Tasmanian Devil Competition – The Results are In!
Max and I are thrilled with the response to our Tasmanian Devil competitions and are very pleased to be able to share the results. We both read and discussed all submissions and congratulate all entrants in both poetry and illustration categories. Thank you for your wonderful work.
Here are the winners and the shortlists for both categories. We also congratulate Gold Coast Christian College in Reedy Creek Queensland for submitting the most poetry entries from a single class and St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School in Oatley NSW for the most illustration entries. We have included two Special Mentions: one poem and one art entry.
Poetry Winners
Hannah’s winning poem Tiny Devils captured the energy of the Tasmanian devil and the will to survive. Her short lines echo the panting rhythm of a devil on the move. She captured the triumph of the feasting devil while acknowledging that the devil will have to search for more food tomorrow.
Tiny Devils
Natural born hunters
The fight that starts at birth
A world-renowned bite
The pressure of staying alive
Scavenge to survive
The constant need for greatness
Powering my scream
The victory will be mine
Stumbling with my prize
The feast won’t last forever
Tonight I’ll be full
The fight repeats tomorrow
A devil I was born
The day I emerged
A devil I will be
The title stays forever
Charlie’s winning poem, Tasmanian Devil Imp is an epic tale! We loved the story she tells in her poem, the drama and sadness, the struggle for survival. We particularly liked the circular nature of this poem, beginning and ending with wandering, but detailing the change in focus of that wandering.
Tasmanian Devil Imp by Charlie, 11, Trinity Anglican School Cairns
Wandering, but not lost.
For I am an imp. A Tasmanian Devil imp.
Mothers fur soft against me as we run side by side.
Heart pounding, thumping, throbbing.
Dancing through the coastal woodlands, my sclerophyll forest.
Climbing rough rocks and yowling
We howl louder than ever and jump
And climb forest trees. I am a natural climber. My mum told me.
Race to the turquoise water beach.
The waves splashing our paws.
Crabs. They will make a good lunch, lovely red and plump.
The sand whispering, murmuring telling stories.
CRASH! Human hunters. I start to whine, but my mother hushes me.
The humans gibber strange unfamiliar words we do not understand.
We raced to the beach, but this is different.
This is a race for our lives.
Climbing up trees again. I shouldn’t be, but I am excited.
My ears turn red as the crabs on the beach.
Adrenaline throbbing in my veins. BANG! something echoes through the woods
my mother tells me it is “gunshot”. Suddenly I’m not so excited.
Mother runs in, saving me from “bullets”. Then she is hit.
“ruuuuuunn” she yowls in pain.
I hold back my whimper and swallow my tears.
She did that for me. She gave me a chance.
So, I take it.
I run like the wind. Fierce sharp quick.
Never look behind. Run through the shrubs.
Thorns nearly popping through my padded feet.
Safe. A powerful word
Birds fly above me dancing in the cool breeze
I wish I could be a bird, better, a safe tassie devil.
Mother gone. Never to be seen again.
I remember when I came to this beach in my mothers pouch.
I whimpered at the unbearable thought.
Memories stung sharp, like fleas.
I started to remember my mind spinning to other worlds
“Look!” I cried “butterby!”
“Chase chase chase” I sung
“Quiet now young one. Prey runs if it hears you call.”
I wish it was over
My head pounds.
Looking quickly for a place to hide.
The humans gibber strange words.
I am wandering.. But this time I am lost.
Poetry – Special Mention
This cinquain from Abigail captivated us. In so few words, there is so much energy. We also enjoyed learning that she would have loved a Tasmanian devil pet, but wasn’t allowed (good decision Mum).
Devil
Razor sharp teeth
Running, biting, growling
Can’t have one as pet, heart broken
Tassie!
Illustration winners
Floyd.
We really loved the expressive faces, body positions and the interaction between the Tasmanian Devil imps in Floyd’s entry. We also liked the layering of different colours to create the colours of the earth and how the colouration line work matched the energy of the Devils. Floyd has taken a lot of time and care in outlining all the elements and I especially love how he has used orange lines to create depth in the burrow.
Abigail.
The earthy watercolour used to colour Abigail’s artwork really appealed to us. It has given the artwork depth and texture.
Abigail’s entry also stood out to us as she has used creative and unusual markings to illustrate the Devil imps. The mark making is also reflected on the burrow wall.
Unknown – special mention
This entry really caught our attention and we were amazed it was done by a Year 4 student – WOW! This entry really has created the atmosphere of the Tasmanian Devils habitat and the detail of the ferns and fallen logs is excellent.
Shortlisted Poems
Each of these poems included strong imagery and evidence of some research about Tasmanian devils. Decisions about line breaks and rhythms contributed to the word choices and made poems a pleasure to read.
Imp by Imogen
Mother out
Sisters play
Brothers hunting
As I hide away
Mother returns
Sisters whimp
Brothers caught food
For family and imp
Burrow hot
Outside cold
I go to sleep
As I was told
Two years later
On a warm Winter’s Day
I feed my own imp
Owl eggs from away.
Tasmanian Devil by Elizabeth, Warnervale Public School
I sleep in hollow logs in the day,
and when it’s night I search for my prey.
I’m carnivorous, I eat birds, frogs and fish,
I enjoy eating these, such a lovely dish.
I’m endangered, nocturnal and a small marsupial.
What am I? I’m an imp, a young Tasmanian Devil.
Tasmania devils by Amaira, 10, Seabrook Primary School 3028
I’m a Tasmanian devil as cheeky as can be,
Racing across the beach.
Hunting for my food,
As I hide and play.
Hear me growl and shrike,
In my mountain home.
Having fun,
Enjoying the air,
Chasing others everywhere.
I’m a Tasmanian devil as cheeky as can be.
Shortlisted Illustrations
Once again, Max and I would like to thank all entrants and the parents and teachers who supported their creativity and submitted entries to our Tasmanian Devil competition. We have loved the opportunity to share this wonderful work. Thank you for helping us to share the wonders of Australia’s native fauna. Thank you always to Walker Books Australia for your support.
