Central Coast Council has announced the winners of their Library Service’s first Poetry Writing Competition.

The competition is one of the many ways Council is delivering on the Community Strategic Plan by celebrating and continuing to create opportunities for inclusion where all people feel welcome and participate in community life.

Council Acting Unit Manager Libraries, Beth Burgess said she was pleased with the positive response from the community and it was fantastic to see all ages getting involved.

“I would like to thank everyone who was brave enough to submit an entry and tell their tale in verse,” Mrs Burgess said.

“I hope the competition acts as a springboard for our local talent to go on and gain recognition at a national and possibly internationally levels.

“Thank you also to our judges, Meg Gatland-Veness, Cherry Beckett and Marilyn Campbell, who have volunteered their time towards this worthwhile cause, helping to strengthen the sense of belonging in the community.

“I am incredibly proud of the role we play in nurturing and inspiring our amazing local talent, while helping to create a sense of connection within the community.

“This is just one of the many ways our libraries help meet education, learning and recreation needs, while encouraging development of literacy and reading skills.

“I would encourage everyone to rediscover their local library and take advantage of the amazing free resources and services available.”

Winner of the open category, Shelley Stocken from the Peninsula, who discovered her love of poetry while at school, was thrilled when she received the call saying she had received first place.

“Even though I studied poetry at university I have never considered myself a poet,” Ms Stocken said.

“I have entered a few competitions in the past, but this is the first time I have ever placed, let alone won – I’m surprised, but also incredibly proud of this achievement.

“My poem was a self-reflection of sorts, contemplating the theme of ‘Peace’ on an individual level rather than a collective or worldwide concept.

“I really enjoyed the process of writing my piece ‘Vessel’, contemplating peace of mind and being comfortable within myself and of my own choices and I hope others can relate.

“We have such home grown talent right here on the Coast and we are great at celebrating ourselves – it is fantastic to see Council taking an active role supporting our creative community.”

To support writers in their poetry, Council will gift prizes of $200, $100 and $50 gift cards to first, second and third places respectively for every category, as well as a writing gift pack, which will also be awarded to Highly Commended entries at a formal celebratory afternoon tea will be held on Wednesday 20 March 2019.

An additional $600 worth of prizes was donated thanks to the 2018 sponsors of the Poetry Competition, Book Bazaar, Book Face, Musicians Making a Difference, QBD Tuggerah and Writing NSW.

Winning entries will also be on display in the Central Coast community on World Poetry Day 21 March, 2019.

To view the winning poems and find out more about the free resources and services on offer visit centralcoast.nsw.gov.au/libraries

The winners of the Library Service Poetry Writing Competition for 2018 are:

Junior:

First place - Finlay Smith for ‘Lady Ocean’

Second place - Ellen Leahy for ‘Matcham “Peace’

Third place - Cooper Jamieson for ‘Peace’

Highly commended - May Russell for ‘The Peace of Winter’

Youth:

First place - Caitlyn Dixon for ‘How I wish’

Second place - Willow Robinson for ‘Music to my Ears’

Third place - Indiana Ginglo for ‘Indiana’s Peace Poem’

Highly commended - Isabel Wann for ‘Evening’

Adult:

First place - Shelley Stocken for ‘Vessel’

Second place - Catherine Dunk for ‘Rainbow Buddha’

Third place - Gail Beard for ‘Nightwatch’

Highly commended - Brian Purcell for ‘Full Moon over Avoca Beach’