Student Spotlight
Former Mt Carmel Catholic College, Varroville student Liam Tannoury can officially call himself a published author. The 2024 HSC graduate was one of nineteen brilliant young writers chosen from 1500 students throughout the state of NSW, to have their HSC English Extension 2 Major Work published in the highly-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 themes of identity, cultural inheritance and generational trauma, drawing meaning 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 I would come to class and edit the next day.”
He encourages other students to “trust your gut,” work closely with their teachers, and remain true to their own voice. “The point of Extension Two 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.
His English teacher, Clare Murphy, who has taught at Mount Carmel for over 32 years, has been instrumental in cultivating an environment of trust, encouragement, and high expectations.
'I have had the privilege of teaching English Extension 2 for many years - a subject which is essentially about the power of storytelling,” she said. “We all have a story to tell and young people particularly need stories to make sense of themselves and their world.”
“Extension 2 provides that creative space to journey with teachers, family members, writers, philosophers, and theologians, to compose a text which has something significant to say. This journey requires immense commitment and drive. The tension between self-belief and doubt is a necessary part of the creative process. Looking back over the many outstanding Major Works produced by students at Mount Carmel, I am left with a sense of wonder and awe.”
Liam’s success was celebrated at a special event at NSW Parliament House in May, where Young Writers 2024 was officially launched. The anthology features some of the state’s most promising student voices, offering a platform for young people to share their stories, perspectives and insights with the wider community.
Congratulations to Liam on this extraordinary achievement—and to Clare Murphy, whose commitment to knowing, valuing and supporting students continues to make a lasting difference in their lives.
The collection of work is available in digital form from NESA’s Showcase Hub.
