Friyana wins Mackellor

When Friyana Billimoria won the prestigious Dorothea Mackellor Poetry Award for Junior Schools in September she iced a cake brimming with achievements in debating, public speaking and writing, informs Kersi Meher-Homji from Australia in an e-mail to Parsiana. A grade nine distinction student of Kingswood College in Melbourne, Friya­na (meaning beloved) won the Victoria State level Rostrum Voice Of Youth Public Speaking Competition back to back in 2004 and 2005 and achieved a high rank in the National Finals in Hobart. The vivacious, ambitious student is said to be an all-rounder, consistently scoring high grades in her school assignments.

"Not so good in sport, the 14-year-old surprised all including herself by netting a winning goal in hockey for her school against archrivals Knox School, the reigning champion,” notes sports writer Meher-Homji.

"For winning the 2005 Dorothea Mackellor Poetry Award for the Junior

Young high flyers Friyana and Shahzad

Secondary Schools category (with 15,771 entries across Australia) she received a trophy and a cheque for Aus. $ 500 and a trip to Gunnedah in New South Wales, the birthplace of Mac-kellor,” writes Meher-Homji.

Friyana submitted two poems, Who Am I? and Oh Water, My Destiny. The prize-winning Who Am I? starts with her roots in Bombay, love of her family and ends with:

"I have brought with me

The greatest gift of all

HOPE.

Who am I?

I am a migrant,

Foreign, different, unique

I am an Australian

Contrast, compare

Conundrum

Melbourne

Home.”

Hardly ever at a loss for words, Friyana greeted the award presented by John Anderson, the former deputy prime minister of Australia, saying she "was delighted that Australians acknowledge the contributions of migrants coming to a new country.”

Friyana’s youn-ger brother Shahzad, 11, has also won awards in basketball and essay writing, notes Meher-Homji. "The young prizewinners migrated to Australia in January 2002 with their parents and have assimilated well in the Australian society. At the same time, they have retained their unique Indian and Zoroastrian identity as they exchange stories and cultures with their mates and mentors.

"Recognizing their achievements, the Rotary Club in their district has invited the young high flyers as guest speakers,” adds Meher-Homji.