Poetry Competition 

Mt A Poetry Competition

On Tuesday 1 September, Mount Alvernia College will welcome Her Excellency the Honourable Dr Jeannette Young AC PSM, Governor of Queensland, for a National Wattle Day tree-planting ceremony. To mark the occasion, students are invited to submit an original piece of writing for the opportunity to read their work at the ceremony.

Theme: Care for Creation and the Environment

Students are invited to submit an original poem that reflects on our responsibility to care for the Earth, celebrate the beauty of creation, or inspire action towards a more sustainable future. Students may wish to include reference to Australia’s official National Floral Emblem, the Golden Wattle, symbolising resilience, unity and the natural beauty of the Australian landscape.

Submission Guidelines

• Entries must be the student's original work.
• Poems must be written in verse form.
• Word limit: 100-500 words.
• Poems must not have been previously published or entered in another competition.
• The use of artificial intelligence (AI) to generate, write, or substantially edit poems is not permitted.
• Students must submit their poem via a Microsoft form accessed through My MtA.
• A OneDrive link with version history enabled must be included to verify authorship.
• Students will be required to acknowledge: 
  • The poem is their own original work.
  • AI has not been used in the creation of the poem.
  • The poem may be published by Mount Alvernia College if selected.
  • The winning poem will be read by the author at the National Wattle Day tree-planting ceremony on 1 September.

Judging Criteria

Entries will be judged on the following:

1. Relevance to Theme 

The poem demonstrates a thoughtful and meaningful connection to the theme of Care for Creation and the Environment.

2. Literary Merit

The poem effectively employs poetic techniques such as imagery, symbolism, rhythm, metaphor, language choice, and structure to create impact and meaning.

3. Creativity and Originality

The poem presents unique ideas, perspectives, or approaches to the theme and demonstrates originality of thought and expression.

4. Quality of Writing

The poem is well-crafted, coherent, and demonstrates a high standard of spelling, grammar, and expression.

5. Emotional Impact and Reflection

The poem inspires reflection, evokes emotion, or encourages greater appreciation and care for the natural world.

Awards and Recognition

• The winning poem will be: 
  • Read aloud by the author at the National Wattle Day Tree Planting Ceremony, with Her Excellency, the Honourable Doctor Jeannette Young AC PSM, Governor of QLD present.
  • Published in Communi-Tea, Mt A’s student publication by The Writer’s Club. 
  • Featured in the College newsletter and on social media.
• Second and Third place poems will be published in Communi-Tea.

Competition Timeline

• Submission deadline: Friday 21 August.
• Judges: Mrs Stower, Head of Library and Digital Services, and Ms Porchak, Head of Languages and Literacy.