Wollongong Community Greening Local Prize (K-12) runner-up Ada and winner Alice. Photo: Wollongong City Council.
The right words can change the world, and some of Wollongong’s youngest literary voices are learning how powerful they can be through the annual Red Room Poetry POEM FOREST competition.
The Australia-wide nature writing prize encourages young poets and teachers to combine their passion for words and climate change action.
In partnership with Wollongong City Council, a tree is planted in the Wollongong local government area for every entry received.
More than 6400 trees were planted in Wollongong last year thanks to the project, with this year’s competition attracting more than 5400 entries that were whittled down to a shortlisted 78 in four categories.
Shortlisted finalists attended Holborn Park, Berkeley, on Wednesday, 20 November, to plant native seedlings.
The winner of the Wollongong Community Greening Local Prize (K-12) was also unveiled, with Year 6 Coledale Public School student Alice thoroughly impressing the judges with her powerful poem Everything Around Us Dancing.
Wollongong Council has also offered a seedling to all local students who entered the POEM FOREST prize.
Wollongong Botanic Garden curator Felicity Skoberne said the prize presented an opportunity to engage with nature in a way that had an intergenerational impact on the environment.
“POEM FOREST aligns with the council’s Urban Greening Strategy that aims to get more trees and plants in the ground while protecting and appreciating what we already have,” she said.
“It’s a beautiful way for kids to connect with nature, both in the planting of trees and in engaging their imagination through poetry to explore what nature and the environment mean to them.
“The nationwide competition allows kids from all over the country to create a valuable legacy in contributing to the growth of literal poem forest here in Wollongong.”
Lord Mayor of Wollongong Councillor Tania Brown said the project offered a unique opportunity for children and young people to combine their passion for creativity and the natural world around them.
“It is our young people who have the most to gain from efforts to mitigate the impacts of climate change, so it’s important to provide opportunities for them to shape the environment they live in,” Cr Brown said.
“Trees and green spaces are an essential part of our urban infrastructure, providing shade and recreation opportunities, encouraging outdoor lifestyles and allowing us to connect with nature as part of our everyday lives.
“POEM FOREST encourages kids to engage with their natural environment in a creative way that benefits our city in the immediate and long term and I would encourage anyone to take a look at the brilliant shortlist of entries to see how the natural beauty of Wollongong continues to inspire our youth.”
The judging panel included poets Ali Cobby Eckermann and Corey Tutt, student poet Pardis Mahmoudian and the council’s environmental education officer, Penny Hoswell.
You can explore POEM FOREST entries by visiting the Red Room Poetry website.
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