What Matters? Writing Competition

Inspired by Gough Whitlam’s dedication to engaging young minds in shaping Australia’s future, the What Matters? writing competition provides a platform for students across the nation, from Years 5 to 12, to share their perspectives on any topic close to their hearts. This year, a total of 4,991 thought-provoking works were submitted, with participation from 691 schools.

We are delighted to extend our congratulations to Anna Slack in Year 6, whose outstanding entry was named winner in the Year 5/6 category (which makes up the largest amount of entries received). Anna attended the awards ceremony at the Whitlam Institute within Western Sydney University on Friday, 15 September to receive her prize. Her winning entry is shared below.

Kristy Williams
Year 5 Teacher

What Matters?

I will always be around, in one form or another. At least, I hope so. Traditionally, I’ve been very visible. Special rooms have housed me. I have sat on the shelves and observed you, your comings, and your goings. Great buildings were constructed in my honour, quiet places of contemplation and learning. I have been remarked upon, quoted, queried and debated. Revered and loved.

That’s not to say I’ve always been popular. People have disagreed with me. Nor have I always been right. Some people, however, have sought to rid the world of me completely. I’ve been called dangerous and manipulative. Largely, though, I’ve survived and grown because what I am, and what I do, matters.

Time and technology change everything. Nothing stays the same. I evolve, as I always have and as I need to and as I should. There was a time when only monks took an interest in me. The industrial revolution shook things up and suddenly, I was everywhere. Papyrus to cloth to vellum. I was consumed by people from all different societies and no topic was off limits. Religion. Politics. Economics.

Knowledge spread and the people who devoured me embraced different views and perspectives. More people had access to more knowledge. As knowledge spread, challenges to their power became more common. That was where a lot of the trouble started for me. I’ve been burned. Buried and shredded. Dissolved and drowned. Erased. I’ve suffered redaction and other humiliations. I have been used to manipulate when different views have been suppressed.

I could survive those things, though. They could not get rid of all of me. The age of the internet seemed at first to be my saviour. How could I be silenced now? I was everywhere and accessible by almost everyone in the world. However, suddenly, I could be edited by anyone. Facts omitted. Facts made up. False information is often more powerful than information. I am used to silence those with differing views. Respectful debate is no longer. Insults are delivered. Different views are not tolerated.

I am changed. I have become a weapon against tolerance.

l should be ideas. I should be discussion. I should be polite disagreement. I should be debate. I should be free speech.

Who am I? I am the written word. I am books. I am newspapers. I am magazines. I am websites.

I am what matters.