Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), Monday 2 August 1920, page 6


RUPERT BROOKE PRIZE.

Won by Sydney Poet.

The Rupert Brooke literary prize of 25 guineas, which was instituted last year by the Old Collegians' Association of the Pres-byterian Ladies' College, Melbourne, in com-

memoration of peace, has been awarded to Mr. David McKee Wright, of Sydney, who is well known throughout the Common-wealth as a writer of verse. He is of Irish birth, but has resided in Australia

for many years.

The prize was given for a poem on the subject of "Gallipoli," and one of the con-ditions laid down was that the work must be of not less than 150 lines and not more than 300 lines, in which respect it resembles the famous Newdigate prize awarded at Oxford, and won by many men who after-wards attained to great fame. The com-petition, which was announced in Novem-

ber, 1919, and closed on May 31 last, was open to British-born subjects in Australia and New Zealand, and more than 60 persons took part in it. For a short poem there would undoubtedly have been as many hundreds. The judges were Professor Wal- lace and Dr. Archibald Strong, of the Mel-bourne University, and Mr. Oliphant, pre-sident of the Melbourne Shakespeare Society. To them was reserved the right of declining to make any award, and it will be interesting to read their report of the quality of the work submitted.

It is proposed by the Old Collegians' Association to award further prizes for prose and plays.