Stanford Merthyr Infants School student Aleigha Mudd has received an award in a national poetry competition.
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The year 2 student received the runner-up prize in the lower primary section of the Dorothea Mackellar Poetry Award, for her poem The Tip of the Feather.
The competition's judges said it was "A simple observation worked into a poem, offering us a metaphorical narrative, a lullaby of great beauty".
As her prize, Aleigha will receive $150 in prize money and a collection of books, and her poem will be included in the 2021 Dorothea Mackellar Foundation Anthology.
Aleigha is a member of the infants school's poetry group, which was formed by the school's librarian. Every member of the poetry group received a certificate for entering the competition.
Cessnock MP Clayton Barr was invited to present Aleigha with her awards at a special assembly, and also gave her a journal so she could continue her writing.
"Aleigha's achievement shows us yet again that kids from our area can do anything," Mr Barr said.
"It's a beautiful poem, and I hope Aleigha and the other members of the poetry group keep writing and expressing themselves.
"The school deserves recognition for encouraging the kids to take an interest in poetry, and giving them an opportunity like this to show their talent."
Aleigha's award-winning poem, The Tip of the Feather
The tip of the feather
Smoothly
Gently
Drifted down on the breeze
And landed on the baby's nose
'A-choo!'
The baby's wish
Smoothly
Gently
Drifted off on the breeze
And the moon shone brightly that night.
