Moama student's peace poem selected in worldwide anthology

“I found the competition online two days before the due date and I thought I may as well have a go,” Olivia said.

“I actually wrote the poem the night before it was due.”

The Moama Anglican Grammar Year 12 student said the topic came easily to her.

“I'm doing modern history at school because I just love history,” she said.

“We learnt about World War I towards the end of Year 11 and the Battle of the Somme was part of that. So I decided to write about that.

“I've written some short stories over the years but not so much poetry.

“It was hard at times, rejigging the lines so the poem would flow and capture the story.

“I showed it to Mum who thought it was good and my English teacher liked it too, but by then I'd already submitted it.”

While the results were released on February 19, Olivia didn't find out until last week.

“When I saw my name on the Facebook page, I thought ‘I really hope there's not another Olivia Douglas’," she laughed.

“It means a lot to be selected. It's pretty significant and I feel lucky to be able to wow the judges enough to have them put my poem in the book.

“It's strange because I wasn't there when it (World War I) happened but I've had a lot of people tell me I captured the essence and revealed something about the time.

“I'm glad I went for it. At the time, I kept asking myself ‘should I, shouldn't I?’ but in the end I decided just to put it in and see what happens.”

The book is expected to be published this week.

“As soon as it's out, we'll be buying it and I'll get to see my poem in there along with another 999,” Olivia said.

While she could have a future in writing, Olivia has other plans.

“I've got big ambitions to study acting at NIDA (National Institute of Dramatic Art) in Sydney so hopefully I'll be accepted,” she said.

“Otherwise RMIT. I'd like to get into acting or film directing eventually.”