This year’s Student Poetry Competition drew a record response from young writers across Victoria.
More than 1300 poems were submitted by students from Foundation to Year 12, the highest number of entries since the competition began in 2020.
Student poets in Years 3 and 4 wrote with energy, humour and heart. Many explored what gratitude means to them, from time with friends and family to the simple things that make their days brighter.
Years 3 – 4 written poetry
Winner:
- Autumn Forests by Rose Pemberton, Daylesford Dharma School
Finalists:
- More in the Pan by Alison Li, Lauriston Girls’ School
- Australia by Ana Sharif, Cornish College
- Melbourne in a Day by Angus Grof, Bialik College
- Gratitude by Emily Preston, Casey Grammar School
- Hotham Magic by Grace Mickelburough, Cathedral College Wangaratta
- My School by Leo Liu, Hume Anglican Grammar
- Pet Haiku by Lyla Zoya Arain, Strathcona Baptist Girls Grammar School
- Gratitude for Two Homes by Meenakshi Ashok Varadhan, Kilvington Grammar School
- An Attitude of Gratitude by Musa Zuhair, Fitra Community School
- Night and Morning by Sadie Sheldon, Strathcona Baptist Girls Grammar School
- Poem about Gratitude by Zahabiah Zohaib, Al Iman College
Honourable Mentions:
- I am Grateful by Amelia Francis, Harkaway Hills College
- Gum Tree (Whish!) by Autumn Sawyer, Cornish College
- Arigato by Darcy Holman, Thomas Hack, Ted Hu, Melbourne Grammar School
- The Grateful Tuna by Eesa Rady, Fitra Community School
- Animals around the World by Eleanor O’Shea, Harkaway Hills College
- Gratitude by Elise Walker, Cathedral College Wangaratta
- Intelligence is Key by Finn Lavis, Cornish College
- Sweet Fruit Trees by Grace Reddy, Mentone Girls’ Grammar School
- A Sweet Girl’s Day by Harleen Dhoul, Rivercrest Christian College
- Bedankt to Nertherlands by Henry Batters, Melbourne Grammar School
- My Family by Henry Taylor, Hume Anglican Grammar
- Animal Classes by Isabella, Bacchus Marsh Grammar
- Our World by Ivana Prashant, Kilvington Grammar School
- My Mum by James Benedict Micallef, St Thomas More Primary School
- Gratitude for Food by Jaiveer Sandhu, Hume Anglican Grammar
- The Unnoticed Blood of Earth by Jasper Bez, Cornish College
- A Bliss in Nature by Jodie Lim Shung, Casey Grammar School
- Melbourne in Summer by Kirra Olian, Bialik College
- Chick’s 21 Days by Kousaku Kanetaka, Merino Consolidated School
- Red World Series by Marcus Li, Kardinia International College
- Free Verse Poem by Mina Maguire, Billanook College
- Sounds of Instruments – Haiku by Myra Gajjar, Bacchus Marsh Grammar
- Invisible Hands by Neave O’Callaghan, Firbank Grammar School
- Gratitude by Olen Oberoi, Casey Grammar School
- Inn Life by Quinn Brodie, Billanook College
- Global Warming by Roshan Whiting, Westgarth Primary School
- Gratitude by Sarah Yong, Waverley Christian College
- Ocean Waves by Scarlett Thorgersen, Hillcrest Christian College
- My plant by Zoe, Woodline Primary
Years 3 – 4 performance poetry
Winner:
- No more Trees by Jade Josev-Delaney, Antonio Park Primary School
Finalists:
- My Gratitude Diary by Myra Mukul, Bacchus Marsh Grammar
- Heroes of the Ocean by Shaurya Jain, Bacchus Marsh Grammar
Honourable Mentions:
- Mother Earth by Ariaana Thirunagari, Rivercrest Christian College