Dorothea Mackellar Poetry Award

Each year the Community Relations Commission Award is awarded as part of the National Dorothea Mackellar Poetry Prize for a poem best highlighting the value of cultural diversity within the Australian community.

The Dorothea Mackellar Memorial Society Community Relations Commission Poetry Award for 2012 has been won by Alexander Maloof and Rhys Halkidis, from Trinity Grammar Preparatory School, Strathfield.

Alexander and Rhys won the prize with their entry Silentio ad Mare.

Silentio ad Mare

Heads under hands and not a single breath audible,
The boat at a creak with every wave.
Forced to flee and left with nothing,
The conflict has taken it all.
Haunting memories with no one to trust,
Families, treasures and memories are gone.

People packed tightly no space to breathe,
Any movement will result in peril.
Stomachs are starved no time to eat,
Water as far as the eye can see,
Any second might be your last.

With these thoughts in mind your home is far,
And sickness draws near as hopes run free.
Your safety is like a thread,
Once cut can’t be restored.

When the flashing lights appear at sea,
The blankets are drawn and all is still.
For getting caught is not intended.

Heads under hands and not a single breath audible,
The boat at a creak with every wave.

Silentio ad mare (meaning silence at sea)

Other category winners from this years' awards can be viewed on the awards website at www.dorothea.com.au.