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| Dorothea
Mackellar |
| The
Poetry Awards |
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| Dorothea
Mackellar (1885-1968) - Famous Australian Writer |
| Author
of "My Country" |
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| Isobel
Marion Dorothea Mackellar was born on 1 July 1885, at
her family's home that stands on Point Piper, overlooking
Rose Bay on Sydney Harbour. The third of four children,
Dorothea was the only daughter born to renowned physician
and Parliamentarian, Sir Charles Kinnaird Mackellar and
his wife, Marion (nee Buckland). The young Dorothea received
private tutoring in painting, fencing and languages and
later attended lectures at the Sydney University though
she never formally enrolled as a student. She spoke French,
German, Italian and Spanish fluently. When the family
travelled overseas, Dorothea acted as an interpreter for
her father. |
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| Dorothea
had a lively personality with a keen sense of humour,
which is reflected in her diary entries of the early 1900's.
Hers was a privileged life that was divided between the
busy sophistication of the city and the simplicity of
the country. |
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| The
Mackellar family owned several properties in the Gunnedah
area, including "Kurrumbede" and "The Rampadells" on the
Blue Vale Road near Gunnedah. The late Mrs Maude Broun
lived on the adjoining property, "Coulston", with her
husband, the son of Sir Charles Broun. In a taped interview
after Dorothea's death, Mrs Broun recalled the Mackellar's
regular visits with Dorothea, Eric and Malcolm (her two
remaining brothers, Keith having been killed in the Boer
War at age 19), to their Gunnedah country residences. |
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| Sir
Charles handed these properties over to his sons whom
many still remember as well respected and generous members
of our local community. Over the years Dorothea often
visited the area, staying with her brothers and maintaining
her skills as an ardent horsewoman. Dorothea was very
proud of the fact that she could ride side-saddle so well,
even in the bush. |
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| The
first draft of what was to become Australia's most quoted
and best loved poem, "My Country", was written in England
at a time when Dorothea was feeling homesick. Never quite
content with the verses, she wrote and re-wrote the poem
several times after returning to Australia and living
in the apartments above her father's consulting rooms
in Buckland Chambers, Liverpool Street, Sydney, opposite
the ANZAC Memorial. It is fitting that Dorothea's Memorial
should now grace ANZAC Park in Gunnedah, depicting her
as the young woman who wrote "My Country", and gazing
in the direction of her beloved "Kurrumbede". |
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| Dorothea
never married though, at 28 years of age, whilst living
in London, she fell in love with an English poet named
Patrick Chalmers. When she returned to Australia just
before the start of World War I, she wrote to Patrick
to let him know her parents approved of their decision
to wed. Unfortunately, the letter was lost and Patrick
married someone else. Dorothea was heartbroken, her poetry
after this experience becoming more serious with sometimes
tragic undertones. ("Sorrow") |
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| Dorothea
continued to write and travel during the Twenties and
early Thirties, her work appearing in journals of high
repute such as the London "Spectator", American "Harper's
Magazine" and the Sydney "Bulletin" among others. During
these years, four volumes of verse were published, "The
Closed Door", "The Witchmaid", "Dreamharbour" and "Fancy
Dress". |
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| The
Australian countryside continued to be a source of inspiration
to Dorothea. Two poems that particularly reflect her special
relationship with our district are; "Dawn" (At the dawning
of the day; On the road to Gunnedah...), and "Burning
Off" (They're burning off at the Rampadells; The tawny
flames uprise...). |
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| Later
in life Dorothea suffered increasing ill health and ceased
to write. In the 1968 New Year Honours list her contribution
to Australian literature was formally recognised and she
was made an Officer of the British Empire. Sadly, only
two weeks later on the 14 January, Dorothea Mackellar
died in her sleep in the Scottish Hospital, Paddington.
The funeral service was held in St Mark's Church at Darling
Point where reportedly Dorothea's favourite poem, "Colour"
was read. She was once recorded saying about the poem,
"You know, I think that was as close as I ever came to
writing poetry." She was laid to rest in the family vault
at Waverley Cemetery in Sydney. |
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| Dorothea's
brothers predeceased her, leaving no heirs, therefore
Dorothea was the last of that branch of the Mackellars. |
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| The
Poetry Awards |
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| Earlier
this century, Dorothea Mackellar's family lived in Sydney.
However, in 1905 Sir Charles Mackellar (Dorothea's father)
purchased four properties in the Gunnedah District. Dorothea
visited the country as much as possible and it from these
visits, she received her inspiration to write much of
her poetry and prose. |
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| In
1983, Mrs Mikie Maas OAM PHF, orchestrated the foundation
of the Dorothea Mackellar Memorial Society Inc. whose
aims were to recognise the contribution Dorothea made
to Australian literature. To raise funds for a beautiful
bronze statue of Dorothea Mackellar, sitting side-saddle
on her horse, Mrs Maas started a poetry competition for
which a small entry fee was charged. The aim of the poetry
competition was to ignite a spirit of patriotism amongst
Australia's youth, similar to that felt by thousands of
adults upon reading Dorothea Mackellar's famous poem,
"My Country". |
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| The
poetry competition for school students throughout Australian
grew from strength to strength, until in 1995 a full time
coordinator was employed to conduct it. |
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| The
poetry awards are now in their 17th year and in 2001,
more than 10,400 entries have been received from children
throughout Australia and overseas. QBE Insurance Ltd.
is the principal sponsor of the competition. It also receives
endorsement from the National Australia Day Council and
the National Council for the Centenary of Federation. |
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| The
theme for the 2001 poetry competition was "Time" or students
could write on the Subject of Own Choice. This topic has
been chosen to mark the Centenary of Federation in Australia.
Such a momentous date may cause reflection about the effects
of time on the ideals of 1901, and developments that have
occurred in our country since then. |
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| Entry
forms are distributed to nearly 11,000 Australian schools
and 1,200 Rotary Clubs. |
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| In
1997, Rotary adopted the competition under the banner
of "Programs for New Generations". Rotarians are invited
to visit schools to promote the poetry awards and to assist
in the presentation of awards at school level. |
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| The
main aim of the Dorothea Mackellar Poetry Awards is to
capture the imagination of every school student in Australia,
inspiring them to discover a passion for poetry. |
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| For
more information, visit the Dorothea Mackellar web-site
located at: www.dorothea.com.au |
