30TH MPU International Poetry Competition (2024-2025) Winners
The 30th Melbourne Poets Union International Poetry Competition Winners
2024-2025 as judged by Pi.o
(Note: dedication/description in brackets is by Pi.o)
First Prize: The Leon Shann Award
[for a poetry of heart & naming]
Laurence Watkins of NSW for
My Story
Second Prize [for a poetry of courage and resistance]
Jenna Woodhouse of QLD for
The Swimming Couch's Mole
Third Prize [for a poetry of engagements and outrages]
Nikki Viveca of QLD for
Seven Thoughts
Wendy Fleming Urban Realist Award [for a poetry of bearing witness]
Damen O’Brien of QLD for
Street
Highly Commended (1) [for a poetry of engagement and conscience
Joe Dolce of Melbourne for
Accident on a new freeway
Highly Commended (2) [for a poetry of commitment and concern]
Shey Marque of WA for
Sundowning
Highly Commended (3) [for a poetry of syntactic territory]
Tim Loveday of Melbourne for
[e]state[ment]
Commended (1) [for a poetry of the heart of struggle]
David Kelly of Euroa for
Husband and wife
Commended (2) [for a poetry of proletariat life]
Lyndon Walker of Tasmania
Lunch at the Waterfront Hotel
Commended (3) [for a poetry of work and design]
Angela Costi of Melbourne for
Because It's Too Heavy
Commended (4) [for a poetry of country]
Brian Walters of Barker’s Creek for
Baaka
Commended (5) [for a poetry of matriarchal succession]
Joe Dolce of Melbourne for
Another Park
Commended (6) [for a poetry of colonial horror]
Brett Dionysius of QLD for
Opalopolis