It’s one thing to write a short story or poem to honour our Anzacs, but it’s another thing to have your work published in a commemorative booklet distributed around the entire federal electorate.
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For two of Parkes East Public School students – Brienna Brown and Madeline Blackstock – their pieces were so well written, they were among the 16 students across the Riverina electorate to be awarded prizes in Federal Member for Riverina Michael McCormack’s annual Anzac writing competition.
Receiving close to 800 entries from 35 primary and secondary schools, there were poignant poems, reflective accounts and creative stories telling of the Anzac experience.
Competition winners were divided into four regions and Year 5 student Brienna (10) was delightfully surprised to hear her poem on Flanders Fields won her the primary section for the northern region.
Year 6 student Madeline (11) was named highly commended for her short story called ‘Without Mum’ in the same section and region.
It was teacher Leanne Matthews who encouraged them to enter the competition and both girls said they wanted to have a go.
“I wanted to write a poem because both my pops died in the war,” Brienna said.
“It took three weeks for us to know [who won]...I was excited.
“I was saying to my friends that I was famous.”
Madeline said she was surprised to hear she received a highly commended award.
Last Friday the girls had the privilege to read their entries to their peers during a school morning assembly.
“I’m a very proud principal,” Michael Ostler said.
“It was also great to see the number of families and children from the school community participate in the Anzac Day march.”
Michael also proudly pointed out the winner of the secondary section in the western region, Jack De Britt in Year 10 at West Wyalong High School, is a former Parkes East Public student.
“The level of effort, research and creativity invested in the entries received made judging the winning entries very difficult and I was not only impressed with the quantity of entries, but also extremely proud of their quality,” Mr McCormack said.
“Special mention must be made about two students from West Wyalong, Jack De Britt and Oscar Mason both of West Wyalong High School who have both won this year and did so previously when they entered the competition in 2013 and 2012 respectively.
“Before this year no student, despite many trying, had repeated their previous success and the fact two from not only the same town but the same school have accomplished the feat is a credit to them and their English and history teachers.
Mr McCormack hopes to visit as many of the winners as possible to present each of them with a book from the Australian War Memorial.
“It will also allow me to congratulate and thank every student who took the time to participate in this important educational exercise,” he said.
All winners and highly commended writers had their pieces published in Mr McCormack’s impressive commemorative Anzac booklet which arrived in letterboxes across the electorate prior to Anzac Day on Tuesday.
