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.
These poems show how young writers in years 5 and 6 are beginning to experiment with voice and expression. Whether playful or reflective, many chose to write about gratitude in ways that felt personal and sincere.
Years 5 – 6 written poetry
Winner:
- Japan by Kysen Ravago, Hume Anglican Grammar
Finalists:
- A Poem of a Pencil by Anisha Bashal, Kardinia International College
- What is Gratitude? by Cassandra Smyth, Harkaway Hills College
- Gratitude for Country by Cathy Nguyen, Penleigh and Essendon Grammar School
- Thank You Seasons by Jaydon Lubinbert, Casey Grammar School
- Devil’s Child by Maggie Fan, Methodist Ladies’ College (MLC)
- Gratitude by Max Cooper, Kilvington Grammar School
- Tree by Olivia Cromb, Kardinia International College
- Whispers of Gratitude by Sophie Fowler, Wesley College Melbourne
- The Knight’s Quest by Theodore Pruehss, Lysterfield Lake College
Honourable Mentions:
- Gratitude by Alannah Vartuli, Strathcona Baptist Girls School
- Dreams Await by Alex Butler, Kardinia International College
- The Warmth of Gratitude by Alicia Tjoeng, Harkaway Hills College
- My Dad is Amazing by Anaina Campli Suhas, Learning Co-Operative Primary School
- Thank the Books by Annabelle Joycelyn Saputra, South Melbourne Park Primary School
- Siblings by Arefa Khwaja, Al-Taqwa College
- The Heartbeat of the Drums by Bailey Vella, Casey Grammar School
- My Dog by Campbell Cohen, Kardinia International College
- Books by Catherine Shardey, Kilvington Grammar School
- Dusk by Cindy Li, Methodist Ladies’ College (MLC)
- Sirens in the Dark by Eddie Du, Trinity Grammar School, Kew
- All through the Seasons by Ella Yau, Lauriston Girls’ School
- From Earth to Edifice by Evie Halliday Methodist Ladies’ College (MLC)
- Stars of the Sky by Danuki De Silva, Casey Grammar School
- Acrostic Poem Gratitude by Georgie Gray, Penleigh and Essendon Grammar School
- Gratitude by Hafsa Pathan, Al Iman College
- Books by Heidi Telfer, Kalinda Primary School
- All the Thanks I’ve Forgotten by Inara Brooks, Penleigh and Essendon Grammar School
- Water by Isla Pryor, Harkaway Hills College
- Flourishing Flora by James Ny, Hume Anglican Grammar
- A Day in Nature’s Beauty by Jasmira Saini, Hillcrest Christian College
- Gratefulness by Jude Maine, Kardinia International College
- Half a Heart by Karida Ain, St Michael’s Grammar School
- Smoky Smith by Kenneth Price, Lysterfield Lake College
- A Cozy Winter Night by Lana Awad, Penleigh and Essendon Grammar School
- My Mother by Yusairah Lubaba Mufti, Al Iman College
- Black Box by Matisse Krolikowski, Methodist Ladies’ College (MLC)
- The Day the Boxes Stopped by Mia Healey, Strathcona Baptist Girls Grammar School
- A Tree’s Plea by Minuli Ambawalage, Ramlegh Park Primary School
- A Battle of Fate by Olivia Salim, Fintona Girls’ School
- Waves by Primrose Baker, Christian College Geelong
- Duck Parade by Qiana Zaher, Harkaway Hills College
- Ice Cream by Ruby Meskill Loh, Footscray Primary School
- One Shot by Saahib Mann, Casey Grammar School
- Fingerprints by Sabine Membrey, Strathcona Baptist Girls Grammar School
- My Brother and I by Sahej Maan, Casey Grammar School
- Appreciate by Scarlett Le, Penleigh and Essendon Grammar School
- Iranian Girl by Stevie Firth, Mentone Grammar
- The Home of Sunshine by Taj Smith, Casey Grammar School
- The Willawong Bay by Teddy Cross, Christian College Geelong
- This World by Teddy Fang, Fitzroy Community School
- Cats by Wil Kennedy-Maddy, Kardinia International College
- Like Us by Yilliana Sun, Camberwell Girls Grammar School
Years 5 – 6 performance poetry
Winner:
- Music, Melody, Sound by Claire Schroder, Woodleigh School
Finalists:
- The Sky by Avery Jacoby, Woodleigh School
- Small Moments by Manon MacNeill, Harkaway Hills College
- Brothers by Marijana Crcic, Harkaway Hills College
- With a Grateful Heart and Everlasting Thanks by Naushali Navaratne, Harkaway Hills College
- Full of Life by Xavier Sudjono, Lysterfield Lake College
Honourable Mentions:
- A Spark of Hope in a Dark World by Louis Alexander James Allen, Kilvington Grammar School
- Friends by William Albert James Turner, Kilvington Grammar School
- Next Time by Gus Sketcher, Woodleigh School