Students from across Victoria answered this year’s call for poetry in remarkable numbers, sharing stories, observations, reflections and imaginative ideas through their writing and performances.
Congratulations to all the Foundation – Year 2 students who have been selected as finalists in the 2026 Student Poetry Competition. Explore the finalists in each competition category below.
Written Poetry celebrates the craft of poetry on the page. Students use language, imagery, rhythm and structure to express ideas, experiences and imagination through original poetic works.
Foundation – Year 2 Written Poetry
Ekphrastic Poetry invites students to respond creatively to a work of visual art through original poetry, exploring the relationship between image and language.
Foundation – Year 2 Ekphrastic Poetry
Performance Poetry celebrates spoken word, slam poetry and poetry recitation. Students bring poetry to life through voice, expression and performance.
Foundation – Year 2 Written Poetry Winner
- The Snake by Zoe Ziyue Lin, Camberwell Girls Grammar School
Foundation – Year 2 Written Poetry Finalists
- Scary Rambutan by Bilal Mohamed, Fitra Community School
- My Pug by Callahan Wright, Mentone Primary School
- My Favourite Fruits by Emma Rose Rodrigues, Rivercrest Christian College
- I am a Banana by Hanna Citaku, Penleigh and Essendon Grammar
- Apple (Acrostic) by Ismail Bilgrami, Fitra Community School
- My Fruity Dream by Jonathan Yang, Mentone Grammar
- Kiwi by Liyanah Souzan Awad, Ilim College
- Fruit World by Mehraab Singh Chadha, Rivercrest Christian College
- I Love Durian by Oliver Khoo, Great Ryrie Primary School
Foundation – Year 2 Written Poetry Honourable Mentions
- The Persimmon Poem by Alyssa Khoo, Great Ryrie Primary School
- The Juicy Fruit by Selena Gergis, Rivercrest Christian College
- Peach (Acrostic) by Sarah Sami-Clare, Fitra Community School
- Kiwi Kiwi by Ivy Yang, St Leonard’s College
- Garden by Angad Pharwan, Our Lady of the Way Primary School
- The Life of a Fruit by Holly Croft, St Margaret’s Berwick Grammar
- Dragon Fruit by Charlotte Graydon-Koehl, Fitzroy Community School
- The Mystery in One Night by Vivian Wills-Taylor, Daylesford Dharma School
- Where Fruits Grow by Oliivia Bhoina, Wesley College Melbourne
- Fruit by Daisy Jeffreys, Casey Grammar School
- Apple by Ayuki Senanayake, Casey Grammar School
- Papple by Owen Saccasan, St Leonard’s College
- APPLE by Ayah Abro, Fitra Community School
- Orange by Harold Chin, Fitzroy Community School
- The Crazy Dog by Xander Hamilton, Our Lady of the Way Primary School
Foundation – Year 2 Ekphrastic Poetry Winner
- Everything Grows and Everything Goes by Olympia Siachos-Fejzaj, Mentone Grammar
Foundation – Year 2 Ekphrastic Poetry Finalists
- Lemons by Kiran Strang, Learning Co-operative Primary School
- Pink Juicy Cold Fruit – An Ekphrastic Haiku Poem by Halima Ercan, Ilim College
Foundation – Year 2 Ekphrastic Poetry Honourable Mentions
- Pink Cold Juicy Fruit – An Ekphrastic Haiku Poem by Sumayya Ercan, Ilim College
Foundation – Year 2 Performance Poetry Winner
- My Magical Trampoline by Neev Jain, Bacchus Marsh Grammar
Foundation – Year 2 Performance Poetry Finalists
- Farewell to a Berry Best Principal by Khadija Mohamad, Penleigh and Essendon Grammar School