What Matters? Competition Success

Inspired by Gough Whitlam’s commitment to involving young people in shaping Australia’s future, the Whitlam Institute’s prestigious What Matters? writing competition invites students from years 5-12 to answer the simple question ‘what matters?’. Entrants are free to express their views on any matter they care about in a variety of forms. Fort Street had a number of students enter the competition this year. Out of nearly five thousand entrants from across 691 schools, three Fortians were shortlisted in the 2023 competition.

In the 7/8 category, Oliver Townsend was shortlisted for his exploration of mortality, ‘Embrace the Light’.  In the 9/10 category, Eleanor Alonso Love’s essay ‘Text for Help’, on the impacts of smartphone culture also impressed the judges. Their pieces can be read here: https://www.whitlam.org/what-matters-2023-shortlist

Congratulations to all these brilliant young writers.