The poetry competition judged by Professor Peter Kirkpatrick from the University of Sydney yielded three winners and a highly commended entry from a shortlist of 20 poems selected by Herald editor Bevan Shields and senior staff. Kirkpatrick noted that many entries personified trees as feminine and questioned if we are forever stuck with the concept of Mother Nature. The winning poem by Spittal used the color heliotrope, a departure from the widespread use of purple, lilac, and blue in other submissions. Spittal, a senior government health official, expressed his surprise at winning and shared his aspiration to be published as a poet once he retires.
Many entries in the competition utilized creative rhymes and popular culture references, with runner-up Mason introducing a refreshingly modern approach. The third-place poem by Jacqui Hayes focused on the jacaranda tree’s “gunmetal grey” trunk, standing out for its unique perspective. Kirkpatrick praised Mary Carson’s highly commended poem for its beautiful flow and found Danebank students’ entries to be fresh and engaging, particularly appreciating nine-year-old Anna Sungaran’s elegiac depiction of jacaranda flowers marking the change of season. The entries showcased a variety of poetic forms, including haiku, traditional poetry, and limericks.
During a reading event at Danebank, students shared their poetry with the Herald and discussed the beauty of jacaranda flowers despite the mess they can create in gardens and pathways. Teacher Lena Cooper highlighted the competition as a valuable opportunity for students to exercise creativity and collaborate on expressing their ideas. The students’ involvement in the poetry contest coincided with their first creative poetry unit, allowing them to explore nature and self-expression through heartfelt works. Overall, the competition brought together a diverse range of poetic voices and perspectives, showcasing the talent and creativity of both established and budding poets.
