Camilla welcomes Essay Competition winners with first speech as Queen Consort
Camilla gave her first official speech as Queen Consort at a Buckingham Palace reception for winners of the Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition on Thursday.
Camilla began her speech by paying tribute to the Queen, who had been a patron of the Royal Commonwealth Society since 1952.
She said: “Over the past few months, my husband and I have drawn immense comfort from the messages of condolence that we have received, and continue to receive, from the four corners of the world.
“They have reminded us that the written word has a unique ability to connect, to heal, to reassure and to offer hope, even in the midst of grief.”
Camilla, who became vice-patron of the society in 2018, added: “All of us are bound together by a profound appreciation of the written word and of our Commonwealth.
“This wonderful, extraordinary, richly diverse association of independent and equal nations, and friends, is, truly, ‘ours’, belonging to each one of us, and the connections between us run deep.”
She finished her speech with a quote by the late South African president Nelson Mandela , who she described as a “great writer”, saying “a winner is a dreamer who never gives up”.
A record-breaking 26,322 children entered the 2022 competition, with the winners and runners-up from New Zealand, Australia, the UK and India.
The senior winner was 17-year-old Sawooly Li from New Zealand. Ms Li said Camilla “was lovely” and had spoken to all the nominees individually, adding that the day had been “an amazing experience”.
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Ms Li told the PA news agency: “You see Buckingham Palace on television, but you never expect you would come here yourself.”
The junior winner, Madeleine Wood, 14, who lives in Melbourne, Australia, said Camilla had made all the winners “feel relaxed” before going on stage, adding that the American novelist Donna Tartt was one of her favourite authors.
Extracts from the winning pieces were read by Royal Commonwealth Society ambassadors including Alexandra Burke, Ayesha Dharker, Geri Horner and Ben Okri.
Mr Okri, the 1991 Booker Prize winner, said Camilla had “become our great literary Queen Consort”, before reading out Ms Li’s winning entry, Willow Trees and Waterholes.
Ms Horner, also known as Ginger Spice from the Spice Girls, recommended The Book Thief by Markus Zusak to Camilla, who said she had it on her “reading board” for the Royal Reading Room.
Camilla also met three previous winners and runners-up from 2020 and 2021, who were not able to attend awards ceremonies due to Covid restrictions.
For 2022, the competition theme was Our Commonwealth, reflecting on the Queen’s seven decades of service to the Commonwealth.
The Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition is the world’s oldest international writing competition for schools.
It was founded in 1883 by the Royal Commonwealth Society to promote literacy, expression and creativity among young people throughout the Commonwealth.
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Christabel, Rui Yu among gold winners in Commonwealth essay competition
Christabel Lau
KUCHING (Oct 5): Christabel Lau and Ong Rui Yu of St Joseph’s International School (SJIS) here were among 171 gold finalists out of 25,648 participants in the Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition 2021.
According to a press statement, the Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition (QCEC), which was established in 1883, is the world’s oldest international writing competition for schools.
With thousands of young people taking part each year, it is an important way to recognise achievement, elevate youth voices and develop key skills through creative writing.
This year’s competition is themed ‘Community in the Commonwealth.’
For Lau, participating in competitions like QCEC allowed her to explore the depths of her creativity and expand her knowledge on what was happening around her.
“It took about a week for me to come up with different ideas on how I’d want the story to go. The story concept had been revised thrice before I was set on the current concept.
“It was my goal to make the drafting journey as fun as possible and it took about two months before I came up with a final draft that I was proud of,” she said.
She thanked her English teacher Ann Armstrong for introducing a variety of writing competitions last year and encouraging her students to participate in them.
“I probably wouldn’t have been aware of the QCEC without her. It was also because of her that I was able to improve my writing skills so drastically,” she said and encouraged students to challenge themselves in writing competitions.
“You really do learn and gain a lot of awareness on a variety of topics such as climate change, life and so on.”
Ong meanwhile chose to write on the topic ‘Keeping Connected through the Covid-19.’
“It was a challenge to gather my thoughts and feelings about an ongoing pandemic when all I wanted to do was escape from this world. It took one month of many idea changes, drafts, and edits before this work today.
”I wanted to show people and document their experiences – both highs and lows. Major sources of inspiration were ‘Night’ by Elie Wiesel and two pieces of music – ‘Moon Song’ by Karen O and ‘I’m Forrest…Forrest Gump’ by Alan Silvestri,” she said.
When Ong heard that she was one of the gold finalists, she said the news came like a “spring breeze amidst a period of stressful studying.”
“I felt grateful that God has granted me this achievement and I was pleased that my results have improved compared to last year’s Silver.
“I hope to hone my skills even more to achieve Winner next year if God wills it,” she said.
She encouraged aspiring writers to read more to expose themselves to different ways of expressions; to know what they’re trying to convey and to be creative.
“Understand your audience. QCEC is searching for creative, profound works and it’s an avenue to spill your hearts out. Most importantly, don’t stop halfway,” she said.
Meanwhile, Lydia Ting, also from SJIS, achieved a Silver Award from QCEC.
“It took me around five days to finish the essay and when news reached me that I had won Silver, I was very surprised and glad as it was really unexpected.
“I am beyond grateful and privileged to receive this award,” she said and thanked Armstrong for introducing and encouraging both her and her classmates to join this competition.
She said joining QCEC had opened her eyes and motivated her to become a better version of herself.
“I would like to encourage other students to join because you never know what you can achieve if you don’t try. Anything is possible if you set your heart on it and work hard.
“I myself am looking forward to writing again in the future,” said Ting.
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Commonwealth Bank earnings drop to $9.5 billion as chief executive notes 'many households are obviously finding it harder'
Topic: Business, Economics and Finance
The Commonwealth Bank has posted its profit for the 2024 financial year. ( ABC News: Margaret Burin )
The Commonwealth Bank has posted a $9.48 billion statutory full-year net profit after tax for 2023-24, down 6 per cent.
Home loan arrears (90 or more days) were 0.65 per cent of CBA's total mortgages at the end of June, up 13 basis points from December.
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But CBA chief executive Matt Comyn says mortgage defaults remain very low.
The Commonwealth Bank has posted a net profit of $9.5 billion, down 6 per cent from its record result last financial year, while noting that younger Australians are bearing the brunt of the impact of the rising cost of living.
CBA attributed the drop in earnings mainly to inflationary increases in operating expenses, which were partly offset by lower loan impairment expenses.
"Operating expenses increased 3 per cent due to higher inflation impacting staff costs, additional technology spend to support the delivery of our strategic priorities, and lower one-off items," the bank said in its results release.
It said its investment spend was up 1 per cent on last financial year to $2 billion, after investing in modernising its technology in an effort to "enhance services" and meet "evolving regulatory requirements".
The bank said the drop in its net interest margins, the gap between what the bank pays to borrow money and the interest rates it receives from lending it out, by 8 basis points to 1.99 per cent, reflected "competitive pressures" and "inflationary cost increases".
"Margins decreased year-on-year largely due to the impact of competition and deposit switching, partly offset by higher earnings on replicating portfolio and equity hedges," it said.
However, CBA noted that margins had stabilised in the second half of the financial year, increasing by 1 basis point.
The Commonwealth Bank said its return on equity — a key measure of corporate profitability — was down 30 basis points (cash basis) due to "lower profits".
Australia's largest bank will pay a final dividend of $2.50 per share, compared with $2.40 a year ago. It will deliver a total dividend for the year of $4.65 per share, fully franked.
The full-year dividend payout ratio is 79 per cent of cash net profit after tax.
'Many households are obviously finding it harder'
The bank's loan impairment expense for bad debts decreased by about 28 per cent, to $802 million, which it attributed to robust credit and underwriting practices as well as rising house prices and lower expected losses within consumer finance.
In its investor presentation, CBA chief executive Matt Comyn noted that households and businesses have experienced a number of extreme shocks in recent years, including a global pandemic and inflation pressures.
"The effects are still being felt," he added.
CBA chief executive Matt Comyn said the bank was expecting a "continued, gradual deterioration" in mortgage stress. ( ABC News: John Gunn. )
In an interview with The World Today ahead of the briefing, Mr Comyn also provided insights into the bank's economic expectations for the next six to 12 months.
He said the bank did not expect Australia would fall into recession, but "clearly growth has slowed and will continue to over the course of this calendar year".
"We'd be looking for an increase in growth in the coming years," he said.
CBA also expects a "continued, gradual deterioration" in mortgage stress into next year, according to Mr Comyn.
"We're seeing many households are obviously finding it harder and harder with the environment we're in with higher cost of living," Matt Comyn told The World Today.
"We're actually seeing low levels of arrears and stress in the mortgage book. That's not to say that many households are not finding the current environment very challenging."
Mr Comyn said he still expects to see a November interest rate cut as a chance — despite last week's warning from Reserve Bank of Australia Bank governor Michele Bullock that there'll be no cut for six months.
Increase in borrowers struggling to make repayments
The Commonwealth Bank has access to the financial data of millions of Australians and writes about a quarter of the country's mortgages.
It has highlighted a slight increase in the number of borrowers struggling to meet their payments due to the combination of higher inflation and higher interest rates.
Home loan repayments that are late by 90 or more days were 0.65 per cent of CBA's total mortgages at the end of June, an increase of 13 basis points from December last year.
Home loan arrears that are late by 30 or more days were also tracking higher at the end of June, at 1.30 per cent of CBA's total mortgages.
Credit cards and personal loans that are behind for 90 or more days were 0.74 per cent (up 14 basis points) and 1.5 per cent (up 36 basis points) respectively.
"Consumer arrears increased reflecting the impact of higher interest rates and cost-of-living pressures on some borrowers," CBA said in a statement.
However, Mr Comyn noted mortgage defaults — where loans have had to be called in because a borrower is no longer expected to be able to service it — remain very low.
"I think a couple of things are driving that. One, obviously unemployment remains very low in Australia and secondly, house prices have been resilient," he said.
"We've seen house prices continue to appreciate over the course of the year. Notwithstanding the challenges from a repayment perspective, the value of their home has continued to trend higher over the course of the year."
Younger Australians continue to cut back on spending
In its investor presentation, CBA noted cost of living impacts had been unevenly felt among customers, particularly among younger people.
With inflation pushing prices higher, all age brackets have been spending more on essentials from April to June than they were in the same period last year, because these items are costing more.
In its investor briefing, CBA noted younger customers were cutting back on discretionary saving. ( Supplied: CBA )
The bank found that people aged 20–24 and 25–34 have cut back on their discretionary spending over the last three months as spending on essentials increased.
"Younger Australians who tend to have lower incomes and lower savings buffers are most sensitive to changing prices," Mr Comyn said.
At the same time, people within these age groups are experiencing reduced savings, with that trend continuing from the December quarter.
CBA found discretionary spending and savings were highest in the cohort of people over 65 between April and June, reflecting a continued trend of growth since January 2020.
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 QCEC FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONSWho can enter. The competition is open to nationals or residents of all Commonwealth countries and territories, as well as residents of Hong Kong, Ireland, and Zimbabwe. Residents of non-Commonwealth countries where there is an operating RCS branch or affiliated/partner organisation are also eligible; however, entries must be submitted via the local RCS branch or affiliated/partner organisation. Tips from the JudgesThe following guidelines provide some useful insights from previous judges who have had experience recognising what makes a good piece of writing, and may help you get started on your submission: Choose to answer one of the topics, and you are encouraged to interpret this in any way you wish. Think carefully about the form of writing you use to answer the topic. There are a variety of forms and styles to play with. Make sure to use your own voice and your own words. Judges are very good at spotting work that is not original. We understand that English is a diverse language and there are different and innovative ways of using it around the Commonwealth. We encourage diversity and creativity of language in submissions. Ensure you take into account grammar and punctuation whilst writing your piece. Do not submit an entry without proof-reading. Presentation is important: think about the visual appearance of the entry as well as the quality of the content. Guidance NotesParticipants are expected to show originality and flair, linked to sound academic standards and competent use of English as a written language. This includes a good standard of spelling and punctuation, neat presentation and clear hand-writing or word-processing. Entries must respond to the topic. Each year a number of good entrants must be disregarded because they do not fully answer/reflect on what the topic has asked them to do. Entrants are encouraged to be creative in their response to a topic. Entries can be submitted in a number of different formats: for example, a poem, letter, article, story, essay or a short play/script. Illustrations are welcomed, particularly in Junior entries, but they must enhance the written text and add to the overall quality of the entry. Winning CategoriesJunior Awards Categories (Under 14s) Junior Winner Junior Runner-up Gold Awards Silver Awards Bronze Awards Certificate of Participation Senior Awards Categories (Under 14-18) Senior Winner Senior Runner-up What if I'm too old to participate?If you're over 18 by the deadline, you'll still be eligible to compete for the Commonwealth Short Story Prize . Are there prizes for the winners?One Winner and Runner Up will be chosen from each category. Winners and Runners Up (accompanied by one adult/guardian) will be brought to London for a week of educational and cultural events, culminating in a special Awards Ceremony. A number of Gold Finalist, Gold, Silver and Bronze Awards will be given in both the Senior and Junior categories, rewarding excellence in writing. All successful entries will receive a Certificate of Participation. Local RCS branches often hold local and regional ceremonies or offer prizes so if you were made aware of the competition by your local RCS branch, please contact them after the competition closes on 15 May to inquire about any activities they might have planned. Is there a word limit?Yes, different word count rules apply to Junior and Senior categories. Please see our Terms and Conditions for more details. Can I write on more than one topic?No, students may only submit one essay each, which means that you have to choose one of the four topics in your relevant category. Where can I find the topics for the 2024 competition?Topics for The Queen's Commonwealth Essay Competition 2024 can be read online or downloaded. How do I know if my entry was successfully submitted?At the end of the online submission process, you will receive a notice that your entry has been successfully submitted. This notice will contain a unique identification number, which will also be emailed to your nominated email address. If you are encountering difficulties, please email [email protected] for assistance. How do I download my certificate?Certificates are no longer able to be downloaded by entrants. Entrants to the QCEC 2024 will have their certificates sent to their nominated email address at the end of the judging process in September 2024. How do I submit my essay online?Please click here to submit your entry online. Please note that we do not accept entries sent by email. 
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In 2021 we were thrilled to announce that a record-breaking 25,648 children entered The Queen's Commonwealth Essay Competition 2021 from every Commonwealth region. The 2021 winners and runners-up are: Senior Winner: Kayla Bosire. aged 16 from Nairobi, Kenya.
We were thrilled to receive a record-breaking 26,322 entries to the QCEC from every Commonwealth region, with the winners and runners-up from New Zealand, Australia, the United Kingdom and India. 2021 WINNERS. We were delighted to receive a record-breaking 25,648 entries to The Queen's Commonwealth Essay Competition 2021, with entries from ...
The Queen's Commonwealth Essay Competition is the world's oldest international writing competition for schools, proudly delivered by the Royal Commonwealth Society since 1883. ... proudly delivered by the Royal Commonwealth Society since 1883. Find out more about the competition and how to enter. top of page. DONATE. WHO WE ARE. Vision and ...
Meet the 2023 winners and read their entries: https://www.royalcwsociety.org/meet-the-winners
Royal Commonwealth Society. ·. September 18, 2021 ·. QCEC UPDATE: In just 10 days, on the 28th September, we will be announcing the Winners and Runners-up of The Queen's Commonwealth Essay Competition 2021! Stay tuned to our social media channels (Instagram, Facebook & Twitter @RoyalCWSociety) for this exciting announcement! 144. 39 comments.
The Commonwealth Essay Competition, which has engaged around 140, 000 young people, more than 5, 000 schools, and many thousands of volunteer judges across the Commonwealth, in the last decade.
The Queen's Commonwealth Essay Competition is the world's oldest schools' international writing competition, managed by The Royal Commonwealth Society since 1883. Every year, it offers all Commonwealth youth aged 18 and under the opportunity to express their hopes for the future, opinions of the present, and thoughts on the past through ...
Sam Hall, PA. 17 November 2022 · 3-min read. Camilla gave her first official speech as Queen Consort at a Buckingham Palace reception for winners of the Queen's Commonwealth Essay Competition on Thursday. Camilla began her speech by paying tribute to the Queen, who had been a patron of the Royal Commonwealth Society since 1952.
Sam Hall November 17, 2022. Camilla gave her first official speech as Queen Consort at a Buckingham Palace reception for winners of the Queen's Commonwealth Essay Competition on Thursday ...
The Queen's Commonwealth Essay Prize. Published 16 November 2023. The Queen has celebrated 140 years of The Queen's Commonwealth Essay Prize with winners, supporters and a host of well-known writers at Buckingham Palace. The competition was founded during Queen Victoria's reign, and since then, it has given young people aged 11 to 17 ...
KUCHING (Oct 5): Christabel Lau and Ong Rui Yu of St Joseph's International School (SJIS) here were among 171 gold finalists out of 25,648 participants in the Queen's Commonwealth Essay ...
The Queen's Commonwealth Essay Competition (QCEC) is the world's oldest international schools' writing contest, established by the Society in 1883. With thousands of young people taking part each year, it is an important way to recognise achievement, elevate youth voices and develop key skills through creative writing. ... Royal Commonwealth ...
The Queen's Commonwealth Essay Competition 2021 is now open for submissions! Through the theme 'Community in the Commonwealth' young #Commonwealth citizens can creatively share their ideas and be heard by a global audience.
Jun 18, 2021. --. The Royal Commonwealth Society is now accepting submission for the 2021 edition of the Queen's Commonwealth Essay Competition. The competition is open to all citizens and ...
Returning in 2021 to final judging panel of The Queen's Commonwealth Essay Competition for the second time is Femi Elufowoju, jr who is an international award-winning theatre maker. His work has...
For 2021 the Competition theme is Community in the Commonwealth. It is possible to View the topics for 2021. The essay writing competition is a side event of the commonwealth head of state meeting CHOGM under the patronage of HRH the Duchess of Cornwall. This year, it will be a co-host with The First Lady of Rwanda, Mrs Jeannette Kagame.
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The 2020 Winners and Runners-up were drawn from across the Commonwealth (Singapore, India, Canada and Ghana) and wrote inspiring poems, essays and narratives on the topic 'Climate Action and the Commonwealth'. In 2020 we were also delighted to host our first virtual Awards Ceremony. The virtual ceremony revealed the winners and featured ...
The Commonwealth Bank has posted a profit of $9.5 billion, down 6 per cent from its record results last financial year, while noting that younger Australians are bearing the brunt of the impact of ...
Royal Commonwealth Society, London, United Kingdom. 21,459 likes · 71 talking about this · 349 were here. Through youth empowerment, education and high-level advocacy, the Society champions the...
<p>MOSCOW INTERNATIONAL FOTO AWARDS, MIFA conducts an annual competition for professional, non-professional, and student photographers on a global level, creating an ambitious and comprehensive competitions in the photography world. Originally created as a one time event to introduce international photography to Moscow creative community, MIFA exhibition was a big success and many requested to ...
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The competition is open to nationals or residents of all Commonwealth countries and territories, as well as residents of Hong Kong, Ireland, and Zimbabwe. ... Topics for The Queen's Commonwealth Essay Competition 2024 can be read online or downloaded. ... Royal Commonwealth Society is a registered charity in England and Wales (226748 ...
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