Rainbow Matters

Abigail Dawson of Year 7 had no idea she was good at writing until last week – her work was shortlisted in the national writing competition, ‘What Matters’. Her stunning piece, ‘Rainbow Matters’, effectively and poetically conveys the important issue of respecting other cultures.

The competition, one of Santa Sabina’s enrichment opportunities for gifted students, is organised by The Whitlam Institute within the University of Western Sydney. Several Year 7 Santa Sabina students entered along with thousands of students from across Australia. They wrote on issues that were important to them.

Abigail originally wrote her piece in 2020 as a speech in response to the Black Lives Matter movement but it had remained unspoken.

‘I have always had interests in learning about different cultures and traditions’, she says.

‘​​I was very shocked to find out I had been shortlisted as I did not enter the competition in an attempt to win but just to see what happens in writing competitions and if I would continue doing this. Although it was unexpected I was very happy and proud when I got the results.’

This is Abigail’s first entry in a writing competition. 

You can read ‘Rainbow Matters’ here: https://www.whitlam.org/what-matters-2022-shortlisted-entries/2022/7/25/rainbow-matters

We congratulate Abigail on this significant achievement!

Victoria Harper
Publications and Marketing Officer