The winners of MidCoast Council's second annual National Water Week Junior Writing Prize have been announced, with the competition attracting its largest field of entries yet.
Manning Valley Anglican College student Harvey Crameri was awarded first prize in the Primary School category for 'The water that connects our family', a thoughtful reflection on the way water connects across generations of his family.
In the Junior High School category, MidCoast Christian College student Chloe Ekins was awarded first prize for 'The Rockpool's Song', an imaginative meditation on water's timeless ability to draw people to it to relax, soothe and heal.
Finally, in the Senior High School category, Taree boarding school student Eva Wood McGuire was awarded first prize for her poem 'Water Bird', which takes the reader on a journey down the Manning River, from its roots in the Barrington Tops to its meeting point with the ocean at Old Bar and beyond, examining the landscapes, industries and human settlements it interacts with along the way.
Council's Director of Infrastructure and Engineering Services, Rob Scott, said this year's theme of 'Water connects everything' inspired students to engage with a broad range of ideas, which helped to illustrate all the different ways people and other living things interacted with water.
"From water as a defining feature of family history to a source of sustenance, survival, destruction or relaxation, the entries we received this year were really thought-provoking and diverse," said Mr Scott.
"Thank you to all the students who took the time to put their creative skills to use and take part in the competition. We look forward to seeing even more entries next year."
To see the full list of winners and read their stories, visit https://haveyoursay.midcoast.nsw.gov.au/water-wiser-hub
