STUDENTS SHINE IN EIGHTH ANNUAL ANZAC DAY WRITING COMPETITION

DEPUTY Prime Minister Michael McCormack has been impressed with the high quality of entries from across the Riverina and Central West in his eighth annual ANZAC Day Writing competition.

Mr McCormack was pleased to receive many entries from across the electorate, saying it is as important as it has ever been to remember the sacrifices of the men and women who have fought for peace and freedom in conflicts all over the world.

“A total of 675 students throughout the Riverina and Central West entered the ANZAC Day writing competition this year,” Mr McCormack said.

“It was a difficult process to narrow down the entries to a few winners, but it goes to show the high calibre of our teachers and students in the Riverina and Central West.

“Each and every one of the students who entered should be proud of their efforts.”

Entries were put into primary and secondary categories with the Riverina electorate divided into North, South, East and West divisions.

Each of the students’ winning entries can be found in Mr McCormack’s eighth annual ANZAC Day commemorative booklet, which has been delivered to letterboxes across the electorate..

The 60-page booklet contains moving stories from across the Riverina and Central West, including Cowra, Crowther, Forbes, Gooloogong, Greenethorpe, Gundagai, Lockhart, Marrar, Old Junee, Parkes, Springdale, Temora, Ungarie, Wagga Wagga, Wallendbeen and Wyalong.

Forbes Redbend students stand out

North division

A PAIR of skilful wordsmiths from the same school have taken out the top-two North Riverina secondary division awards in the Federal Member for Riverina and Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack’s eighth annual ANZAC Day writing competition.

Year 9 students Sienna Emseis, 14, and James Finn, 15, from Red Bend Catholic College in Forbes wrote emotive pieces to be awarded the winner and highly commended prizes for the North Riverina Secondary School division of the competition.

Mr McCormack presented the students with their prizes while in Forbes recently and congratulated the students on their efforts.

“Both Sienna and James have written fantastic pieces which really put the reader in the shoes of their protagonists,” Mr McCormack said.

“Sienna tackled the difficult subject of post-traumatic stress which many soldiers experienced after returning from the war and James told a tale of a soldier not coming home from the perspective of the soldier’s grieving young son.”

Queeneth Inyang writes standout entry, says McCormack

South division

THE Riverina Anglican College Year 10 student Queeneth Inyang has written a standout poem in a high-quality field in the Federal Member for Riverina and Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack’s eighth annual ANZAC Day writing competition.

Queeneth won the South Riverina Secondary School division of the competition with her fantastic piece about life in the trenches.

Mr McCormack said Queeneth’s poem cut through to describe the final moments of a self-doubting soldier.

“Queeneth painted a vivid picture of her interpretation of what life in the trenches was like,” Mr McCormack said.

“Her writing skills are a credit to her great teachers and parents.”

The 16-year-old’s brilliant piece begins with:

Me, a brave, kind soul, exactly what a man should be,

The epitome of stupid if you ask me.

Mr McCormack made special mention of the efforts of Mater Dei Primary School in Wagga Wagga.

Students from the school took their entries to a new creative level with a number of entries coming to the Wagga Wagga Electorate Office in an old leather Ford Sherrington Regal suitcase.

The students added another layer of creative flair to their entries by putting their writing onto burnt-edge or stained paper to give the impression they came from a century ago.

Gundagai's Annika Smith wins for second time

East division

GUNDAGAI High School student Annika Smith has well and truly proven her powers with the pen by winning Federal Member for Riverina and Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack’s eighth annual ANZAC DAY writing competition for the second time.

Annika, 13, took out the top spot in the East Riverina Secondary School division of the competition with her stirring piece about finding a long lost letter while planting Flanders poppy seeds.

The letter read, as Annika wrote: My sweet Edith, Kissing your tender forehead whilst wiping away the tears from your soft, flushed cheeks when the train’s whistle blew. I walked over with my head drooping just seeing your beautiful face slip away from my sight was unbearable, but I know I will always have you in my heart.

 Annika previously won as a Year 6 student in the 2016 competition.

Mr McCormack said Annika possessed a rare talent and was proud to be able to provide an avenue to showcase their writing prowess for her and students across the Riverina and Central West.

“Annika’s strong writing skill is testament to her passion and dedication to her English and History studies," Mr McCormack said.

“It is also a credit to her great teachers who have clearly nurtured her obvious talent.”

West Wyalong students' prolific effort

West division

STUDENTS in the West Wyalong area have contributed close to 25 per cent of all entries submitted in Federal Member for Riverina and Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack’s eighth annual ANZAC DAY writing competition.

Wyalong Public, West Wyalong Public, West Wyalong High and St Mary’s War Memorial School students sent 158 entries to Mr McCormack’s Wagga Wagga electorate office.

West Wyalong Public School Year Six student Katie McCullough, 11, won the West Riverina Primary School division of the competition. She wrote her piece from the perspective of a daughter waiting anxiously at home for her father and grandfather.

The highly commended prize went to Ungarie Central School Year 6 student Noah Bryant, 11.

West Wyalong High School colleagues Jorja Hill and Jack Johnson, both 14, were respectively awarded the winner and highly commended prizes of the West Riverina Secondary School division of the competition.

Mr McCormack commended all teachers and students for putting in such a great effort to enter his competition.

“Congratulations to the West Wyalong students and teachers who put in so much effort to show their respect for our Diggers,” Mr McCormack said.

ANZAC DAY WRITING COMPETITION WINNERS

North Riverina

 Primary school division

Winner: Yetu Akhiwu, 11, Year 6, St Joseph’s Primary School, Grenfell

Highly commended: Maggie Anderson, 11, Year 6, St Patrick’s Parish School, Trundle

Secondary school division

Winner: Sienna Emseis, 14, Year 9, Red Bend Catholic College, Forbes

Highly commended: James Finn, 15, Year 9, Red Bend Catholic College, Forbes

South Riverina

Primary school division

Winner: Jaidyn Waugh-Smith, 11, Year 6, Lake Albert Public School

Highly commended: Isabel Owen, 11, Year 6, Henschke Primary School, Wagga Wagga

Secondary school division

Winner: Queeneth Inyang, 16, Year 10, The Riverina Anglican College, Wagga Wagga

Highly commended: Edmund Wright, 16, Year 10, The Riverina Anglican College, Wagga Wagga

East Riverina

Primary school division

Winner: William Murphy, 11, Year 6, Gundagai Public School

Highly commended: Jayelle Britt, 11, Year 6, Gundagai Public School

Secondary school division

Winner: Annika Smith, 13, Year 8, Gundagai High School

Highly commended: Amelia Murphy, 13, Year 8, St Anne’s Central School, Temora

West Riverina

Primary school division

Winner: Katie McCullough, 11, Year 6, West Wyalong Public School

Highly commended: Noah Bryant, 11, Year 6, Ungarie Central School

Secondary school division

Winner: Jorja Hill, 14, Year 9, West Wyalong High School

Highly commended: Jack Johnson, 14, Year 8, West Wyalong High School

Shane Manning