2025 has seen another huge outpouring of literary art take shape in poetry submissions of all kinds from near and far at the annual Woorilla Poetry Prize.
The community gathered in person and online to honour the shortlisted entries for the coveted poetry prize in Emerald on Sunday 16 November.
Celebrating the spoken word in a number of ways, founder Maria Millers gathered with volunteers to present the winners officially and said the afternoon was lovely and people really enjoyed the readings and performances.
“The bush poets, Mel and Susie, were a nostalgic addition,” she said.
Andy Jackson, a poet, essayist, creative writing teacher and mentor at the University of Melbourne and Patron of Writers Victoria was the judge of the open section this year and attended to read out the winners.
In the open section, Edie Popper took out the main prize, with the submission ‘Stream of Consciousness at the Blood Donation Clinic’, with a poem ‘Fifty Famous Views’ from Belgrave local Emille Zoey Baker, awarded Runner-up.
Several Victorians were shortlisted for their poems, with highly commended and commended for their submissions to the open section, along with a few poets from New York.
With more than 900 quality entries, not just from across Australia but also from overseas, Spain, UK, USA and India, the Woorillia Prize has grown steadily year by year, from a small local prize to one of the major literary prizes in Australia.
“The wide range of topics in both categories, from the intimate, domestic to the political and philosophical, strengthens my belief that poetry is so relevant to today’s issues and because of its form, suits today’s frenetic lifestyles,” said Ms Millers.
In the Youth Section, Lara Chourman from Toronto, Canada, won the award, with runner-up awarded to Haven Cha from Seoul, for their submission, Binary Fission.
Ms Millers said the Louise Rockne Youth Section was ‘sensational’ this year and the section was judged by Gaylene Carbis, who is an Australian/Chinese/Irish/Cornish writer.
Ms Carbis noticed several themes in the youth submissions, from family identity pressures and expectations, to personal struggles with issues from climate change to gender identity.
Poets drew on a variety of poetic influences – many dedicating their poems to poets like Anne M Carson, Mary Oliver, Stephanie Chang, Marguerite Duras and Bob Hicock.
The youth division did not see as much local engagement this year, and Ms Millers said that it was most heartening to see so many fine young poets emerging, but sad that so many prizes went to overseas entrants.
“We do not foster poetry in Australia as much as in other countries,” she said.
“Australia has no Poet Laureate as yet, though one was promised by 2025.”
A not-for-profit organisation, Woorilla has welcomed The Lions Club of Emerald as a major sponsor for the Youth Category.
A way to process and express, Ms Millers hopes that Woorilla brings an awareness of poetry to those who may have had poignant school experiences.
“Business should realise that survey after survey shows that a community where the Arts are nurtured thrives economically,” she said.
“We also thank all the other businesses that supported us.”
The Woorilla Poetry Prize was initiated in the 1980s by founders Maria Millers and Louise Rockne, who were editors at Woorilla Magazine, where it grew to become a celebrated national competition.
Woorillia will continue on, and next year the group are hoping to add a new category, an Ephractic poem, which is a poem inspired by a work of art and would like to have an annual weekend across the Hills of poetry of all kinds
People can watch the highlights on the group’s social media pages and follow along for more updates heading into 2026.
