The right words can change the world, and some of Wollongong's youngest literary voices are shaping the world they wish to live in through the annual Red Room Poetry POEM FOREST competition.
Now in its second year in partnership with Wollongong City Council, the Australia-wide nature writing prize encourages young poets and teachers to combine their passion for words and climate change action, with a tree planted in the Wollongong local government area for every entry received.
The partnership with Red Room saw more than 6400 trees planted in Wollongong last year, with this year's competition attracting more than 5400 entries before being whittled down to a shortlist of 78 in four categories.
Shortlisted finalists in a total of eight prize categories 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 Six Coledale Public School student Alice thoroughly impressing the judges with her powerful poem ' Everything Around Us Dancing '.
Wollongong City 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 presents an opportunity to engage with nature in a way that has an intergenerational impact on the environment.
"POEM FOREST aligns with 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 means to them.
"Being a nationwide competition allows kids from all over the country, as well as the many entrants from our own area, to create a valuable legacy in contributing to the growth of literal poem forest here in Wollongong.
"Our winning poets also each receive a plant from the Botanic Garden Nursery to continue enjoying their passion for nature at home.
"We're grateful that Red Room Poetry shares this vision with us and, with all trees planted forever identified as POEM FOREST trees, the result of this partnership will be seen for many years to come."
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 for 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. They also cool our suburbs, combat the impacts of a changing climate, reduce pollution, improve stormwater quality and are a home for native wildlife.
"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 Council's Environmental Education Officer, Penny Hoswell.
You can explore POEM FOREST entries by visiting the Red Room Poetry website .
The national winners in all POEM FOREST categories – including Upper and Lower Primary, Upper and Lower Secondary, Accredited Teacher, Threatened Species, and Australian Botanic Garden Mount Annan Local Prize will be announced via an online ceremony on Thursday 21 October.
