Scotch College

Poignancy and power as poetry takes centre stage in Memorial Hall

Congratulations to Derrick Tsang (Year 12) who was recently awarded the inaugural Karl Yeomans Poetry Award for his original anthology of poetry entitled, ‘The Secrets of Love’.

Words: Bradley Wells • Head of English

This new annual prize is awarded to the boy whose original poem or collection of poems is judged to be the best in the School. For its inaugural year, Old Scotch Collegian and parent of former Scotch boys Professor Chris Wallace-Crabbe kindly agreed to do the judging. Professor Wallace-Crabbe is himself an internationally recognised poet who is currently senior lecturer at Melbourne University and Emeritus Professor at The Australian Centre.

Lachlan Malcolm (Year 9) was the runner-up while Allan Tang (Year 12) and David Fagan (Year 12) were highly commended. All these winning entries are published on the English department’s website and the overall winning entry has been published in the Collegian.

The real power of such poetry, however, was evocatively displayed when Derek read his winning poem to the School at assembly in the Memorial Hall. This setting took on particular poignancy because of the presence of special guests from the Yeomans family.

The award is named in honour of Karl Yeomans (’89), an Old Boy who died last year of cancer at the age of 33. The Yeomans family generously chose to remember his legacy through the endowment of an award which seeks to encourage the writing and performing of poetry at Scotch.

Karl wrote a poem, ‘The Miggy Tree’, as a gift for his mother, Margot – affectionately known as Miggy – to celebrate her 50th birthday in 1996.

Shortly after his death, Karl’s partner, Julie Buxton decided to bring this wonderful poem to life as a beautifully illustrated book and a precious gift for their two-year-old son, Marlow, and Marlow’s grandmother, Miggy. ‘The Miggy Tree’ will be launched in time for Mothers’ Day.

Karl’s eloquent and quirky prose is complemented by a set of exquisite illustrations by illustrator Anna Walker, transporting us into the magical, whimsical world of ‘The Miggy Tree’.

For further information visit

www.miggytree.com.au