2011 BREAKING NEWS: HOT OFF THE PRESS!

Rhymer shows his form at the "Ekka" 

Royal Brisbane Show Bush Poetry Competition Aug 2011

Performance Bush Poetry has long been an integral part of the Royal Brisbane Show landscape and the wide scope of arts, crafts & animals that the “Ekka” showcases every year at the Exhibition grounds.

Trisha Anderson’s troupe of colourful characters (otherwise known as some of the Best Bush Poets in the land) entertained the Brisbane Show crowds at various locations around the site for the 10 days of the event. 

Highlight of the Bush Poetry calendar at the Show is the annual Bush Poetry Competition sponsored by the RNA Show Society held on the 1^st Saturday.

As the Gregory Terrace grounds of the Show are currently in the midst of major renovations of the site a number of competitions/performances had been transferred to makeshift stages scattered around the Oval and this years Bush Poetry Competition happened to be one of those. Not quite the ideal conditions for our competitors or audience.

Anyway, as they say, ‘The show must go on’, and ‘go on’ it did, albeit to a slightly smaller crowd then usual. Glad to say there was no drop in the quality of said performances though. Females competed against Males as each of the competitors went at it ‘hammer and tongs’ to give their very best to the crowds at hand.

Winner of the Original Section was Graeme Johnson (of NSW) whilst Kevin Dean took out the Established section.

Royal Brisbane Show Competition Results 2011

“Bobby Miller Memorial Award” (for best Comedy)

1st Graeme Johnson

MORE 2011  NEWS

Rhymer from Ryde WINS Original Section of Golden Damper Bush Poetry Performance Competition at Tamworth Country Music Festival 2011  Country Energy Tamworth Poetry Competition Report 2011
Two of the Country’s most eagerly sought after awards went up for grabs in January at West’s “Blazes” Auditorium during the Tamworth Country Music Festival 2011. After 3 days of torrid Heats the 10 Finalists in both the Original & Established competition sections ‘faced off’ to a sellout crowd at West’s Leagues Club on the last Saturday of the event.   Despite the floods the competition saw entries from all over the nation. The level of competition was second to none as Males & Females went ‘head to head’ performing an interesting mix of original comedy and serious work as well as a stunning array of Traditional Bush Verse and Established Contemporary pieces.  The crowd was treated to displays of showmanship, pathos and varied subject matter (where do they get their imaginations from) in a bright and bubbly showcase of all that is good with regards to “Aussie Bush Verse”.  David Proust Mc’d the event and kept it flowing at a ‘cracking pace’ and filled the gaps with jocular stories as only “Prousty” can.  Hats off to Jan Morris and the rest of the Tamworth Poetry Reading Group for all their efforts in running and co-ordinating such a fine event.
Country Energy Tamworth Poetry Competition Results 2011
Original Poetry First: Graeme Johnson Second: Jim Riches Third: John Best	Established Poetry First: Noel Bull Second: Brenda Joy Third: Peter Mace
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2010's ARCHIVED NEWS No 1

Rhymer from Ryde wins “Poet’s Breakfast Reciter’s Award” at the Man from Snowy River Festival

 Man from Snowy River Festival Report April 2010

Corryong, “Where Legends Ride” ran the slogan for the ever popular Man from Snowy River Festival 2010. Here horsemanship events run side by side with Bush Poetry, Art, Photographic & Multi-Media presentations to bring to life Banjo Paterson’s classic poem “The Man from Snowy River”.

Whilst the modern “Man from Snowy River” is being fought out over 6 preliminary & 2 Final events down at the Showground “Banjo’s Block” (located just up the road) plays host to Australia’s best Bush Poets who vie for the moniker of the Female & Male Overall Champions (known as the Matilda’s & Clancy’s appropriately).

Subsections accumulating points for these Overall titles include best “Aussie Poem & Aussie Comedy”, Original, Non-Original & best recitation of the Bard’s before mentioned epic. There is also the “Silver Brumby Award” for serious written verse & the “Corryong Larrikin Award” for best comedic written verse.

Banjo’s Block also plays host to three ‘top-notch’ Poet’s Breakfasts over the course of the weekend.

Geoffrey W. Graham also held court at various locations and Bob Magor from Sth Aust entertained the masses at the Colac Colac Caravan Park. Carol Reffold also contributed with many hours of Mc’ing.

 2010's ARCHIVED NEWS No 2

Rhymer from Ryde wins Third Place (Overall Male Championship)

NSW Bush Poetry Titles-Dunedoo, NSW,

NSW Bush Poetry Championships Report 2010

Small and unassuming Dunedoo may be but the townsfolk are very proud of their ‘neck of the woods’ that’s for sure. So proud to show off their town and its assets that they invited the whole of NSW to come for a visit and watch the New South Wales Bush Poetry Championships go round between the 4-7^th March this year.

Thankfully the whole of NSW didn’t turn up but the punters who packed out the massive High School Auditorium on the Saturday were treated to a smorgasbord of versifying like you wouldn’t believe.

Thursday night saw a “Meet & Greet” at the local Caravan Park and ‘Tall tales & True’ were spruiked at the Dunedoo Golf Club on the Friday evening with the Yarnspinning night.

Saturday’s main competition saw some 78 individual performances (incl. 5 novices) over 9 hours keep the audiences glued to their seats for every syllable that was spoken.

Saturday brought a respite from the strain of competition with a fun night starring Milton Taylor, Noel Stallard, Carol Heuchan & Des Kelly.

2009's ARCHIVED NEWS No 1

Rhymer from Ryde WINS “Bobby Miller Memorial Trophy” for “Most Humourous Performance Poem” at the RNA Royal Brisbane Show Bush Poetry Competition Championships, QLD

Rhymer from Ryde WINS “Original Comedy Section” at the RNA Royal Brisbane Show Bush Poetry Competition Championships, QLD

Rhymer from Ryde wins Second Place in the “Non-Original Comedy Section” at the RNA Royal Brisbane Show Bush Poetry Competition Championships, QLD

Royal Brisbane Show “The Ekka” Report 2009

The “Ekka” as it affectionately known to Queenslanders is so named for the “Exhibition Grounds” on which the annual RNA Royal Brisbane Show is held. Every year (except 2) for the last 134 years the Bowen Hill site has been the showcase for the promotion and development of the agricultural, pastoral, horticultural, industrial, manufacturing & cultural resources of the state of QLD. 

The first show in 1876 was created to help fulfil this charter and has continued to grow in stature since its inception.

Today it continues to lead the way in the judging of produce & livestock and the show’s cattle competitions are one of the most prestigious in the country.

For approximately a decade now the Cattleman’s Rest Bar at the site has played host to the annual Bush Poetry Competition that has attracted versifiers from all over the land.

 Unfortunately (due to the hard economic times) sponsorship of the event (with regards to prizemoney) had been severely reduced bringing with it a reduction in overall competitors involved.

 This being said it was good to see that the high quality of the presentations viewed on the day had not suffered the same fate & the small but hardy crowd were treated to some sterling performances.

 Of course the emphasis is on comedy presentation (as per the sponsor’s wishes) and there were laughs aplenty on the day that’s for sure.

 Quite apart from the competition Bush Poetry featured very prominently on the “Ekka” programme. 6 shows a day were held on various stages ‘around the grounds’ with 3-4 different poets per day for the whole 10 days of the show. This contingent of the show’s programme has been organised now for many years by Trisha Anderson from the Palma Rosa Poets in Brisbane.

2009's ARCHIVED NEWS No 2

Rhymer from Ryde wins Second Place in Leonard Teale Memorial Spoken Word Award (Henry Lawson Heritage Festival)

Henry Lawson Heritage Festival 2009 Report

Historic Gulgongs cobbled & crooked streets once again rang to echoes of the past and visions of the future as artisans, poets, musicians, thespians & visitors enjoyed the June Long-Weekends Henry Lawson Heritage Festival 2009.

 A jam packed programme ran from Friday evening to Monday lunchtime as lovers of the arts participated in and listened to a plethora of Henry Lawson related activities.

 Prominent local identity Des Kelly (accompanied by Daryl Honeysett) got the ball rolling with his Tales of the Swag concert at the Prince of Wales Opera House. Also on the bill was Kim Deacon whose themed shows The loves of Henry Lawson presented Henrys poems in song & music with harp, guitar and banjo thrown in for good measure.

Guest Speakers gave talks on Lawsons works in the Henry Lawson Centre where the Monday Writers Morning Tea was also held and the Hunter Bush Poets Association ran the Poets Breakfast on the Sunday as well as the very popular Just Henry session where, you guessed it, only Henry Lawsons work was to be heard, be they verse or short stories.

Geoff Sharp (patron of the Henry Lawson Society) gave a Workshop on the art of Performance Poetry on the Saturday afternoon, sharing his considerable knowledge & experience with anyone who cared to partake of it.

Ellis Campbell was the 2009 Festival Guest of Honour. Ellis was born in Gulgong in 1926 and lived there for 50 years.

 The Festival was also visited by Henrys alter ego James Howard from Melbourne who has Henrys mannerisms & quirks down to a tee. James entertained not only in the set venues but also dallied around the town falling into conversation with many a layabout & drunken rascal. A wonderfully engaging personality to have at such an event.

 Those in the right place at the right time could also participate in the cutting of Henrys 142^nd Birthday Cake or join in Old Time & Highland Dancing (not at the same time of course). The Gulgong Community Singers warbled away on various street corners & those wanting a walk could join in the guided tours of the towns points of interest.

Of course the highlight of the weekend (for lovers of Bush Poetry) was the Literary Awards Presentation at the Opera House on the Sat night. It is here that the winners of the Henry Lawson Adult Literary Awards and the Short Story Competitions are announced. The 11 finalists from the Leonard Teale Memorial Spoken Word Award also strutted their stuff for the judges who had their work cut out for them with a very strong field of competitors indeed.

The field (containing no less than 2 former Australian Bush Poetry Champions) included Terry Regan, Roderick Williams, The Rhymer from Ryde, Robert Markwell, Ellis Campbell, Ron Brown, Robyn Sykes & the husband & wife pairing of Jacqui & Max Merckenschlager and believe me, each and every person had their eyes on that beguiling bronze bust of Henry Lawson that is First Prize.

Judges (for the first time) were using the new performance judging sheets as accredited by the Australian Bush Poets Association and struggled to separate the first 3 place winners in a photo finish so to speak

All in all the Henry Lawson Heritage Festival 2009 was of great credit to all involved & Cheryl Peters & her Committee should be heartily applauded for their collective efforts.

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Dunedoo Bush Poetry Festival 2009 Competition Results

Traditional: 

First: Susan Carcary
Second: Graeme Johnson
Third: Ken Tough 

Original:

First: Susan Carcary
Second: Claire Reynolds
Third: Heather Searles

Contemporary: 

First: Susan Carcary
Second: Gary Lowe
Third: Ellis Campbell 

Overall Female Champion: 

Overall Male Champion: 

Man from Snowy River Recitation:

 First: John Peel
Second: Maurie Foun
Third: Barry Tiffen

Jack Riley Heritage Award

First: John Peel
Second: Betty Walton

Aussie Comedy Award:
(Non Original/Original)

First: Graeme Johnson
Second: Annette Roberts

Matilda (Overall Female Championship)

First: Betty Walton
Second: Annette Roberts