Mary Poppins Literary Competition winners share in prizes

Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious young Fraser Coast authors and poets have been recognised in the 2022 Mary Poppins Literary Competition and shared almost $2000 in prize money.

Fraser Coast Mayor George Seymour announced the winners at a ceremony in the courtyard of Gatakers Artspace in Maryborough on Saturday, October 8.

“We’re so pleased to support this competition and encourage young writers and poets in the region to express their creativity,” he said.

Cr Seymour said the contest, open to Fraser Coast youngsters from Year Three to Year 12, was run by Mary Inc, formerly known as the Proud Marys Association Inc. It was promoted through Fraser Coast Libraries branches, where entries could be submitted.

Mary Inc secretary Mary Lange said it was another successful year for the competition which started back in 2000 and was believed to be the most valuable literary award in the nation for schoolchildren.

“The fantasy theme for the contest this year was ‘everything is possible, even the impossible’ and young people were asked to write a story or poem,” she said.

“Students from 13 schools entered the competition and the winners came from 10 of those schools which suggests we have a broad spread of talented writers and poets on the Fraser Coast.

“The author of Mary Poppins, P.L. Travers, was born in Maryborough and we host the competition, which is supported by the Cherry Tree Lane Foundation and P.L. Travers Trust in London, in her honour.”

The literary prize winners were:

Years 3 and 4: 1st, Coen Katt; 2nd, Violet Jordan; 3rd, Isaac Chambers

Years 5 and 6: 1st, Blake Champney; 2nd, Calissa Mann; 3rd, Mila Arrevillaga

Years 7, 8 and 9: 1st, Alyssa Vagias; 2nd, Georgia Mulligan; 3rd, Rachael Wissen; highly commended, Maddy Matcham

Years 10, 11 and 12: 1st,Mia Barram; 2nd, Sianna Fletcher; 3rd, Jaguar Welch

The poetry prize winners were:

Years 3 and 4: 1st, Henry Jones; 2nd, Henry Light; no third place awarded

Years 5 and 6: 1st, Eva Piper; 2nd, Sophia Chambers; no third place awarded

Years 7, 8 and 9: 1st, Aaliah Arrevillaga; 2nd, Arimae Marie; 3rd, Kian Barram

No prizes were awarded in Years 10, 11 and 12 category.