While the entire country was in lockdown and young people were studying from home, Waimea Youth Council (WYC) hosted an online creative writing competition for young people.
There was a lot of anxiety and sadness in the work that the youth council received, but most entries were filled with hope and courage. Gulliver MacDonald, a member of WYC said they enjoyed reading the entries from across the district. Gulliver and two other youth councillors, Jacob Evans and Mackenzie Brough chose the top five entries that were judged by Tasman Mayor Tim King.
The Mayor invited three winners to the Richmond office to award prizes and have a conversation with young people and their parents on July 2nd.
Ruby Botica, a Motueka High school student, won the first prize of $200. Her ballad, Lockdown Beneath the Waves, impressed the Mayor and the youth councillors with its creativity and unusual perspective. While most of the other work was centred around humans, Ruby looked at the lockdown from the marine creatures’ perspective:
...The latest news about
Why humans did not roam
Was that they were, for some reason
Stuck inside their homes!
The fishes stared and laughed
Holding the paper in one fin
Even the Octopus Accountant
Put his paperwork in the bin
Every little fish
Every dolphin, every shark
Danced around in happiness
There was lightness in the dark!
Dilyn Siobhan, a Motueka High School student, won second prize and Taylor Gibellini, Waimea College student, was awarded third prize.
Gulliver says it was great to see how creative the youth of Tasman are, and to know that there is an interest in writing in the region.
Some entries are published on the Tasman Youth Hub website.