Celebrating Australia’s young poets

The winners of the Dorothea Mackellar Poetry Awards, Australia’s longest-running poetry competition, have been announced today in a virtual ceremony.

The annual national competition is in its 37th year and aims to promote interest in poetry and literature by providing a creative outlet for students. The Awards are dedicated to the iconic bush poet Dorothea Mackellar, who wrote Australia’s most quoted and beloved poem, My Country.

Minister Regional Education, Senator the Hon Bridget McKenzie, said students around the country were challenged to put their imagination and creativity to the test, resulting in almost 7500 entries being received.

“Thank you to every student across the nation for taking part, and a special congratulations to all the winners and runners-up in each category,” Minister McKenzie said.

“The entries have been of a very high standard and highlighted all that Australia has to offer; our unique culture, Indigenous heritage and the everyday lived experience.

“That’s what makes poetry powerful. It allows each of us, even in difficult times, to use our creativity to express in writing what is important to us,” she said.

The winners of the 2021 Dorothea Mackellar Poetry Awards are:

The Australian Government has provided a further $290,000 to the Dorothea Mackellar Memorial Society to support the annual poetry competition until 2025.

Visit www.dorothea.com.au for more information.