UON students have an opportunity to share their poetry pieces for their chance to win! Lucy Egan keeps you up to date on the comp.

The Karen Thrift Prize for Poetry and Lyrics is back in 2021 with the first place prize totaling $1000. Launched through the University of Newcastle School of Humanities and Social Science, the competition was created in memory of English teacher Karen Thrift (1955-2016). The aim of the competition is to”…continue to recognise Karen’s contribution that seeks creativity, passion, intelligence, the poetry and the music of life and the creators of these food for the soul”.

Karen started writing songs in high school and worked as a singer before becoming a teacher, and is a University of Newcastle Education Alumna. Head of the school, Catharine Colborne, was quoted in 2019 saying, “Karen made lasting impressions and we are so proud to honour her memory through this prize.” Karen went on to teach at Northholm Grammar School for twenty-two years, many as Head of English.

The prize is awarded to a poem or lyric of no more than eighty lines. It is open to any current student of the University of Newcastle.  The winner is chosen by a judging panel put together by the School of Human and Social Sciences. Entries must be in English and there is a maximum of one entry per person.

The winner will be announced in November 2021. Pending COVID-19 conditions, there also may be an opportunity for the winning student to read their piece at an event organised by the School of Humanities and Social Sciences. Email karenthriftpoetryprize@newcastle.edu.au to enter!

Entries close at 12 am Friday 24 September.

All the best to the students who enter!

For more information, click on the link below:

Karen Thrift Prize for Poetry and Lyrics

Feature Image: Álvaro Serrano via Unsplash