After reading thousands of nature poems spanning the pitter-patter of rain, love letters to favourite trees, and gifts from gentle sea otters, we feel honoured to announce the 2024 POEM FOREST Prize Shortlist.

"Through poetry, I hope to inspire others to see the world for its natural beauty and unite to protect all the species living here."

~ Tanishqa C, Year 9 - Baulkham Hills High School (NSW)

These outstanding 78 nature poems come from young people and teachers from across Australia. Drawn from more than 5,400 entries, each of these poems has planted a tree on Dharawal and Wodi Wodi Country in the Wollongong LGA, growing a forest of poems for future generations.

Congratulations to all the shortlisted poets, and a huge thanks to every poet who has helped to grow the POEM FOREST.

Shortlisted Poems

Lower Primary (F/K-Y3)

'Waiting' by Lachlan R, Year 3, Moonee Ponds West Primary School (VIC)
'My Garden' by Immi R, Year 1, St Michael's Collegiate School (TAS)
'Dandelions' by Marta G, Year 3, Brunswick South Primary School (VIC)
'Underlife' by Dot C, Year 3, Penola Primary School (SA)
'The Life of Me' by Moses L, Year 3, Auburn Primary School (VIC)
'Yellow Tree' by Ryan W, Year 3, Oatley West Public School (NSW)
'Cockatoo' by Ashton R, Year 2, Southern Cross Early Childhood School (ACT)
'Spiky Echidnas' by Hunter G, F/K, John Colet School (NSW)
'Sand' by James M, Year 3, A. B. Paterson College (QLD)
'The Hugging Trees' by Reva K, Year 1, Artarmon Public School (NSW)
'Sticks and Leaves' by Arlo F, Year 1, Southern Cross Early Childhood School (ACT)

Upper Primary (Y4-Y6)

'Lorikeets' by Cyndia D, Year 4, Oatley West Public School (NSW)
'Setting Sail' by Amiel H, Year 4, East Fremantle Primary School (WA)
'Cathedral' by Lachlan P, Year 6, New Lambton South Public School (NSW)
'Another Grain of Sand' by Chloe A, Year 5, Templestowe Park Primary School (VIC)
'Green Glaciers' by Jake S, Year 6, Forest Lodge Public School (NSW)
'An Autumn at Mount Nelse' by Orton F, Year 6, Brunswick South Public School (VIC)
'Horizon' by Bailey H, Year 6, Murray Farm Public School (NSW)
'Tadpole Pangka' by Cody B, Year 4, Morphett Vale East School (SA)
'Kurnell' by Keeley M, Year 5, Gymea North Public School (NSW)
'Forest' by Quinn B, Year 4, Ross Park Primary School (NT)
'The World Awakens' by Alyssa M, Year 5, Abbotsleigh Junior School (NSW)
'Wind wisp' by Ava C, Year 5, Cornish College (VIC)

Lower Secondary (Y7-Y9)

'Aquila' by Henry G, Year 7, Sydney Church of England Grammar School North Sydney (NSW)
'The Silent Life Giver' by Eleora P, Year 7, A. B. Paterson College (QLD)
'breathe' by Kirsten H, Year 7, St Columba Anglican School (NSW)
'this is my home' by Delany D, Year 8, Corryong College (VIC)
'Pitter-Patter' by Keerat D, Year 8, Carey Baptist College – Harrisdale (WA)
'Stick your leaves back on' by Emily M, Year 8, Cornish College (VIC)
'Tree-Hobbyists (And All They Sing to the Birds and Me)' by Dhaksha H G, Year 9, Girraween High School (NSW)
'- autumn' by Sanuli K, Year 9, Marist Regional College (TAS)
'they tell me stories' by Briar Q, Year 9, Abbotsleigh, Wahroonga (NSW)
'Remember This' by Ivy C, Year 9, Princes Hill Secondary College (VIC)
'Lithography' by Kitty (Jianing) G, Year 9, Meriden School (NSW)

Upper Secondary (Y10-Y12)

'Broken' by Saskia D L K, Year 11, Fitzroy High School (VIC)
'falling trees' by Vivi C, Year 12, Servite College (WA)
'Silent Between The Trees' by Yichun T, Year 10, Pymble Ladies' College (NSW)
'macrocosm' by Shuen C, Year 10, Rossmoyne Senior High School (WA)
'Every Decade, We Planted a Tree' by Helena T, Year 10, Pymble Ladies' College (NSW)
'There Is No God But The Natural World' by Ruby S, Year 12, Kenmore State High School (QLD)
'Remembering Birds' by Rowan K, Year 11, Reddam House North Bondi (NSW)
'When the Winter Gave Me Flowers' by Erin C, Year 12, Launceston College (TAS)
'The Wollemi Pine' by Charlotte F, Year 11, James Sheahan Catholic High School (NSW)
'Green and Gold' by Emily B, Year 11, Homeschool (QLD)

Accredited Teacher

'Passing' by Marian Spires, Teacher, St Joseph's College Ferntree Gully (VIC)
'Breathe it in' by Sarah Fountain, Teacher, St Philip's Christian College (NSW)
'Taeniurops meyeni – Bubble in the Garden' by Kathy Shortland-Jones, Teacher, Christmas Island District High School (WA)
'words for the adult moth' by Joseph Pfeffer, Teacher, MLC School (NSW)
'Of Passing' by Blake Nuto, Teacher, St Michael's Collegiate School (TAS)
'Acacia on the roadside' by Mary Prince, Teacher, St Clare's College (NSW)
'Nightfall in Wyndham (Bunurong and Wadawurrung Country)' by Megan Cartwright, Teacher, Hawker College (ACT)
'Letter to the genie on the occasion of her death' by Cameron Ling, Teacher, Keira High School (NSW)
'A Sea Otter Thanks a Human' by Brett Dionysius, Teacher, St Aidan's Anglican Girls School (QLD)
'Hume Highway' by Bronwen Cartwright, Teacher, St Patrick's College Sutherland (NSW)

Threatened Species Prize (F/K-Y12)

'Waiting For The Rain' by Shae R, Year 6, Hawthorndene Primary School (SA)
'Life of a Grey-Headed Flying Fox' by Elysia Roselle W, Year 1, St Joseph's Catholic Primary School (NSW)
'Koalas' by Alex C, Year 6, Ross Park Primary School (NT)
'I Shed a Tear' by Olivia K, Year 9, Meriden School (NSW)
'The Great Barrier Reef' by Arelia B, Year 7, Brisbane Christian College (QLD)
'Snapping Turtle' by William T, Year 3, Moonee Ponds West Primary School (VIC)
'Moonlight Dance' by Maeve W, Year 5, Cheltenham Primary School (VIC)
'I Will See Him Again' by Naina V, Year 7, The Centre of Excellence in Agricultural Education (NSW)
'Out of Darkness' by Darcy H, Year 7, Cornish College (VIC)
'Omura's Whale' by Arielle W, Year 7, Presbyterian Ladies' College Burwood (VIC)
'Beautiful Thing' by Angus K, Year 6, Sydney Church of England Grammar School North Sydney (NSW)

Australian Botanic Garden Mount Annan Local Prize (F/K-Y12)

'A Symphony of the Sea' by Mia B, Year 8, Oran Park Anglican College (NSW)
'the sea' by Maddison M, Year 8, Oran Park Anglican College (NSW)
'Pebble in a River' by Euie S, Year 8, Macquarie Fields High School (NSW)

Wollongong Community Greening Local Prize (F/K-Y12)

'I Need. I Want.' by Elliot K, Year 7, Cedars Christian College (NSW)
'Are we forgiven?' by Ada G, Year 6, Coledale Public School (NSW)
'Everything Around Us Dancing' by Alice O, Year 6, Coledale Public School (NSW)
'My life, my future' by Ruby K, Year 3, Wollongong Public School (NSW)
'The Gentle Giant Genius of Trees' by Theo D, Year 3, St Joseph's Catholic Primary School (NSW)
'Resilience' by Zachary H, Year 11, Five Islands Secondary College (NSW)
'Sunshower' by Stella F, Year 5, Figtree Public School (NSW)
'Wind Travels, I Leave' by Oonah B, Year 5, Wollongong Public School (NSW)
'The White Oak Tree' by Charlotte R, Year 3, St Joseph's Catholic Primary School (NSW)
'Dandelion' by Amelia D, Year 6, Gwynneville Public School (NSW)

Live-streamed via DART Learning
10am AEDT, Thursday 21 November 2024

Tune in for our live broadcast of the Winners Announcement Ceremony – featuring the announcement of winners and highly commended poems across our eight prize categories, guest poets and nature poem readings, giveaways, judges notes and more. Tickets are free but bookings are essential.

POEM FOREST would not have been possible without the support of our generous donors and partners.