I'm Meg Boxall

Speech for What Matters? National Writing Competition

Hello and welcome to the Whitlam Institute’s What Matters? National Writing Competition winner’s celebration for 2022.

My name’s Corey Tutt. I’m a Kamilaroi man, author and founder of the non-profit Deadly Science. I’m here on behalf of Young Australian Literature Association or YALA. They’re a new literature centre, who’re bringing about change in our communities — much like the young writers here today. YALA are passionate about connecting people with the resources our young people need to tell their stories. I’m one of the authors that work with YALA helping run mentorships and classes for young people aged 8 to 18. The organisation was founded in April of this year, by 3 enthusiastic people aiming to reach out to every young person wanting to be included in our nation’s storytelling. So far they have 16 authors working with them, helping young Australians bring their distinctive and diverse perspectives to the world.

Helping young people engage with the community since 2004, the Whitlam Institute has offered young people the chance to tell their stories in the What Matters? National Writing Competition. They pride themselves on giving young Australians, like all of you, the opportunity to tell the world their worries, bring new ideas for building a fair society, and spur on change for a more inclusive community.

One of Australia’s past prime ministers, Gough Whitlam, wished for a country that treated all of its citizens equally and fairly. He supported human rights, women’s rights, multicultural society, healthcare, expression via the arts, and the freedom to education. He said, ‘we are all diminished when any of us are denied proper education.’ Gough Whitlam tried to heal the rift between Indigenous and non-indigenous Australians by helping people tell their own truths and stories. He also encouraged young people to address social issues. The founding of the Whitlam Institute and new endeavours like YALA, give young Australians access to democracy, equality, and liberty.

Days like this are so important. Competitions like What Matters? allow the national community to hear and be involved in the stories and issues our youth are dealing with. Whether it be climate change, war, free healthcare, freedom of choice, or the countless other topics that our incredible, emerging writers have given us.

Each year the judges receive thousands of entries from a hugely diverse group of aspiring authors. These stories are relevant for today and allow writers and readers to find themselves within the pages. The Young Australian Literature Association’s team encourage writers to, ‘learn, engage and create’. Classes and mentorships give young people the platform they need to show and share their passions, inspirations, and worries.

Today, with support from donations and funding from The Arts Council of Australia, The Department of Education, and the Lottery Office, YALA are adding a bonus to our competition’s main prize. Winners will receive three months’ mentorship from me. I will be working with our four winners exploring writing styles, tips, and tricks. Since writing my book The first scientists, I have learned that each of us has a story to tell, and these young writers all have brilliant ideas and yarns to share with Australia.

Today, I have the privilege of introducing them to you. They’ve come from far and wide to be here. One of our finalists, Kalila Nader, is originally from Iraq, but lives in our very own South Parramatta. Charlie Cameron (not the footy player) has travelled from Karumba in Queensland. Our third winner is Nora Evans, from Wollongong. And our final winner is Iva McCarthy, from Launceston.

I’d like to congratulate our winners today in the age categories of years 5/6, 7/8, 9/10 and 11/12. They have shared with us some emotional, inspiring and challenging stories and I look forward to working with each of them in the coming year. Not only have they bravely told their stories, but they have also helped bring peace to torn communities, like in Charlie’s story, Dirt cheap. They have shared the terror of escaping conflict and persecution and journeying to a new country. Your story, Running girl is heartbreaking Kalila. Nora has ambitions to work for town planning, and in her yarn, Nora versus the city, she shows her perspective of why towns need better wheelchair access. And Iva has shared their story, Growing into battle, about growing up in a Tasmanian logging family, while being an environmental activist.

These young writers are forging a new path in literature, calling for transformation and aiming for inclusion. As a society we must cherish these new voices. We must listen to their concerns, and help support the changes they ask for. Along with the Whitlam Institute and my sponsor the Young Australian Literature Association, I encourage you to congratulate and applaud our winners of the What Matters? National Writing Competition 2022.

References

ABC News. (2020). Whitlam’s words and wisdom: 11 memorable quotes. ABC News. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-10-21/photos-and-quotes- whitlam/5829298?nw=0&r=HtmlFragment

Collin, P., Hugman, S. (2020, November 24). What matters to young Australians: exploring young people’s perspectives from 2010-2018. APO.
https://apo.org.au/node/309804

Deadly Science. (2021). About us. https://deadlyscience.org.au/about-us/

Hardie Grant Publishing. (n.d.). The first scientists. https://www.hardiegrant.com/au/publishing/bookfinder/book/the-first-scientists-by-corey-tutt/9781741177527

Turner, P. (2014, October 21). Gough Whitlam remembered: a true leader for Indigenous Australians. The Guardian.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2014/oct/21/gough-whitlam-remembered-a-true-leader-for-indigenous-australians

Tutt, C. (2021, October 7). Booktopia TV Live: In Conversation with Corey Tutt. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O-JFe5P9uQ4

Whitlam Institution. (2021). What matters? National writing competition 2022. https://www.whitlam.org/what-matters