Newcastle Poetry Prize 2024 winners announced
The Hunter Writers’ Centre has announced the winners of the 2024 Newcastle Poetry Prize.
Winning pieces include:
First prize ($15,000)
- ‘Dombóvár’ by Christopher (Kit) Kelen
Second prize ($5000)
- ‘Welcome Swallow’ by Verity Laughton
Third prize ($1000)
- ‘Tornados, and other disasters’ by Jenny Pollak
Highly commended prizes ($250 each)
- ‘Glass Creek’ by Verity Oswin
- ‘The Grasscutters’ by Jo Gardiner
Harri Jones Memorial Prize ($500)
- ‘Lake Days’ by Andrew Menken
Hunter Writers’ Centre Member Award ($250)
- ‘A Godwit Sonnet Cycle’ by Mark Tredinnick.
Judges Caitlin Maling and Peter Boyle said: ‘One of the difficult aspects of choosing winners was the comparison of very different kinds of poems. We wanted to judge each poem on its own terms and not apply any singular aesthetic too rigorously. The winning poem, “Dombóvár”, […] skilfully integrates thoughtful reflection on important issues, humour, inventiveness and an engaging partly colloquial tone.’
The Hunter Writers’ Centre has published the prize-winning pieces and shortlisted works in the book Dombóvár: Newcastle Poetry Prize Anthology 2024.
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. Last year’s winner was Kevin Smith, for ‘The Crossing’.
More information about the prize is available on the Hunter Writers’ Centre website.
Category: Awards Local news
