UNE alumna, Julie Butler, has sent Pulse a poem, FUTURE FIT, that she has written for the University’s 70th anniversary.
Julie was a student at UNE from 1975 to 1978. She started writing poetry in 1978 while still at university. Julie’s work has been published in literary magazines in Australia, USA, India and anthologies and she won an Australia-wide poetry competition in 1996. The prize was a publication of a book of poems. Her poems are regularly broadcast on ABC Radio and commercial radio stations. Julie loves the challenge of writing and entering poetry competitions and had a poem longlisted in the Yeovil 2023 Poetry Competition in England in June 2023. In December 2023, she won The Fellowship Of Australian Writers Poetry competition at Lambing Flat run in conjunction with the Young Cherry Festival. Julie currently has a poem, The Eyes of an Ant’ longlisted in the 2024 Cloncurry Poetry Prize competition, with the unusual title relating to the competition theme: ‘Standing on the Shoulders of Giants’, through the lens of Outback Australia.
Julie graduated with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in 1979.
FUTURE FIT
(A poem written for the 70th anniversary of the University of New England)
A university so grand and bold,
In the heart of Armidale it does unfold,
Seventy years have come and gone,
But its legacy continues to live on.
With a vision to nurture, to educate,
To cultivate minds towards a brighter fate,
University of New England, a name so revered,
Its 70th anniversary, a milestone to be cheered.
From humble beginnings, it has grown,
To be a home for many, a place to call their own,
A melting pot of cultures, diversity at its best,
With a strong community, it stands the test.
With its sprawling campus, lush and green,
A serene haven, a picturesque scene,
It beckons students from, far and wide,
To embrace knowledge, to let their passions ride.
In its hallowed halls, wisdom abounds,
With professors, mentors, who astound,
Guiding seekers towards their dreams,
Nurturing talents, igniting new gleams.
No rhyme, no meter, can do justice,
To the complex words, to express,
The impact of UNE, in our lives,
An irreplaceable part, forever we’ll thrive.
So let’s raise a toast, to 70 years,
Of excellence, of growth, of overcoming fears,
University of New England, we celebrate thee,
A beacon of hope, for all to see.
© COPYRIGHT 2024. JULIE BUTLER.
30-3-2024