Past Winners: Primary School

Rosary Primary School

Under One Sky!

2021, Primary School, Writing

Though the wind blows,
the clouds go away,
a ship on unknown land shows,
but the sky is there to stay.
Colonisation is booming,
natives are driven out,
greed and selfishness looming,
but, the sky is here to stay.
Land riddled with injustice,
laughs turn to cries,
discrimination casts out justice,
but the sky is there to stay.
Mistakes are made,
but good can shine too,
with one foot at a time,
discrimination may fade.
Past, present, future,
future, present, past,
can we live in an equal word,
with the sky to last?
Is there a world,
where face and place can’t hold us back,
each other we can embrace,
where tears fall for a smile above?
Yes, if the sky can last,
it can be our reminder,
that we should be kinder,
as we all beings together will make a sky to last.
We are all one race,
our hearts beat together,
the sky we embrace,
united in harmony forever.

Orange Grove Public School

The Voices

2021, Primary School, Writing

The banksia.
A striking flower.
A well of knowledge.
A mirror that reflects all the paths I've walked down, all the doors that I've opened on this journey.
My feet wander on, eyes, mouth, ears opened, soaking in the voices.
The voices that talk to me, lead me, tell me stories of old and new.
More paths are taken, more doors are opened.
My feet keep walking, surrounded by whispering voices.
The voices that murmur pieces of information, the information that glues themselves to me, forming a cover, as though I have a second skin, the sprinkles of colour that dance across my ebony page.
The sprinkles of paint, the thousands of people that crowd the world.
Watching, waiting, listening.
Straining their ears to hear the voices.
The voices that share their bountiful wisdom with us.
Explaining which paths to take, and which ones to avoid.
The voices that encourage us to tell others, show others, help others.
The voices.

Manly Vale Public School

Marlu the Uncaring Kangaroo

2021, Primary School, Writing

One hot sunny day a small caring koala and a silly little kangaroo were having fun. They were playing near a thick rainforest and a gigantic orange outback.
“Let’s go play on Skull Rock tomorrow, Colo!” Marlu the Kangaroo shouted, “Sure,”.
Colo was a grey Koala with a big pair of ears which came in handy when spying on others. She had the friendliest and kindest heart in the entire outback, known everywhere because she always cared for the land. Marlu was fun, daring and didn’t care about anything except playing, only known for her magnet to danger. They were the least likely pair of friends as they were complete opposite to each other.
While the sun slowly descended behind the duo they quietly walked home. One of them heading to a bunch of gum trees and the other to a troupe of Roo’s. After a restless hour, Marlu finely snoozed happily, excited to keep playing the next morning.
Early the next day as the sun rose, Marlu woke up making a huge racket. It woke up the entire outback, but Marlu did not care at all. She was too disobedient to even wait for Colo to come, so she went straight to where Colo lived. She saw Colo climbing up a long tree and decided to surprise her.
She hid behind a big green bush, waiting for the perfect moment not realising she was destroying a bush. The bush came back up and hit Marlu. She got annoyed, so she pushed it to the ground. It came back up again and she started hysterically squashing the plant, repeatedly getting angry…very angry. “Seriously!!!!!” she screamed. “You silly, dumb plant”
A scratchy hand pulled her from the irritating and yucky green bush filled with disgusting insects. “Stop doing that,” An unfamiliar voice whispered. The TREE was holding her!!! She screamed louder than everyone in the world combined. She was scared to the bone. Her heart skipped a beat. A million thoughts rushed through her mind, the tree moved and was holding her! “Let go of me, you rough tree!” she screeched in excruciating pain.
“We as the land and plants have watched your and your friend’s behaviour toward us and we see a major difference. She treats us as people and living beings instead of a silly green thing to hide behind, as you do. We do not like your actions! But Since we are so wise and generous we will give you one last chance to prove yourself worthy in this magnificent world, so be warned any poor manners toward nature you will suffer the consequences!” It explained.
As Marlu was still in awe and amazement it took her a minute to digest the information and when she understood everything she closed her eyes, rubbed them and looked up at the tree again as if waking up from a long nap. The tree was still there and it had talked! She ran out of the tree’s arms and didn’t stop till she was miles away. Panting she sat on a rock, so tired.
She looked around her surroundings and finally saw everything the way she should have. The caring way that Colo looked at the nature. She kept running, trying not to step on the bush’s, not the irritating and yucky green bush but the beautiful green bush. She finally found Colo and explained what had just happened and that she had finally understood that the land and plants are living beings and need to be treated with care.
“OMG, wow! I’m so glad you at last have realised that!” Colo replied. From then on Marlu was always kind to the land, but not just kind; she was just that little bit kinder than needed. Somehow that story (of Marlu being mean) had spread all across the land giving Marlu the reputation of Marlu the Uncaring Kangaroo.

Erina Heights Public School

Under One Sky

2021, Primary School, Writing

My piece is about the Stolen Generations. I wrote about this to make everyone aware of what happened in the past. The past was a very tragic time for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. We can’t go back but we can look back and learn from our mistakes. 
Asquith Public School

Asquith Public School

Caring for Country

2020, Artwork, Primary School

Oxley Park Public School

Oxley Park Public School

Our Future in our Hands

2020, Artwork, Primary School

Bourke Street Public School

I Am Aboriginal

2020, Primary School, Writing

"Very strong, but brief! Reminds me of the earlier poetry of Oodgeroo in voice and in substance" What the judges said.

Bourke Street Public School

Swans

2020, Primary School, Writing

"This peaceful work captures the communion with nature beautifully, demonstrating an understanding of the theme Caring for Country through 4 lines that guide the reader through the senses, observing life and its simple joys. " What the Judges said.

Bourke Street Public School

Hold the Dirt Still with my Roots

2020, Primary School, Writing

"I love the simplicity of this work - using the process of harvesting Lomandra to express the importance caring of Country - it's integral role in providing for survival and it's fragility."
"Specific, resonant, localised. How could I not love a piece about lomandra!?"
What the judges said

Tempe Public School

The Little Casuarina Tree

2020, Primary School, Writing

"A beautifully written and touching piece illustrating connection with and care for Country. The repetition of the phrase "I left" is incredibly powerful, softly embedding a sense of loss amongst the joy of living in harmony with the land. Loss for the ways of the past. This loss is replaced with hope and joy for the future - apologising for wrongs, reuniting with family and returning to Country and the 'little casuarina tree'. Stunning work. Well done."
"A very moving piece of writing, merging Country and its people and its processes, I was touched."
What the judges said.
Teachers Click Here

Many of these resources and activities have been developed in consultation with NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) to ensure that the program meets NSW curriculum outcomes for Stages 3, 4 & 5.