General News
23 October, 2025
Winner chosen in celebration of peace
THE Mortlake Lions faced a difficult decision in choosing a winner as part of this year’s International Peace Poster Contest.
For more than 30 years Lions Clubs across the world have worked with local schools and youth groups to host a competition which encourages young people to embrace their artistic talents and design an annual poster representing peace.
Last Friday Lions Club member Julie Southwick and president Heather Rowe visited Mortlake College to announce the winner of this year’s competition.
Ms Southwick said while many students were deserving, Charli Jones had been selected as this year’s winner while Clancey Greene received an honorary mention for her effort.
“I thought Charli’s design was very good,” she said.
“The way she used her colouring for the background to blend it all in showed the thought she put into the design.
“She had the doves and various flags of the world representing peace, which I thought was quite good.
“Everyone did a wonderful job, with a main theme being the doves and depictions of the globe.
“It’s good to make the kids think about peace – that’s the most important part.”
Ms Southwick said the competition provided an opportunity for young people to consider the bigger picture when creating their posters.
“We bring this competition to both schools in Mortlake every year for children aged 11, 12 and 13 to stop for a moment and think about what peace means to them,” she said.
“They have the opportunity to draw their thoughts within a theme – which this year was ‘Together as One’.
“They draw – without any writing or lettering – something which, to them, represents peace.
“It’s mainly to get the kids thinking about what’s going on in the world nowadays.”
Ms Southwick thanked students who had taken part, and wished Charli the best of luck as her winning entry now progresses to a regional competition.
“The entries this year were very good and the thought that went into it was excellent,” she said.
“There was some wonderful guidance from the teachers but the children have done a wonderful job, putting in a lot of thought.
“Now the winners will go on to a regional competition, then the regional winner goes to state, then the national winner goes to New York to vie for a $10,000 prize.”
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