Newcastle Poetry Prize 2023 winners announced

The Hunter Writers’ Centre has announced the winners of the 2023 Newcastle Poetry Prize.

The prize-winning pieces are:

First prize ($15,000)

• ‘The Crossing’ by Kevin Smith

Second prize ($5000)

• ‘Lines for Late Winter; Or, the Reef Heron’ by Mark Tredinnick

Third prize ($1000)

• ‘A Country Childhood’ by Jo Gardiner

Commended prizes ($250)

• ‘On the Vale of Soul-Making’ by Todd Turner
• ‘my father sits in a room alone’ by Dženana Vucic

Harri Jones Prize ($500)

• ‘Internal Climates’ by Jake Goetz

Local award ($250)

• ‘A Garden of the World’ by Jean Kent

Member award ($250)

• ‘Bukovina’ by Christopher (Kit) Kelen

Hunter Writers’ Centre has published the prize-winning pieces and shortlisted works in The Crossing: Newcastle Poetry Prize anthology 2023.

The prize, which has been offered since 1981, allows poets to submit works of up to 200 lines. ‘This distinctive aspect presents a challenge for poets to skilfully sustain their work, carefully balancing tone, pace, and rhythm to captivate readers throughout the journey,’ said the Hunter Writers’ Centre.

The Newcastle Poetry Prize is an initiative of the Hunter Writers’ Centre and is supported by the University of Newcastle. Read more about the prize announcement here.

Category: Awards Local news