Coolbellup poet Renee Pettitt-Schipp named finalist in Ethel Webb Bundell Literary Awards

TALENTED writer Renee Pettitt-Schipp has been announced as a finalist in the Ethel Webb Bundell Literary Awards.

The Coolbellup resident was nominated in the poetry category for her work What the rain said, which she said was a response to climate change.

“It is about understanding oneself as an animal dependent on the living world and our shared vulnerability as we continue to treat the earth as though our destinies are not deeply intertwined,” she said.

“It was inspired by a workshop run by talented local nature writer Annamaria Weldon.”

Pettitt-Schipp said poets often lived an isolated existence, working alone and unsure whether their work would resonate with others.

“To have another poet read your work and be moved enough to (say) ‘yes, I hear you’ helps to give me the strength and courage to keep going,” she said.

Winners will be announced on Tuesday at Citiplace.

Judges for this year’s competition are Kevin Gillam and Roesanne Dingli.