Former student celebrated in NESA Young Writers Anthology

Former Mt Carmel Catholic College, Varroville student Liam Tannoury can officially call himself a published author. The 2024 HSC graduate was one of nineteen young writers chosen from 1500 students across NSW to have their HSC English Extension 2 Major Work published in the acclaimed NSW Education Authority (NESA) Young Writers anthology.

Liam’s major work, titled Witness, is a moving collection of poems retelling his mother’s journey as a Vietnamese refugee and his father’s experience as a Lebanese child soldier. 

Through poetic storytelling, Liam explored identity, cultural inheritance and generational trauma, drawing from his family’s lived experiences and giving voice to their stories with insight and care.

“It was my first time writing a big, ambitious piece of poetry,” Liam shared. “But I found I could write a poem in 10 to 15 minutes, and edit it the next day in class.” He encourages students to “trust your gut,” work with teachers, and stay true to their voice. “The point of Extension 2 is to find your own voice and find yourself as a young writer.”

Liam’s growth has been supported through strong learning partnerships and a school culture that values student voice, creativity and connection, providing the opportunity for every student to realise their full potential.