaley students interpreted through a uniquely rural perspective.
“We thought we might be lucky to get a small mention but to be up against everyone in Australia and to walk away with a couple of amazing prizes was sensational,” Ms Bell said.
This year’s poetry entries centred around the theme ‘All the Beautiful Things’ which many Mullaley students interpreted through a uniquely rural perspective.
“We thought we might get some traditional ideas of beautiful things in our environment but it appears many at our school also see beautiful things as having four wheels and motors,” Ms Bell said.
“We had a lot of poems about landcruisers and motorbikes, headers and tractors … they put their own take on it, really contextualised it for them and it fits beautifully with our country and landscape.”
Young Firth, whose poem details his adventures on his dirt bike, was also taken aback by his recent award win.
“I was really shocked I won this but really proud of myself too,” Jorge said.
Some of his classmates who were also in attendance for the award ceremony told how Jorge initially thought he was “in trouble” when singled out for special mention.
Asked how he came up with the poem’s premise, Jorge replied: “I don’t really know how I came up with the idea. I had nothing and then thought of dirt bikes” before his mates chime in, “it’s a thing he does often, rides dirt bikes”.
Jorge named Kawasaki as his favourite brand of bike and enjoys the dirt bike experience because it’s “fun riding and going to your mate’s place”.
“Trying to keep up,” a mate calls out, to which Jorge replies, “yeah you wish!”
The judge’s comments congratulated Jorge on his ability to bring the reader into the poem.
“I’ve never lived on a farm but reading ‘Dirt Bikes’ put me right there amongst it all, the dirt, the dust, the cattle,” the judge said.
“What clenched it for me with this poem was the last three lines, the brilliant revelation that after all that excitement, the poet ends up needing a dry pair of shorts from his mum. So endearing, so organic, so funny!”
Awards’ judges also spoke of the value of the authentic written word and original ideas through poetry, especially with the increasing prevalence of artificial intelligence (AI).
“It is important we don’t lose the ability to write poems on our own,” upper primary section judge Kristin Martin said.
“Writing about poems and thinking about words and meanings and what has significance to you, is a great way to process your thoughts. It is also wonderful to share your thoughts with others.”
Many of the secondary school poems featured exceptionally powerful imagery, including Kurrumbede Award Winner Secondary, Claire Gardner.
The 14-year-old Tamworth High School student won the category which is awarded to an entrant who lives within 100km of Gunnedah.
Kurrumbede Award Secondary winner Claire Gardner accepting her award.
Clarie’s poem ‘Glimpse into me’ took readers on a journey through a range of emotions.
“I wrote it about my youth,” Claire said.
“Sometimes life can be hard and you may feel alone but like the saying ‘there’s always light at the end of the tunnel’ and that’s what the end of my poem is about.
“Just realising there is hope, and joy to come.”
This year’s award trophies were made by local artists Julie and Fiona Laurie.
The trophies were made of redgum, glass and steel and inspired by barn owls because owls “convey the idea of knowledge which I’m sure these poets have in abundance,” Julie said.
Dorothea Mackellar Memorial Society president Rebecca Ryan thanked all involved for their commitment to this year’s awards, especially the poets.
“I was in awe of how lines of text written by children from around Australia spoke not only to their lived experience but mine too! More than that, they were brave enough to share all their feelings with us, to be judged,” Ms Ryan said.
