Muse News

How it all Started

How do you become a Bush Poet? Well it all started way back in the early Nineties. My wife & I and a couple of friends had followed Pat Drummond up to the Australian Bush Music Festival at Glen Innes, NSW, blissfully unaware of the existence of Bush Poetry as a performance medium. Staggering into the Railway Hotel one afternoon in need of liquid sustenance we were confronted with one of the most bizarre sights we had ever seen.


The Pub was thick with cigarette smoke and full of partying "folkies". Upon the bar stood three hefty middle aged men reciting doggerel verse to the drunken masses. I was enthralled. These strange fellows were indeed, Aussie Bush Poets plying their trade. As we walked from the pub my wife turned to me and said "You want to do this don't you?" "Bloody Oath I do!" came my reply.


Within a couple of years I had worked up the courage to read a poem on stage at a "Poets Breakfast" and by the late Nineties I was being hired to perform in my own right.


Since then my life has been completely transformed. Poetry obsesses my every waking hour, and spare time, when available is consumed by research, writing and learning new work.


Bush Poetry has taken me all over the Country, broadening my horizons about "Terra Australis" and its wonderfully colourful citizens & characters.


2024 BREAKING NEWS

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The Tamworth Country Music Festival 2024

NEWS SHEET

What's On, When & Other Juicy Snippets

THE EXCITING NEWS is that......

"The Rhymer's Roundup"

will return to the 52nd TCMF in January 2024

for its 10th (almost) consecutive year

with 10 BIG SHOWS BACK TO BACK!

 

Well known "Multi-Award Winning" Bush Poet, "The Rhymer from Ryde", will once again present his talented troupe of Bush Poets & Musos & Comedians at the Tamworth Country Music Festival 2024.

These shows known as "The Rhymer's Roundup" will highlight the talents of previous Golden Damper Performance Competition Winners and place getters, as well as established Australian & State Performance Champions, both past and present. (That's as far as the Poets are concerned)

The 2024 Bush Poetry venue for this amazing event will be:

 

The North Tamworth Bowling Club
22 - 26 Bligh Street (cnr Piper), Tamworth NSW 2340
Tel: 02 6766 1987
email:
bowlooperations@theserviesgroup.com.au


10 Big Shows
will be held from Friday 19th through to Sun 28th January, 2024 with shows starting at 10.30 am & finishing at approx. 12.30 pm. - That's 2 hours of fun, frivolity and mayhem involving some of Australia's most entertaining poets.
Tickets are only $10.00 at the door, with meals being available during the show. The Club is air conditioned, with plenty of on street parking, and is on the City of Tamworth Music Festival Express Bus route (number 431 hourly from the City Centre).

 

This year's roster of Poets includes:

*Gregory North - 3 times Australian Male Bush Poetry Champion 2008 – 2010

*The Rhymer from Ryde - 1st place Golden Damper Award winner 2011. Prior winner of the Banjo Paterson, Leonard Teale and Bobby Miller Memorial Awards as well!

*Paddy O'Brien 2023 NSW Overall Performance Champion

 

*John Peel 2015 ‘Runner Up’ Male Australian Champion. 1st place Golden Damper Award winner 2013 & 2008

 

And we've got a couple of Muso's too!

*Andrew Clermont Golden Guitar & 3 x times Australian Bluegrass Guitar Champion winner Andrew Clermont is musicianship personified. If it can be played, Andrew knows how and with a talent and verve unmatched by many modern day musos. His skills are lauded around the world and his passion for his art revered around the country. At any one time known to work in up to 6 different bands Andrew also runs Tamworth’s famous ‘Supper Club’ shows showcasing muso’s from around the globe. Andrew Clermont is ‘music’.

 
 
But wait... there's more!
 
Our Special Guest and "Main Featured Comedian/Muso" is
 
*Peter Willey With a name like Peter Willey, what else could he be but a funny guy? Peter is an accomplished 'stand-up' comedian, singer and guitarist. He has appeared at the vast majority of top professional Comedy Clubs on the eastern seaboard as well as proving a favourite on the Folk & Country music circuits. He has been a finalist in many competitions culminating in his well deserved historic win in the 1998 South Tamworth Bowling Club Talent Quest.
 
 

 

Who’s doing What, When?

Fri 19

Sat 20

Sun 21

Mon 22

Tue 23

Rhymer

P.O'Brien

Rhymer

J.Peel

Rhymer

J.Peel

G.North

P.Willey

P.Willey

P.Willey

P.Willey

P.Willey

P.O'Brien

Rhymer

G.North

G.North

Rhymer

A.Clermont

G.North

J.Peel

P.Willey

P.Willey

G.North

A.Clermont

A.Clermont

P.O'Brien

J.Peel

J.Peel

P.Willey

P.O'Brien

A.Clermont

A.Clermont

P.Willey

P.O'Brien

P.Willey

G.North

G.North

 G.North

 G.North

 G.North

Wed 24

Thurs 25

Fri 26

Sat 27

Sun 28

A.Clermont

J.Peel

P.O'Brien

A.Clermont

G.North

P.O'Brien

A.Clermont

G.North

J.Peel

P.Willey

P.Willey

P.Willey

T.B.A

G.North

Rhymer

G.North

G.North

P.Willey

P.Willey

J.Peel

Rhymer

Rhymer

J.Peel

P.O'Brien

A.Clermont

J.Peel

P.Willey

P.Willey

Rhymer

P.Willey

P.Willey

P.O'Brien

Rhymer

P.Willey

P.O'Brien

G.North

G.North

 G.North

 G.North

 G.North

 

*NB* This daily running order is subject to change without notice-and most probably will!

 

Gregory North is one of the most unique and talented people to have appeared in the Bush poetry genre for many decades. Since his first performance in 2003, Greg has won nearly every imaginable Bush Poetry trophy. Both hilariously funny and movingly poignant, Greg is a pure joy to listen to. A few years ago Greg performed over 250 shows in a 12 month period. That’s incredible! Be sure to bring you ‘laughing gear’ with you when you come to listen to this truly talented individual.

 

The Rhymer from Ryde has worked all over Australia over the last 20 years. His performances are known for their vibrancy, humour and heartfelt emotion. In the true larrikin style, his reciting covers everything from the silly to the serious, traditional to contemporary, and most definitely original. He won the Golden Damper award in 2011 and has been the Director of “The Rhymer’s Roundup” since its inception 10 years ago.

 

Paddy O'Brien is of Scottish and Irish heritage with a wee bit of Australian dingo thrown in for good measure.  A gentleman farmer, Paddy raises beef and native timber on his property in Murwillumbah, northern NSW.  For over 20 years Paddy's bookings have taken him all over Australia, NZ and Canada.  He has also won the Golden Damper and Frank Daniel Bush Poetry Awards at the Tamworth Country Music Festival.

 

John Peel is the 2015 Runner-Up Male Australian Bush Poetry Champion & was the winner of the Golden Damper Performance Bush Poetry Competition in 2013 & 2008. He has been performing since 2005. His repertoire covers a broad range of traditional, contemporary and original bush verse. Known for his side splitting original comedy, John really knows how to 'light up the stage'.

 

Andrew Clermont The borders of musical genres tumble as multi-instrumentalist Andrew Clermont challenges your perception of what a song/tune is all about. This colourful musical chameleon adapts and excels at playing a wide range of instruments including the Violin, Viola, Guitar, Mandolin, Bass & Double Bass Banjo, Didgeridoo, Dulcimer and many more. Andrew is a man who loves to share his talents around and has mentored many an aspiring muso through his workshops, visits and lessons both direct and on video.

 

Peter Willey Peter brings music to comedy with his original songs and clever parodies. Many of Peter's songs celebrate the isolation and deprivation of being brought up in the midst of a comfortable middle class family. From the familiar turmoil of countless 'Aussie' weddings to the trials and social ostracism due to the wearing of inappropriate footwear, Peter's material is rich with humour. Peter's 'stand-up' routines are clever and witty. He covers a wide range of topics including travel, hippies, country music, social awkwardness and the haka's of various countries around the world. Believe me, you don't want to miss this very funny bloke!

 

 

The Rhymer from Ryde’s
Full Tamworth Country Music Festival
Gig Guide for 2024

DATE

TIME

VENUE

Fri 19th

10.30 am

North Tamworth Bowling Club - Poet's Brunch-Rhymer’s Roundup

 

 

 

Sat 20th

10.30 am

North Tamworth Bowling Club - Poet's Brunch- Rhymer’s Roundup

 

 

 

Sun 21st

10.30 am

North Tamworth Bowling Club - Poet's Brunch- Rhymer’s Roundup

 

 

 

Mon 22nd

10.30 am

North Tamworth Bowling Club - Poet's Brunch- Rhymer’s Roundup

 

 

 

Tues 23rd

10.30 am

North Tamworth Bowling Club - Poet's Brunch- Rhymer’s Roundup

 

 

 

Wed 24th

10.30 am

North Tamworth Bowling Club - Poet's Brunch- Rhymer’s Roundup

 

 

 

Thurs 25th

10.30 am

North Tamworth Bowling Club - Poet's Brunch- Rhymer’s Roundup

 

 

 

Fri 26th

10.30 am

North Tamworth Bowling Club - Poet's Brunch- Rhymer’s Roundup

 

 

 

Sat 27th

10.30 am

North Tamworth Bowling Club - Poet's Brunch- Rhymer’s Roundup

 

 

 

Sun 28th

10.30 am

North Tamworth Bowling Club - Poet's Brunch- Rhymer’s Roundup

 

 

 

 

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2023 ARCHIVED NEWS...........
 

Man from Snowy River Festival 2023, Corryong VIC

 Thu 13th - Sun 16th April

Festival Report & Results

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For 27 years now, tucked away in the shadow of the Snowy Mountains, The Man from Snowy River Festival has brought people together from all over the country to celebrate our Australian bush heritage, culture and mateship. Uniquely Australian the festival has worked to incorporate the essence of our bush heritage into a weekend of entertainment that showcases the best horsemanship, craft, art, poetry, music, food and more.

   
   

This year’s festival boasted an exciting programme of events, featuring the newly redesigned 28th “Man from Snowy River Challenge”.72 of Australia’s best riders came together (over 4 days, 6 preliminary & 2 finals events) to see who would be crowned the next “Man from Snowy River”. Also featured was the show stopping re-enactment, a spectacular “LIVE” recreation of the event where the sound of thundering hooves and live music bring Banjo’s poem to life.

Of course, Banjo’s poem was based on the exploits of local Victorian Stockman Jack Riley. Legend has it that in the mid 1880’s Riley joined a party of mountain stockman who were attempting to recapture a thoroughbred stallion that had escaped and was running with a mob of wild brumbies near Mt. Leatherhead. A stockyard was built on a creek at the foot of Mt. Leatherhead and the mob was located, just a Riley had predicted, nearby atop a towering and rocky ridge. A report on the incident relates that “when the riders closed in on the mob, the stallion broke away and galloped down a fearsome slope with Riley alone in close pursuit. The mountainside was pitted with wombat holes, strewn with loose shale and covered with low scrub. The stallion and Riley’s pony literally tobogganed down to the bottom where the stallion blundered into the waiting stockyard. Riley, with the slip rails up and stallion secured was waiting for the other riders when they arrived.”

What a story! Ok, time to return now to more modern times! This year’s modern cowboys featured is a dazzling array of horsemanship themed events including the “Feature Open Campdraft”, ”The Cut-Out”, the “Wrangler Xtreme Rodeo” and the “Striplings Challenge” (where riders 10-14 years compete in the Cattleman’s Jump, Whipcracking, Bareback & Packhorse events).

There was also a number of stunning horsemanship demonstrations such as Richard Webb’s “Cutting” school, Tom Curtains dazzling featured shows combining music, working dogs and horses and various equine education courses by Peter Horobin, Megan Ford, Liz McDonnell, Dan Moloney & Flinders Greentree.

With a jam-packed programme featuring some of Australia’s best performers The Man from Snowy River Festival surely delivered on its promise -non-stop action from “Go to Whoa” Whether you enjoyed the Art & Photography exhibition, Bullock teams, Working Cattle Dog demonstrations, Markets, Rodeos or the popular Street parade there’s was something for everyone at Corryong in April 2023.

“Music is the food of life” as they say and the talent performing on the main stage at this year’s event was indeed ‘second to none’. Sara Storer, Travis Collins, The Pigs, Jayne Denham, Paul Costa, Rory Phillips, Pete Denahy, Danny Phegan & Kevin Sullivan to name a few!

Hey, and don’t forget the Bush Poetry. Don’t worry, I won’t.

   
   

The Man from Snowy River Bush Poetry and Music competitions started way back in 1995 and are now revered as one of the most prestigious spoken word events in the country. After 25 years at the helm of the Bush Poetry section of the festival (Poetry Director-Jan Lewis) retired from her post after the 2022 event. Her legacy is an iconic competition event that will now be carried into the future by a new generation of poetry devotees. Maureen Thomas took over as the “Overall Events Manager” in 2023 and “The Rhymer from Ryde” was hired to be her ‘right hand man’ & “Assistant Poetry Event Manager”. The “Rhymer” had a wealth of experience ‘under his belt’ in this regard as he had been Jan’s assistant for the last 10 years anyway. The “Rhymer” also doubled up on his responsibilities for the weekend as “Senior Judge” for the Man from Snowy River Recitation and Jack Riley competition sections.

   
   

The “Rhymer” was joined at the judging table by Greg North, Tim Sheed & Christine Middleton. Lending a ‘helping hand’ around the Lions Youth Hall and Banjo’s Block where Matthew Hollis and Noel Bull. Kevin McCarthy and Simon Dillon ‘ruled the roost’ around the campfire at Banjo’s Block with their well-attended “Aussie Sing-a Long” & ‘Jam’ sessions till the early hours of the morning (oh, and by the way for anyone who was there, Matthew Hollis did find his mobile phone-but that’s another story!) Christine Middleton added a little bit of ‘Class’ to proceedings with her delightful sessions on the harp and Gregory North (our “Main Featured Poet”) wowed the crowds with his own ’solo’ spots and historical Banjo Paterson presentations. Of course, there’s no better Banjo Paterson ‘tribute’ artist than our own ”Geoffrey. W. Graham” from Eaglehawk who also delivered his slice of Banjo down at the Recreation Reserve.

   
   

It might have been a little bit chilly down at “Banjo’s Block” at 8.30 every morning but poetry lovers are a hardy bunch and once they had their coffee and sausage sandwiches on board they were ‘ready to go’ for this year’s run of “Poets Breakfast” sessions. Over the 3 mornings that were entertained by a colourful range of characters including Paul Connelly, Ian Hayne, John Rushton, David Stanley, Greg North, Rhonda Tallnash, Don Dwyer, Christa Dwyer, Noel Bull, James Thomas, Margaret Ryan, Seamus Foley, Jan Lewis, Howard James, Val Kirley, Phil ‘In’ McManus, Jim Lamb, Lisa Ride, Campbell the Swaggie, Kevin McCarthy, Bill Gordon, Lloyd McClymont, John Peel & Maurie Foun (amongst others). These “Poets Breakfast” sessions were presided over once again by “The Rhymer from Ryde” and his willing ‘sidekick’ Matthew Hollis. Thanks guys!

Oops, I nearly forgot. A big “Thank you” goes out to David Stanley for his photos of the Awards Ceremony and the ‘random bush poets’ in the street. Good on Ya mate!!!

 

Bush Poetry Competition Results 2023

Man From Snowy River Recitation
1st: Seamus Foley
2nd: Rhonda Tallnash
3rd: James Tomas

   

   
   
Jack Riley Heritage Award
1st: Rhonda Tallnash
2nd: Lynne Frederick
3rd: Val Kirley

   

   
   
Carol Reffold Memorial One Minute Poem
1st: David Stanley
2nd: Bill Gordon

 

Lawrie Sheridan Encouragement Award
Meg Gordon

Seniors Encouragement Award
Bill Gordon

Jan Lewis Encouragement Award
Hilary Monck

 
 
 
The 51st Tamworth Country Music Festival Report 2023
 
Friday 13th - Sunday 22nd January
 
   
   
   
   
   
   
 
   
   
What happened where and when @ Tamworth this January
 

After the delayed 50th Anniversary Tamworth Festival in April 2022, January 2023’s event was just the start we needed to propel country music artists and fans into the next half-century. Long may it reign! You know, I’d love to say that I’d be around to celebrate the 100th anniversary in 2072 but as I’ll be 112 years old by then, maybe I’ll leave that to the younger generations of music devotees. (Mind you Chad Morgan will probably still be there, but that’s another story!)

As the largest music festival in Australia, the largest country music festival in the southern hemisphere and one of the top 10 festivals in the world, this event has supported and celebrated the Australian Country Music industry for more than 5 decades now. The festival is a key economic driver for the region with the tens of thousands who attend each year supporting a wide range of businesses to keep the local economy thriving.

   

   
For 51 years Tamworth has been the traditional gathering place for musos and fans whose passionate pilgrimage from all corners of the country is the stuff of legend. They all yearn to begin the New Year in a positive way-seeing old friends and reaping the rewards of their talents. From tiny tots to professional artists, they’re all here for the same reason- the love of Tamworth, oh, and the occasional beer (even if it sometimes means having one for breakfast, so they tell me!)

   

   
No matter what your musical tastes the Toyota Country Music Festival offers something for everyone, one of the major showcases still being the free entertainment in Toyota Park. Nightly you’ll hear an eclectic mix of Americana, Blues, Roots, Alternate, Bluegrass, Honky-Tonk and much much more.

A huge part of the success of the festival must undoubtedly be attributed to the many opportunities offered annually. From Macca’s ‘Golden Gig’ to the CCMA National Talent Quest, through to the Toyota Starmaker (with its amazing major prize package worth over $100,000) and the highly coveted Golden Guitars, artists of all ages and abilities can come to Tamworth to ply their trade, develop their skills and dream of future glory! The allure & possibility of hitting the big time after a start busking on Peel Street, progressing through these various events and ending up on stage with that glowing gold statuette in your hands. It could just happen to you! You just never know!

See it’s all about choices when you come to Tamworth. You can choose to see a multitude of free shows (thanks to the generosity of local publicans and Club CEO’s) whose 20 or so combined premises shell out big money employing bands, duos, solo artists and the like to provide the crowds with the unique & vibrant atmosphere we all appreciate and love. Or, as all the major big name acts in the country converge on Tamworth, you can choose where you’ll spend you hard earned cash seeing the many excellent paid shows scattered around the town.

 
     

Or alternatively you can just sit around the campfire enjoying the company of friends and family at one of the various campgrounds or Caravan parks in town. Maybe you’ll join in a ‘jam-session’ to whittle away the time. Maybe you’ll be enthralled by your neighbour (in the motor home next door) spinning hilarious yarns about their outback travels as you ‘throw another ‘shrimp on the barbie’. Who knows what will happen, that’s the magic of Tamworth each and every single year! No matter what you take with you to Tamworth, you’ll always leave with more!

     
 

The Rhymer’s Roundup Wrap-up 2023 (The real truth and nothing but the truth)

   
What happened where and when @ the North Tamworth Bowling Club

 

2023 was the 9th (almost consecutive) year of the “Rhymer’s Roundup” series of concerts to be held at the ‘Bowlo’ and Bush Poetry addicts turned up in their droves on a daily basis to what sort of versifying nonsense the Roundup” troupe would get up to this year around. Having been absent from the stage for almost 3 years due to the Covid cancellations of 2021 & 2022 the “Rhymer’s Roundup” troupe was ‘champing at the bit’ to let loose all that ‘pent up’ energy they’d been accumulating over the last little period of time. Oh, and to see how many poems they could remember after 1095 days without an audience to perform to.

Regular troupe members Gregory North, John Peel, Noel Bull and Rhonda Tallnash were joined by the “Rhymer” himself as a brand-new group member also ‘came on board’ in the shape of the new “Main Featured Muso”, the muti-talented Andrew Clermont. Andrew is a musician ‘par excellence’ on any instrument he cares to pick up and the crowds sat enthralled as he played everything in sight (on a daily basis) plus a few more things he had ‘up his sleeve’.

Chris Clarke (the ‘Bowlo’ Manager) and his friendly staff were caught ‘between a rock and a hard place’ as they had to choose between attending to their customers at the same time as watching the bedlam unfolding on the Auditorium stage (which by the way, they couldn’t take their eyes off). Luckily, by the time that the shows finished they were able to man the counter at the very busy bistro as the famished morning crowds sought some lunchtime sustenance before the 2.00 pm afternoon musical programme began.

   

   
Anyway, back to the “Roundup”. Well, for anyone that was counting, with 5 poets a day doing the equivalent of 6 x 15-minute sets of verse at approximately 4 poems per set the “Roundup” troupe delivered something like 24 poems a day (multiplied by 10 days) which amounts to the massive total of a touch under 250 different poems being performed over 1,200 minutes. That’s a lot of Bush Poetry!

Gregory North, the troupes “Main Featured Poet” commanded the stage for 2 x 15 min spots per day always finishing off each day’s shows with his famous “Man of Many Hats” interpretation of “The Man from Snowy River” by A.B. ‘Banjo Paterson’. It doesn’t matter how many times I’ve seen and heard this recitation it still makes me laugh. Greg has many opportunities to polish and practise his craft whilst working at the North Gregory Hotel (I kid you not, Gregory North appears at the North Gregory Hotel in Winton daily at 4.30 pm from the 14th May until the 3rd September annually). That’s 114 afternoons for you folks! What a mighty effort on Greg’s part. Oh, by the way, he also performs for the same 114 days at the Winton Roadhouse Cabins & Caravan Park at 7.00 pm. That’s a massive 228 shows in 114 days. What a man!

The “Rhymer from Ryde” once again took control of proceedings at the “Bowlo” Mc’ing his way through the whole 10 days like he does it for a living. Whipping the troupe into shape…almost literally…and watching his fob-watch like a demon to ensure that each and every poet didn’t exceed their allotted 15 mins of fame. “The Rhymer” delved deep into his extensive repertoire of modern, traditional & original bush verse to run through his chosen favourites from over the last 20 years as well as giving some new pieces an airing as well.

   

   
Highlight of each day was his recitation called “Caught Short” inspired by the recent Covid induced toilet paper shortage. Newly learnt poems such as the “The Bank Job” by David Stanley and “The National Uprising” & “To-Morrow” by Keith McKenry as well as “Clancy’s gone a Pruning” by Sydney based muso Tony Williams also turned out to be crowd favourites.

Noel “Raging” Bull took time out from the family farm in Musk VIC (where he attends to his potatoes & Angus Cattle as well as having a go at some seed propagation for Multi-National Horticultural Company Rijk Zwaan) to travel up the highway to Tamworth for the 2-week period so as to once again ‘wow’ the crowds with this poetic ‘know-how’ and shenanigans (including a worrying bout of cross-dressing). By day a shy retiring wallflower Noel really ‘hits his straps’ once he hits the stage and the Rhymer had a ‘devils own time’ of dragging him off the stage at the end of every set. Well, it wasn’t his fault, the audiences were screaming for more at the time!

   

   

John Peel from Tumut NSW is also an integral part of the Rhymer’s troupe and has been performing with same from almost the start of the “Rhymer’s Roundup” franchise nearly a decade ago. John writes a swag of original material (both comedic & serious) and has no qualms about sharing it with the audience (and with great ‘gusto’ I must admit) on a daily basis. I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone enjoy performing as much as John Peel does. You know the show wouldn’t be the same without him!

Rhonda Tallnash also graced the stage in swathe of purple themed outfits and her legendary stage ‘Ug’ Boots (that she wears whenever she performs). There sort of her trademark if you weren’t aware. Being the only female if the troupe Rhonda’s constantly battling against the ‘blokeiness’ of it all with a continued effort to bring some class and decorum to proceedings. Her wonderfully woven tales are always engaging and she is definitely a ‘crowd favourite’ from year to year.

In amongst all this jocularity our “Main Featured Muso”, Mr. Andrew Clermont provided the musical highlights that absolutely enthralled and surprised the audiences who were unaware that he was going to materialise from behind the sound-desk to grace the stage with his presence. It’s not just that Andrew enjoys playing music. He is music! The pure joy on his face when he picks up an instrument, any instrument, is almost contagious and it wasn’t long before Andrew had the audience (and the poets) tapping their toes and humming along to the bevvy of interesting tunes and songs he produced from his ‘bag of tricks’. A real musical ‘chameleon’. A really nice ‘fella’ too!

   
   

   
   
“The Roundup” stage was also graced (on Fri the 20th) by “The Kimberley Guitar Man” Country Music star “Ginger” Cox (who was accompanied by his good mate ‘Sammy’). Andrew Clermont was unavailable on this day so Ginger was invited to join “The Roundup” (the first Bush Balladeer to grace the “Roundup” since John Smith in 2018) to entertain the crowds with his Barry Thornton style of guitar playing on his favourite Gibson 335 guitar (the same model that his hero Barry played). Ginger has released 4 Cd’s over the years and first appeared at the Tamworth Country Music Festival in 2006. He has won the Gidgee Coal Award as well as the Stan Coster New Talent Award and had his hands immortalised in Tamworth’s “Hands of Fame’ display.

   
And that’s about it my friends. I reckon ‘that’s a wrap’. See you all next year and we’ll do it all again!

Oops, hang on moment, I almost forgot to thank David Kitchen (and Graeme’s wife Narelle) for volunteering on ‘Door Duty’ at the “Bowlo” for the run of 2023 shows. Narelle first dropped in to check things out in 2020 and decided she’d better return for a few more days in 2023 just to make sure what she saw in 2020 wasn’t a weird sort of dream. Much to her delight Narelle discovered that she had a much higher tolerance of bush verse than she may have imagined by sitting through 3 mornings of the “Roundup”. Either that or she just enjoyed listening to someone other than the “Rhymer’s” dulcet tones for a change!

Well, as they say, “That’s all folks”!

Oops Part 2: Just by word of explanation. There’s a bunch (15) of photos at the start of this report and (7) photos at the end of the report. They chronicle the annual process of packing the car and hitting the road and show the procession of towns that I pass through on the way to and from Tamworth. I’ve always wanted to do that as a tribute to said ‘little towns’. (You know, the ones that you never get to stop in ‘cause you’re in a hurry to get where you’re going).

   
   
   
   
   
   
   
 
 
 
 
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2022 ARCHIVED NEWS...........
 
Man From Snowy River Festival 2022, Corryong VIC

Thu 7th - Sun 10 April

Bush Poetry Competition Report & Results

 
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   


(Just before we get to the festival report proper, just thought that I’d explain the first 18 photos that appear in same. See every year Matt Hollis and the "Rhymer" do their famous/infamous “Round Trip-Road Trip”-(all 1400klms of it) from Sydney to Corryong return. This year Matt actually stayed over in Sydney for some much needed ‘R & R’ (with the "Rhymer" & Narelle) before they set off. (Hence the casual clothes and rec room photos). Following these are some “Road Trip” shots from Cooma, Jindabyne, Khancoban & ‘The Alpine Way’). Then we get to the festival report, Ok?


Also, through the body of the report there are 18 photos of the "Rhymer" with his poetry ‘buddies’. He thought it was about time that he kept a historical record of his best mates & poetic characters that make the Man from Snowy River Festival what it is!


Corryong is undoubtedly the jewelled centre piece of the magnificent region known as the Upper Murray. Located just 11klms from the Murray River and in the foothills of the Australian Alps, Corryong and its surrounding districts have something for everyone.


There is an abundance of local natural attractions such as the Burrowa Pine Mountain National Park. This awesome granite monolith is 1.5 times larger than Uluru and has breathtaking views from its summit should you chose to walk there. Cudgewa Bluff Falls is also within this National Park and is one of the area’s best kept secrets.


Take a drive to Embrey’s Lookout on top of Mt. Mittamatite and take in the view of Corryong with the Australian Alps as your backdrop. My. Lawson State Park is only a short drive away. Visit Avondale Gardens and whilst in the area explore the various trestle bridges. Why not give white water rafting a try with our local accredited operators? So much to see and do!


Visit historic Tintaldra, Walwa and Jingellic along the river. Stop for the many photographic opportunities at the viewing points along the way. Tour Cudgewa, Nariel & Thowgla and the picturesque Biggara Valley. Why not explore the sites of the Snowy River Scheme by paying a visit to the Snowy Hydro Visitor Centre and learn about the upcoming 2.0 project whilst you’re at it? It’s all there to be explored.


Ok, ok, I know it’s a beautiful region, that’s enough of the travel brochure stuff. Tell us about the Festival already! Alright I will!


After a tough year of bushfires and Corona virus lockdowns that caused the cancellation of the 2022 festival, Australians had been struggling to get back to our normal way of life. There is no doubt that these sort of trials have proved extremely trying for those living on the land and with that in mind the Man from Snowy River Festival Committee (led by Chairman Cameron Jackson) put their ‘best foot forward’ to ensure that the 26th edition of this marvellous event was going to give back to the local community a sense of purpose and pride in the magnitude of the festival that they could all enjoy together.


From Thursday lunchtime until late Sunday night there was a virtual plethora of things to do in and around the Corryong CBD, Showground & surrounding areas!


Those with a hankering for horsemanship had plenty to keep them occupied almost 24 hours a day. As part of the “Man from Snowy River Challenge” onlookers were greeted by a swag of events including “Harrisons Packhorse”, “Banjo’s Bareback”, “Jimmy Scammell Horseshoeing”, “Snowy River Stockhandling”, “Clancy’s Whipcrack” & “Mountain Horse Cross-Country” culminating in the thrilling ‘rough & tumble’ of the “Brumby Catch” & the “Stocksaddle Buckjump”.


There was also the “Man from Snowy River Re-enactment” at Thowgla featuring “Rooftop Express”. All aspects of country/farm life were covered as the “Cattle Dog Championships” joined the “Brad Arnold” Roping displays and the ever popular “Campdrafting” in the Rodeo Arena to enthrall punters of all ages.


For those with shopping in mind there were the “High Country Bush Markets” in the Recreation Reserve & Attree Park where the ‘eagle -eyed’ crowds could browse and take advantage of the huge array of product available from Jewellery to saddles, art to farming equipment.


A new and outstanding feature of the Corryong landscape this year was the “Corryong History Narrative Mural” (commemorating the stockmen who mustered the mountain bush horses for sale as Remounts & Walers for the Army used by the Light Horse in the First World War of 1914) by renowned artist Simon White located opposite the RSL Hall. Check it out next time you’re in town.

 
   
   
   


Entertainment in the form of some of the Country’s most notable entertainers was also a prevalent feature of the Man from Snowy River festival this year. An eclectic mix of “50’s Rock ’N’ Roll” (delivered with great gusto by Wilbur Wilde & Frankie J Holden) took the stage alongside 2020 Toyota ‘Star Maker’ winner Sammy White, 2019 ‘Star Maker’ winner Blake O’Connnor, Jade Gibson, The “Bonza Blokes Bush Band”, Peter Denahy, Rory Phillips, Alex Weybury, Danny Phegan, Ben Gunn and the Viper Street Band ‘pumping out’ the volume until the wee hours of the morning down in the Recreation Reserve. Buskers also plied their trade in every available ‘nook & cranny’ of the town vying for the title of the “Aussie Bush Idol Talent Search Winner”.
 


Around the traps you could also find the “High Country Ute Muster”, Historic Machinery Displays, the “Hot Rod Show ‘N’ Shine” and the annual Street Parade.


And of course, as if all this wasn’t enough purveyors of the “Spoken Word” were also entertained with a smorgasboard of the best reciters in the land as they participated in the Victorian Bush Poetry Championships. Performance sections included Traditional, Modern, Original Serious & Original Humorous as well as Novice, Yarnspinning and the Man from Snowy River Recital competitions.  Esteemed Judges included “The Rhymer from Ryde”-(Senior judge for the last 10 years) and Melanie Hall and Susan Carcary (Featured entertainers who had travelled all the way from Lightning Ridge NSW where they run the “Hidden Gem Bush Theatre”). They were ably assisted by Assistant Judges Jenny Markwell, Colin Carrington, Noel Bull, Tim Sheed (ABPA President) & Christine Middleton.  Making the sure the scores were correctly assembled and logged was long time Head Collator Mick Coventry ably assisted by newcomer to the Bush Poetry scene David Taggart. Howard James from SA timed the contestants to the second to unsure that there were no rules being broken this time around.

   
& David & Jenny Markwell-Taggart & Colin Carrington
   
& Noel Bull & Tim Sheed
   

Joining their ranks and shouldering the majority of the competitions Mc’ing was none other that Banjo Paterson tribute artist Geoffrey. W. Graham. Geoffrey’s career took off in 1995 when his self-devised ‘one man show’ “The Man from Ironbark” hit Winton in QLD. This weekend Geoffrey linked everything together with wit & grace to make sure everyone knew what was happening with the competition at all times.

 
& Matthew Hollis at Banjo's Block
   

“Banjo’s Block” on the corner of Strzelecki Way (and the Lions Youth Hall) formed the epicentre of all thing’s poetry over the course of this very full weekend. Each morning started off with a ‘Walk-up’ Poets Breakfast (where the eager novice or budding junior could join the more seasoned adults up onstage) hosted by "The Rhymer from Ryde" and his ‘buddy’ Matthew Hollis. Performing in the Breakfast’s this year were luminaries such as Lorraine McCrimmon, Jenny Markwell, Stoney Broke, Phil In, Don Dwyer, Ian Hayne, David Stanley, David Melville, Howard James, James Thomas, Colin Carrington, Noel Bull, Margaret Ryan, Peter Mace, Kevin McCarthy, Simon Dillon, Christa Dwyer, Bruce Chandler, Jan Lewis, Ken Potter, Val Kirley, Andrew Pulsford, Mick Coventry, Jim Lamb, Tom O’Connor, Cameron Ritchard, Seamus Foley, Annette Roberts, Susan Carcary, Melanie Hall & Maurie Hanrahan amongst others.

 
& Lorraine McCrimmon & Stoney Broke
   
& 'Phil-In' McManus & Don Dwyer
   
 

Up the road in the RSL Hall a special “Anzac Tribute Concert” was also held where Anzacs were honoured with poems and song in gratitude to those men & women who fought so that we could have the privileged life we enjoy today.

 
& Peter Mace & Jan Lewis
   
& Ken Potter & Val Kirley
   

Tribute was also paid to the Festival’s “Poetry Co-ordinator”, Jan Lewis, who, after a quarter of a century at the helm of her beloved Bush Poetry ship decided to sail off into the sunset (with partner Linton Vogel) to further fulfil her life in other areas of interest. The importance of the magnitude of the service that Jan offered to her poetic cohorts over those 25 years cannot be underestimated. Without her untiring efforts Bush Poetry (and its standing in the arts genre/community) in Victoria may well have been a shadow of what it is today.  Many poets (who have gone onto claim State & National Title status) have been able to do so because of the nurture, care & opportunity offered to them under Jan Lewis’s tutelage and support. As her assistant for the last 10 years "The Rhymer from Ryde" himself was one of those ever thankful for the guidance and friendship, camaraderie and advice that Jan Lewis provided him. The entire Bush Poetry community would like to thank Jan for her monumental effort over the decades and wishes her well in her future endeavours!

 
& Tom O'Connor & Rhonda Tallnash
   
& Maurie Foun Check those legs! 'Phil-In' in shorts!
   
 

And as a hardy bunch of revellers sat on the balcony of the Corryong Sporting Club (enjoying a few cold ales) the sun set slowly in the west taking with it the important memories of another year in paradise! See ya in 2023!

 

2022 MFSR Victorian Bush Poetry Championships Results

 

Written Serious Poem
1st: David Judge
2nd: Peter O’Shaughnessy
3rd: David Judge
HC: Brenda Joy
HC: David Judge
Highest Scoring Novice: David Judge

 

Written Humorous Poem
1st: John Roberts
2nd: Tom McIlveen
3rd: David Judge
HC: David Campbell
HC: Peter O’Shaughnessy
Highest Scoring Novice: David Judge

 

Written Champion Poet
David Judge

 
Performance Section
 

Banjo’s MFSR Performance Recitation
1st: Andrew Pulsford
2nd: James Thomas
3rd: Phil McManus

   

Classical Male
1st: Andrew Pulsford
2nd: Ken Potter
3rd: Jim Lamb

Classical Female
1st: Rhonda Tallnash
2nd: Jenny Markwell-Taggart
3rd: Lynne Frederick

   

Modern Male
1st: Andrew Pulsford
2nd: Ken Potter
3rd: Jim Lamb

Modern Female
1st: Jenny Markwell-Taggart
2nd: Rhonda Tallnash
3rd: Val Kirley

   

Original Serious Male
1st: Andrew Pulsford
2nd: Ken Potter
3rd: Bruce Chandler

Original Serious Female
1st: Lynne Frederick
2nd: Jenny Markwell-Taggart
3rd: Rhonda Tallnash

   

Original Humorous Male
1st: Andrew Pulsford
2nd: Ken Potter
3rd: David Melville

Original Humorous Female
1st: Rhonda Tallnash
2nd: Lynne Frederick
3rd: Jenny Markwell-Taggart

   

Yarnspinning
1st: Rhonda Tallnash
2nd: David Melville
3rd: Matthew Hollis

Novice
1st: Cameron Ritchard
2nd: Don Dwyer
3rd: Bruce Chandler

   

Matilda Award-Best Overall Female
1st: Rhonda Tallnash
2nd: Jenny Markwell-Taggart

Clancy’s Choice Award-Best Overall Male
1st: Andrew Pulsford
2nd: Ken Potter

   

One Minute Poem
1st: Jan Lewis
2nd: Bruce Chandler

Lawrie Sheridan Encouragement Award
Val Kirley

   

Seniors Encouragement Award
David Melville

Jan Lewis Encouragement Award
Don Dwyer

   
Junior Bush Poetry Written & Performance Competitions
   

Prep to Grade 2
1st: Austin Lewis
2nd: Harriet Murdoch
3rd: Alice Hunt
HC: Paddy Mason

Grades 3 & 4
1st: Scarlett Harmer
2nd: Leah Twigg
3rd: Imogen Tyrell
HC: Matilda Sandilands

   

Grades 5 & 6
1st: Indiah Waldon
2nd: Tayla Hoffman
3rd: Declan Faithful
HC: Beau Milligan

Prep to Grade 2
1st: Byrne Corryong College
2nd: Jarvis Corryong College

   

Grades 3 & 4
1st: Heycox Corryong
2nd: Alistair Corryong College

Grades 5 & 6
1st: Khancoban School
2nd: Seaton Corryong
3rd: Walwa Primary School
HC: Dryden Corryong College

   

Duos & Trios
1st: Mabel Edwards & Lola Paton
2nd: Delany Dryden Lila Mason
3rd: Hayley Drew, Tayla Hoffman & Chaise Heinjus
HC: Charlotte Klippel & James Findlay

Solos
1st: Leah Twigg
2nd: Aurora Bannon

   

Spirit of Mateship
Khancoban School

 
   
   
 
 

Tamworth Country Music Festival Postponed (Fri 7/1/22 4.00 pm)

(please see Press Release below)

 

"Following today’s announcement of major changes to COVID-19 safety measures for NSW and a subsequent meeting with Mr. Kevin Anderson, Minister for Hospitality and Racing, Tamworth Region Mayor Russell Webb, Tamworth Region Deputy Mayor Mark Rodda, Toyota Country Music Festival venue managers, and key stakeholders, Festival organisers announce that the 2022 Toyota Country Music Festival and Toyota Golden Guitar Awards has been postponed.
 
Toyota Country Music Festival Manager Mr. Barry Harley said: “The decision to postpone the Festival, just a week out from the event, was a difficult, yet necessary, decision to make. Given the current state of COVID transmission in our communities, and the impact the changed Covid safety measures have on our venues, it is the best decision for the health and safety of everyone involved particularly the Tamworth and country music community.

”Mr. Harley said that organisers are now planning to hold the 50th Anniversary event from 18-24 April 2022, with many of the same features, including the Toyota Golden Guitar Awards held over a shorter period.

“We will continue to work diligently with government authorities, festival stakeholders, and the country music industry as we prepare to welcome artists, fans, employees, vendors, and sponsorship partners back to Tamworth in April this year.

”Tamworth’s long-running Country Music Festival prides itself on being the country’s largest and longest-running country music festival in Australia, often seeing over 50,000 people over 10 days in January.
 This is the second year the Festival has been impacted by COVID-19, but Mr Harley says "there's still a lot to celebrate and we will be able to do so in April this year.""

 

 
****************************

2021 ARCHIVED NEWS...........


This time the Rhymer really was Back...Baby!!!

 

Man from Snowy River Festival 2021

 Thu 8th - Sun 11th April

 Bush Poetry Competition

Report & Results

--------------

 
   
   

Before we start on this year’s report let’s hark back to 2020 and the year that was. A ‘lead-in’ of sorts before we get to the business end of reporting on 2021’s festival. 2020, a year devoid of Bush Poetry and the performing thereof. The year of the double whammy. History will most likely judge 2020 as the year Australia and the rest of the world would rather forget. Virtually every human being on the planet had been affected by the Covid-19 pandemic and its onset. This was certainly the case in Corryong VIC (home of the iconic Man from Snowy River Festival) where for the second time in three decades the Bush Festival was cancelled only 3 weeks from its starting date in 2020. (The first instance being the Equine Flu epidemic in 2007).

The Man from Snowy River Festival is a major annual event for the Upper Murray when Corryong normally welcomes over 27,000 visitors. The loss of revenue in 2020 impacted the town hard, yet the townspeople rallied through the following months as the harsh lockdowns virtually decimated any tourism related business for the region.

Locals will never forget the start of 2020 (before Covid struck) when much of Eastern Australia was on fire. Millions of hectares were burned, homes destroyed, people died, livestock & native animals perished. The Corryong region came under threat from multiple fires burning in National Parks and forests that burnt more than 11 surrounding communities.

Looking at the placid paddocks now, it’s hard to envisage the furnace-like winds under a hellish red sky. For nearly 2 days almost no-one slept, straining to catch the first indications of spot-fires. The regions fire fighters battled what they could while sleep deprived neighbours and friends joined together fighting fire activity before it could gain a footing in dry vegetation. Still with the steely resolve not uncommon amongst ‘country folk’ residents of the Upper Murray took it in their stride, rolled their sleeves up and got on with life.

Just a month or so later the Corona virus delivered the second devastating blow. Yet despite all of this, the small communities weathered what mother nature threw at them and came through it all with a smile on their faces to welcome the revitalised Man from Snowy River Festival back to Corryong in April 2021.

   
   

Yep, the Bush Festival was B A C K and firing on all cylinders! As a matter of fact, the Man from Snowy River Festival celebrated its 25th Anniversary in 2021 highlighting many aspects of our ‘Aussie’ Bush heritage with 4 days of festivities in the heart of the ‘High Country’. The popular “Man from Snowy River Challenge” was once again one of the main attractions where more than 60 of the country’s most proficient stockmen/women competing for the ultimate accolade of “Overall Champion”. As well as the ‘dust busting’ action of the Rodeo programme at the Showgrounds there was also a Ute Muster, Kids Party, Bush markets, the “Aussie Bush Idol” & ‘Whip-Cracking’ competitions and working cattle dog Championships.

   

The action continued with Guy McLean (Australia’s first Stock Horse Ambassador) a comprehensive programme of Camp drafting as well as the Timberhills Bullock team, Flipping Disc Dogz and the annual Art & Photography exhibition to boot.

As per usual the Man from Snowy River Festival showcased some well-known and Award-Winning musical talent at the Main Stage Arena. Headlining the concert on the Friday was Country Music legend Troy Cassar-Daly (ably supported by Fanny Lumsden and Blake O’Connor).  Danny Phegan also graced Centre Stage as did Kevin Sullivan, Rory Phillips & Zac & Eliza Spalding and the “Bonza Blokes Bush Band” belted out a few well know ballads as well.

   
   
   

Lovers of the ‘Spoken Word’ were also well catered for at ‘Banjo’s Block’ and the Lions Youth Hall for this years ‘reduced format’ Bush Poetry Performance Competition 2021. Festival Poetry Director Jan Lewis now alternates (on consecutive years) the festival programme to accommodate both the VIC Bush Poetry Championships and a more ‘laid back’ weekend with fewer competition sections and a larger emphasis on more concerts and less stress for those wanting to share their favourite Bush Verse.

As with the horsemanship component of the overall programme the Bush Poetry (showcased over the 4 days of the event) was also celebrating its 25th year of operation. All 25 years of which (by the way) have been presided over and organised by Jan Lewis and her hardworking committee. Go Girl! What a champion!

The main highlight of the poetry programme was a series of “Anniversary Tribute” concerts that honoured the legendary Poets who helped get Bush Poetry started at the Man from Snowy River Festival all those years ago. Poets whose stature and fame had grown to ‘iconic’ status as the years passed. Male & female poets who forged the way so that other eager participants could follow in their footsteps to take to the stage in the present day.

   

Some of the poets who were honoured in these “Tribute Concerts” included Frank Daniel, Milton Taylor, Johnny Johansen, Carol Reffold, Don Anderson, Neil Hulm, Reg Phillips, Lance Parker, Ellis Campbell, Terry Regan, Jim Angel, Ed Walker, Col Milligan, Neil McArthur, ‘Blue the Shearer’ amongst others.

Featured Poets Musos (& Yarnspinners) such as Jan Lewis, “The Rhymer from Ryde” (Senior Judge), Geoffrey. W. Graham, Trevor Best, Peter Klein, Rhonda Tallnash, Gregory North and Jenny Markwell were joined by fellow entertainers such as Mick Coventry, Matthew Hollis, Annette Roberts, Rob Christmas, Tom O’Connor, ‘Campbell the Swaggie’ & Christine Middleton to honour the achievements of the beforementioned crew in establishing the Man from Snowy River Festival as one of the bastions of Bush Verse in Australia. Thanks to one and all for their efforts in this regard!

   

Of course, we shouldn’t forget one of the ‘mainstays’ of the Bush Poetry programme which of course is the daily ‘Poets Breakfast’ held @ ‘Banjo’s Block’. Hosted by “The Rhymer from Ryde” and his ‘sidekick’ (more on that later) Matthew ‘I’m more than a bus driver’ Hollis literally dozens of eager poets from all over the country ‘grabbed that mike’ & ‘had a spruik’ with concerts that sometimes stretched to 3 hours in length. Brother, that’s a hell of a lot of “Bush Poetry” by anyone’s standards!

Participating in the Poet’s Breakfasts were (in no particular order) Heather Casey, Bruce Chandler, Jai Thoolan, Don Dwyer, Christa Dwyer, Phil McManus, Jim Lamb, Val Kirley, David Stanley, ‘Stoney’ Broke, Seamus Foley, Elma Findlay, Margaret Ryan, Emma Coburn, Colin Carrington, Julie Morris, Lisa Ride, Rob Christmas, Annette Roberts, Maurire Foun, Simon Dillon, Ian Hayne, Tim Sheed, James Thomas, Peter Sheehan and the occasional bloke & sheila whose names I’ve no doubt forgotten. (Sorry about that!)

As mentioned previously there was a ‘reduced’ number of Performance Bush Poetry competitions this year around. However, the nucleus of the competitions were retained and once again drew the crowds to the stage. Those competitions being the “Man form Snowy River Recitation” event and the Jack Riley Heritage Award competitions.  These were presided over by Senior Judge “The Rhymer from Ryde” ably assisted by Gregory North, & Christine Middleton. Mick Coventry was once again the Head Collator and was assisted in his duties by Malcolm Davies.

A new segment of the Bush Poetry programme also emerged on the Friday of the event. Patrons of ‘Banjo’s Block’ were entertained by a one-hour show called “Yarns & Reminiscences” starring “The Rhymer from Ryde” & his ‘sidekick’ (more on that later-no, I better explain myself now) Matthew Hollis. This likely pair of reprobates had the punters ‘rolling in the aisles’ with some fairly spicy, bawdy and somewhat bizarre stories about their ‘after hours’ activities at the Man from Snowy River Festival over the last 20 years or so. It had to be seen to be believed, and even then some punters still didn’t believe what they were hearing. Good on ya boys! Oh, the ‘sidekick’ thing. Well, you see the official Man from Snowy River programme neglected to mention Matthew Hollis’s ‘official’ status at the event, instead simply giving him a ‘by-line’ as the “Rhymer from Ryde’s ‘sidekick’. Matthew was slightly ‘miffed’ by this blunder and proceeded to ‘take the piss’ of “The Rhymer from Ryde” at every available opportunity thereafter. Much hilarity ensued over the course of the weekend as the old mates went ‘tit for tat’ assaulting one other’s pride and talents in front of the amused onlookers.

As well as this there was also the annual “Anzac Tribute” concert (held in the Youth Hall) and the Thursday night “Meet Great & Eat” session at the ‘Bottom Pub’ to occupy the crowd’s attention. Ah, the results. Yes I’d forgotten about that. Here they are then.

   

Man from Snowy River Recitation Award
1st: Maurie Foun
2nd: Rhonda Tallnash
3rd: James Thomas

Jack Riley Heritage Award-Mens
1st: Seamus Foley
2nd: David Stanley
3rd: Matthew Hollis

   
   

Jack Riley Heritage Award-Womens
1st: Rhonda Tallnash
2nd: Lynne Frederick
3rd: Christa Dwyer

Jack Riley Heritage Award-Overall
Seamus Foley

   

Carol Reffold Memorial One minute Poem
1st: Lisa Ride
2nd: Lynne Frederick

 
   

Senior Encouragement Award
Margaret Ryan

Jan Lewis Encouragement Award
Heather Casey

   

Busking Award
1st: Bruce Chandler
2nd: Simon Dillon
3rd: Krystal Wilson

“Aussie” Bush Idol Award
New Talent: Erin McKinney
Senior: Chloe Sansom
Junior: Paddy Murphy

 
 
************************************

2020 ARCHIVED NEWS...........

"Under the Wave" Festival 2020 Cancelled

Well, the Rhymer was nearly Back!!! (posted 13/10/20)


Well folks, we tried real hard but Covid-19 restrictions have raised their ugly head again and, unfortunately, the Central Coast Council's "Under the Wave" Festival (detailed below) has also 'bitten the dust' and been cancelled for 2020.

A spokesperson for the Council said,
"Due to circumstances beyond our control, Central Coast Council have made the difficult decision to cancel the "Under the Wave" Festival this November".

Like all performing artists, the
"Rhymer" is bitterly disappointed at this latest news.  However, he would like poetry lovers everywhere to know that he has been extremely busy during these uncertain times, writing and learning a 'swag' of new Bush Poems that will hopefully be unveiled sometime in early 2021.

Please keep checking this website for further updates.


***************

The Rhymer’s Back!!! (posted 01/10/20)

at

Central Coast Council’s “Under the Wave” Festival 2020

Thursday 12th November (3.00 to 4.00 pm)

(Tickets are $10 per person and are only available by contacting the “Rhymer” through his e-mail address mailto:TheRhymerfromRyde@bigpond.com )

Yes Bush Poetry lovers everywhere the “Rhymer from Ryde” is back and proud to announce the end of his Covid-19 enforced ‘Performance Blackout’ period by announcing that his first ‘gig’ for a very long time will be held at the inaugural “Under the Wave” Festival to be held by the Central Coast Council between the 6-15th November 2020 at scenic “Memorial Park” located in the beautiful coastal suburb of The Entrance, NSW (46 Marine Parade to be exact).

The “Rhymer” will be presenting “1 SHOW ONLY” during the course of this event’s programme and it is limited to 80 tickets only as per the current Covid-19 restrictions. This ‘not to be missed’ return ‘gig’ happens on Thursday the 12th November between 3.00-4.00 pm.

Tickets are $10 per person and are only available by contacting the “Rhymer” through his e-mail address TheRhymerfromRyde@bigpond.com

*NB* Be warned! No tickets will be available on the day! Tickets are only available by contacting the “Rhymer” through his e-mail address above. Don’t miss out…order early to avoid disappointment!

The “Rhymer’s” 60-minute set will contain as many of his ‘Greatest Hits & favourites’ as he can possibly fit in as well as a few new ‘lockdown’ inspired beauties that he’s worked up over the last 6 months. The “Rhymer” has certainly missed your company as of late and is looking forward to catching up with you on the day. ‘Be there or be square’ as they say!

“Under the Wave” refers to a ‘Pop-up’ stage that will be erected smack bang in the middle of Memorial Park to celebrate the Coast’s stunning and diverse waterside setting. The stage will play host to an eclectic array of entertainers over the course of the 10-day programme (listed below) including Bands (both large & small), Solo artists, Theatrical Performances, Magicians, Dance Groups and much much more.

Tickets for each artists’ individual show can be found by following the relevant prompts beneath the artists details on the Central Coast Council’s Website.

 


 

The Tamworth Country Music Festival 2021

TAMWORTH 2021 Cancelled due to COVID-19

(September 8th, 2020)

The 2021 Tamworth Country Music Festival has been officially cancelled after the Tamworth Regional Council unanimously voted to suspend the event due to Covid-19.

“Tamworth regional Councillors tonight voted to suspend all Tamworth Regional Council run events for the 2021 Toyota Country Music Festival Tamworth” event organisers wrote in a statement.

“With the current public health orders in place, which include the prohibition of music festivals and mass gatherings, coupled with travel restrictions and venue capacity challenges, Councillors could not in good conscience vote to proceed with the event.”

Festival Manager Barry Harley said, “Today is a sad day. Not only for Tamworth, but for the artists and the Country Music industry. We had remained as optimistic as we could and had continued with our planning in the hope that conditions would ease. Unfortunately, like so many others in our situation, we have had to surrender to the challenges Covid-19 has placed on us and make the difficult decision to suspend the TCMF 2021.”

In making the final decision Tamworth Region Mayor Col Murray said, “Tamworth Regional Councillors faced a difficult decision tonight, one that had the health and safety of our community, our fans, the artists, volunteers, local businesses, staff and the wider country music industry at the front of their minds. It is hard to believe that we have had to make this decision and it most certainly has not been an easy decision to make. Still the impacts of possibly introducing Covid-19 into our community far outweighs the impacts cancelling the festival would have on our community.”

Mr. Harley added, “We appreciate all the support shown to us to date, and we encourage everyone to support your favourite country music artists in any way you can in the coming months as we look forward to a bigger and better Festival in 2022.”

Sadly folks this cancellation notice also means (unfortunately) that the 9th “Rhymer’s Roundup” series of proposed Bush Poetry Shows (scheduled to be presented over 10 days in January 2021 @ the North Tamworth Bowling Club) has now also been cancelled.

The “Rhymer” apologises profusely for this cancellation and both he and his troupe of merry reprobates promise that they will return ‘with bells on’ in January 2022 to do it all again for you, our loyal fans.



 

The Tamworth Country Music Festival 2020

Friday 17th - Sun 26th January

 

   

What happened where and when @ Tamworth this January

In years gone by touring artists such as Buddy Williams, Stan Coster, Slim Dusty, Joy McKean, Rick & Thel Carey and many others made it their business to start the year off in Tamworth. It was the one place they could all come together and have a good catch-up, as touring life took all of them in different directions during the course of the year. All these years later, it’s still the best place to catch up with your favourite artists and your favourite people who you only ever see (once a year) in Tamworth.

 This past year had been tougher than most, particularly with the relentless drought, widespread bushfires, water restrictions and tragedies of all description. (Ironically the first big gathering of country fans was a huge concert at the Tamworth Town Hall to assist Tasmania’s bushfire victims in June 1966). It was so successful they staged another on the January Long Weekend in 1967, drawing artists and fans from far & wide.

 

   

 Due to the factors mentioned above the general consensus of opinion amongst Moteliers, Publicans and business owners (around town) was that crowds were down about 10-20% on the averages that they were used to at this time of year. So, although crowd numbers were a little bit ‘thinner on the ground’ than usual punters still trekked from all corners of this ‘wide brown land’ to ‘do it all again’ again in Tamworth in the last few weeks of January 2020.

 Unfortunately, ‘tough times’ & coping with adversity are a fact of Australian life these days. But then again so is the indomitable Australian spirit. It was evident back in the ‘good old days’ and it’s even more so today. When people are suffering the natural urge is to help your neighbour, or in a lot of cases, complete strangers. One of the largest supporters of charitable causes associated with this mighty festival this year was Toyota (who has donated more than half a million dollars in recent years through its Toyota hat sales). For the past 2 years Rural Aid has been the main beneficiary and last year Toyota directed $32,465 to this Australian charity from its hat sales. (It’s funny you know that no matter where you travel for the rest of the year you will inevitably come across someone wearing one of these sturdy and serviceable head coverings).

 Yes, times are tough but our “Aussie” spirit is tougher. That’s why at this really hard time in our country’s history we desperately needed those spirits lifted and what better way than with Country Music? To that end there were 10 nights of free concerts in Toyota Park (this year) offering a range of musical styles as well as 120 different venues offering 2,800 events and some 700 performers to this year’s eager fans. Once again venues all over the city opened their doors to welcome this year’s influx of happy visitors with open arms.

 The 2020 Festival remained ‘true to its roots’ showcasing everything from Country to Blues, Roots, Bluegrass, Honky Tonk, Jazz, Line-dancing & of course Bush Poetry. Highlights included the Toyota Star Maker Grand Final, ‘Americana in the Park’, ‘Live & Loud’, ‘Concert for Rural Australia’ and the ‘Best of the Buskers’ concerts to name a few. Throw in the ‘Festival Family Zone’, the ‘Fan Zone’ and then newly instituted ‘Fringe’ stage for street performers as well and there was plenty to thank the Tamworth Regional Council for as you made you way around town.

 Thankfully the oppressive heat that dominated the nature of the 2019 event was held at bay somewhat this year, with temperatures only rising to the late 30’s later in the week. This was mediated with thunderstorms nearly every 2nd night which helped moderate the overall weather patterns somewhat. These factors made conditions generally more acceptable for everyone concerned.

 The Rhymer’s Roundup Wrap-up 2020 (The real truth and nothing but the truth)

 What happened where and when @ the North Tamworth Bowling Club

   

 The 8th year of the Rhymer’s Roundup series of concerts (and the third consecutive year of its 10-day format) commenced at the North Tamworth Bowling Club on the morning of Friday the 17th January at around 10.30 am. However, crowds had been building from the early hours of Friday morning apparently as by the time the Rhymer himself turned up at the venue the queue to get in stretched half way around the block and around the nearby roundabout and off into the distance. (Well, that’s a slight exaggeration-we do get carried away with that usual ‘adrenaline rush’ that greets you on the first day back on stage and are prone to telling ‘half-truths’ as they say).

Never mind. Main thing was that the Rhymer’s Roundup troupe was back, and in full force this year with the return to the fold of multi-award winner Rhonda Tallnash (who was absent from proceedings in 2019 due to illness). Rhonda was joined by Gregory North, John Peel, Noel Bull and the Rhymer from Ryde himself. Musical accompaniment was provided by Golden Guitar winning Steve Passfield. (More on that a little later).

It was very much a case of ‘one big happy family’ at the ‘Bowlo’ this year as the crowds (who have been attending the shows with great regularity in the past) settled in once again within the comfortable confines of the Club and the intimate stage environment. The audience took their favourite seats at the beginning of each day’s performances and greeted the entertainers like ‘long lost friends’ as they prepared to share another 2 hours’ worth of ‘hi-jinx, hilarity & mayhem’. Decorum was dispensed with as these verbose versifiers strode the stage and trolled the audience in search of laughs & willing participants to their colourful charades and personified pantomimes.

   

Chris Clarke (the ‘Bowlo’ Manager) and his friendly staff were hard pressed to keep the drinks up to the thirsty crowds as their continued laughter had caused a fair degree of sore throats and aching ribs from having their ‘funny bones’ tickled so much. Luckily there was a luncheon break at 1.00 pm every day that allowed our loyal followers to partake of the ‘Fine Food Fair’ offered by the Club’s Bistro counter. Some punters were even seen sneaking off to ‘have a flutter’ on the ponies & pokies in the Club’s Lounge Bar before the 2.00 pm musical programme continued the day’s entertainment.

As you remember the Rhymer was still a little bit sore & sorry for himself during the 2019 show season due to a recent appendix operation. I’m happy to report that the Rhymer was back to his best in 2020 and hit the stage each day with great ‘gusto’ (or was that a ‘fat guts’ so?) Either way the Rhymer was ‘on fire’ with a raft of new poems like his original piece “Bushfires get Stuffed” (inspired by a friend’s comment to him after he had lost everything in the bushfire crisis in the Hunter Valley of NSW). Other new poems included “The Walkaholics Dawn Patrol” (by Noel Stallard-a ditty about the perils of too much ‘early morning exercise’). “Clancy of the Overpass” (by David Stanley-an ode to a friend who had fallen upon hard times). “OH & S Gone Mad” (by Sandy Holmes-a tale of ‘Political Correctness’ gone haywire) and “Jesus and his Yoga” (by Stephen Whiteside-self-explanatory if you think about it).

Other than that, the Rhymer worked his way through his usual repertoire including much loved classics such as “Role Reversal”, “Appendicitis Blues” & “That’s Australia”.

Greg “Man of many Hats” North once again ‘ruled the roost’ during the course of his daily appearances trotting out a collection of his award-winning poems yarns and limericks. Try “Young People” on for size where the unsightly clothing, smutty talk and self-obsessive behaviour of our younger generations (that is 50 & 60 year olds) are mused over by the octogenarian granny narrating this tome. Confused by the overwhelming changes to technology that constantly befuddle us? Have a listen to Greg’s “Call Centre”. Ever been worried by not being able to find real words in the latest dictionaries. Greg gives his own personal update to the Collins catalogue. As a matter of fact, there isn’t much that Greg doesn’t have an opinion on and that what we love about him isn’t it? A true master of his craft that’s for sure!

   

Rhonda Tallnash returned to the Roundup in 2020 ‘locked & loaded’ and ‘rarin’ to go’ after missing the 2019 event due to sickness. She wasted no time making up for ‘lost time’ by ‘laying the audience in the aisles’ every chance that she got. Traditional classics like C.J.Dennis’s “Wheat” and “The Spotted Heifers” got a run as well as some modern classics like Bobby Miller’s “The Will” and Bill Kearns’s “Swingers” had the crowds in fits of laughter. Rhonda also topped that off with a wide range of original material such as “The Shirt’ ( a moving poems about PTSD and the horrors of war), “The 3 am Demise” (concerning the concerning fact that a noticeably high percentage of our elderly population apparently leave ‘this mortal coil’ at exactly that time of the morning), “Trailer Troubles” (left turns it to the right, right turns it left sort of thing. You know the drill) & “Fair Dinkum Ned”.

   

Noel Bull (from Musk in Victoria) took time off from his cows and farming pursuits to travel up the highway to NSW and also found himself with a daily spot on the Rhymer’s Roster”. Noel is an effusive and energetic entertainer who leaves ‘no stone unturned’ in his efforts to please the audience. Not one for standing still Noel prowls every square inch of the stage (and most of the auditorium as well) as he literally breathes life into his powerhouse performances. Noels not adverse to involving the crowds in his shows as well as many an audience member is invited on stage to act out or participate in one of Noel’s poetic extravaganzas.

Some of Noel’s standout pieces this year were “Mistaken Identity” (things are not always what they seem), “Ann” (a bold move on Noel’s part describing how much his wife has changed since they first met), “Rhindicella” (a spoonerism that plays of the Cinderella fairy story), “Fifty Shades of Grey” (by British Poet John Summers-not for the faint hearted this one with some ‘kinky’ ‘going-on’ between members of the Seniors set) and “Pearl of them All” (by William Ogilvie-a traditional poem of a man’s love of his horse).

   

Gentleman John Peel from Tumut NSW has also been a long-term member of the Rhymer’s Roundup troupe and appeared again in the 2020 bracket of shows. A quite unassuming sort of chap John leaves his quiter side at home when he comes to Tamworth and blossoms into a fully fledged Bush Poet with plenty to say and a definite flair for doing so. John enthralled the punters with tales such as “The Batlow Vandal” (about a mysterious local identity), “The ballad of Shazza & Fred” (a ‘Westy’ love story), “Des & his Rugby Ballet” (strange ‘goings-on’ at the Tumut Rugby Club) & “The tale of the Big Black Spider” (‘creepy crawlies’ in the bedroom).

Mind you the melodius tones of our Bush Poets wasn’t the only sound emanating from the Bowling Club stage. We’ve found over the last few years that the audiences enjoy a ‘sing-a-long’ or two as well (over the course of the shows). Who could we invite that could fill the following criteria? (1) Must be a true “Aussie” character (2) Must have a substantial catalogue of top quality “Australiana” songs and (3) Must have won at least 1 “Golden Guitar”. I reckon that sounds a lot like Steve Passfield don’t you. Yep, honestly, you couldn’t find a nicer bloke than Steve. This bloke really knows how to bond with his audience. No bullshit. No pretence. Just Steve doing it ‘his way’. Steve regaled us with ditties such as “Angels in Orange” (a tribute to the ‘Fireys’), “Hillbilly Redneck Town” (whoever could he be talking about?), “Going it Alone” and some old-time classics like “I’ve been everywhere Man” & “Waltzing Matilda”. Steve’s presence added a real ‘gravitas’ to proceedings that’s for sure.

   

Well I’ve just about run out of steam…and things to say…well, for the moment anyway. Oh, no I haven’t. I forgot to tell you about the photo montage that’s just about to pop-up on your screen. One very special feature of the Tamworth landscape in 2020 was the arrival of a first-time visitor to the Festival, Narelle Walker (Graeme’s wife). She had taken a couple of days off work to pop-in to the North Tamworth Bowling Club and see just what it was that her husband got up to for 10 days some 350 klms from home. She even turned up as our “Door -Girl” managing the front desk for a couple of shows. Thanks Nell!

(Oops I forgot Anne Bull & David Kitchen also helped out on door duties! Thanks folks!) As well as that there is a few shots of the Peel River and the new Tamworth Regional Skate Park & Viaduct Park Youth Hub. There’s also some snaps of some of my favourite performers Kylie Castle, the Hillbilly Goats, Finn McCool and the Bushwackers. There’s even a few more pics on the drinking holes of Tamworth (what again?).

   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
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2019 ARCHIVED NEWS...........

 

“The Rhymer Returns”

 Royal Brisbane Show

 The “Ekka”

 Bush Poetry Competition 2019

   
   

The Royal Queensland Show (the Ekka) presented by the RACQ is all about celebrating and championing agriculture and the critical role it plays in our everyday lives. Last year 415,000 people attended the “Ekka” with many showing support for our farmers who continue to battle the devastating drought.

 The RNA is committed to helping our farming families (many of whom have exhibited at the “Ekka” for countless generations), since the first show way back in 1876. To ensure Queenslanders could once again show their support (for the people who feed and clothe us every day) the Show committee decided to freeze the price of all tickets this year for the first time in 11 years.

The competitions run by the RNA are the heart and soul of the “Ekka” and with more than 21,000 entries received this year visitors were encouraged to look at what the various exhibitors were contributing to the local economy, whether it was beef or dairy cattle, wool or vegetables. The RNA is also continuing to invest in competition facilities ensuring the next generation of exhibitors can enjoy a better and more comfortable competition experience as well.

 The new Alexandria Park (which is part of the $2.9 billion Brisbane Showgrounds Regeneration Project) was home to this year’s Championship Canine Competition presented by Black Hawk. The park added 0.8 ha of additional green & event space to the “Ekka” site. 2019 also marked the first time that all four storeys of the Arrow Energy Pavillion were used to house animals as varied as Goats, Sheep Poultry, Alpacas, Beef & Dairy Cattle at the “Ekka” site.

   
   
   
   

 The 2019 “Ekka-Nites” show programme (sponsored by RACQ Life-Flight Rescue) featured a spectacular tribute to the nation’s farmers, the theme of the fireworks presentation this year being “A Celebration of the Human Spirit”, recognising the remarkable resilience and determination of our primary producers. The highlight of the show being the finale where a 70-metre-high pyrotechnic love heart erupted from the main arena floor in a display of gratitude to the country’s farmers, the heartbeat of our nation.

Entertainment aplenty abounded across the site with the XXXX Stockman’s Bar & Grill hosting an epic line up of musical acts as well as hosting the brand new “Ekka” ‘Pinball Arcade’ a bit hit with the young and the ‘young at heart’. The “Brisbane Pinball Masters” competition was held here during the course of the show. There was also a “Multicultural Music Stage”, a ‘Super Seniors Day’ and ‘Dora the Explorer’ for the kids.

   

Of course, a day at the show is never complete without filling your belly with those once a year greasy treats such as ‘12-inch-Long Bratwurst Sausages’, ‘Double Decker Cheeseburger Pies’, ‘Foot long Mega-Thick Chips’ and the ever-popular crowd favourite the ‘Dagwood Dog’.

Of course, other then eating and drinking his way around the “Ekka” the ‘Rhymer’ was actually at the Royal Queensland show for a purpose (believe it or not?). Well a couple of purposes actually. Firstly to join in with Trisha Anderson’s “Bush Poetry Troupe” for a couple of days of performing ‘in-situ’ (his 19th consecutive appearance at the “Ekka”) and having another crack at the Show’s annual Bush Poetry Performance Competition (once again sponsored by the ‘Consultancy Bureau’ & the ‘Australian Stockman’s Hall of Fame’).

2 competition sections are held on the first Saturday of the show, they being the “Original” & “Established” sections. The results of this year’s competition putting a very wide grin of the face of the “Rhymer” as he picked up a second place in both of the competition sections.

In the Original section Graeme’s ditty “Appendicitis Blues” was a true story of an acute appendicitis attack (suffered on New Years Eve 2019) that nearly prevented him from running his popular “Rhymer’s Roundup” shows at the annual Tamworth Country Music Festival in January this year. Turns out that Graeme suspected that his darling wife Narelle had tried to poison him with all the insecticides that she’d been spraying on their backyard ‘vegie’ patch. Mmmm!

In the Established section Graeme trotted out a brand-new piece (on debut) written by a chap from Canberra called David Stanley. The poem was entitled “Clancy of the Overpass” the theme of which concerned a friend of David’s who had fallen upon hard times. A powerful and moving piece and one that obviously impressed the judges on the day. Graeme thanks David for the use of his poem!

Competition Results:

Original
1st: Bob ‘Pa’ Kettle
2nd: Graeme Johnson
3rd: Pamela Fox

Established
1st: Peter Marrion
2nd: Graeme Johnson
3rd: Pamela Fox

   
   

 

 

National Folk Festival 2019

Thurs 18th-Mon 21st April

Report & Results

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The word ‘Canberra’ is popularly claimed to derive from the word ‘Kamberra’ or ‘Canberry’ which is claimed to mean ‘meeting place’ in Ngunnawal (one of the indigenous languages spoken in the district before European settlement arrived).

 Canberra is, of course, the Capital City of Australia. It was founded following the ‘Federation of the Colonies of Australia’ as the seat of Government of the new nation. It is Australia’s largest inland city and the eight largest Australian city overall. The city is located at the northern end of the Australian Capital Territory 280 klms south west of Sydney and 660 klms north east of Melbourne.

 It is unusual among Australian cities in that it is an entirely ‘planned city’ similar to Washington DC & Brasilia in Brazil. Following an international contest for the city’s design a blueprint by American architects Walter Burley Griffin & Marion Mahoney Griffin was selected and construction commenced in 1913. The Griffin’s plan featured geometric motifs such as circles, hexagons & triangles and was centred on axes aligned with significant topographical landmarks in the ACT.

 Which means in essence folks that all roads lead to this years National Folk Festival. So now the history lessons over let’s talk about the Festival.

 The focus of this year’s Festival was very much to showcase the diversity of the ‘Folk’ genre and its relevance in contemporary societies. Folk is always best when it is current and reflects the traditions, cultures & communities that have spawned it. Folk is a broad palette encompassing many genres and styles. Like an artist dipping into a paint pot, sometimes folk traditions are experienced in their purest form and sometimes they mix and absorb characteristics from elsewhere. And, like the artist putting paint on canvas, folk lies close to its source. It connects and engages in unique and interesting ways. And so it did for anyone who experienced the breadth of artistry displayed at this year’s National Folk Festival.

 Just take a look at some of the features of this year’s event for e.g.

 There was a celebration of Australia’s first peoples with artists from both Australia & Canada performing traditional dance and song as well as contemporary singers like Gawurra. There was two dozen or more themed concerts covering such topics as ‘Bluegrass Radio’, ‘Instrument Maker’s Concerts’, a fully acoustic version of Gilbert & Sullivan’s ‘Trial by Jury’ (from the good folk of Loosely Woven), ‘Sailors fate’ (Sea Shanty’s & dark tales from the worlds’ oceans), a tutorial on Copyright (from Shortis & Simpson) and a range of parodies from the ‘Verandah Band’ to name a few.

 But we all know what the punters come to see don’t we? The Poetry in all its myriad forms. Bush verse, Free verse, Open verse, doggerel verse. Call it what you will. Those wanting to be challenged, laugh with or become emotionally engaged with their fellow human beings sought refuge from the dramas of the outside world in one of many Poetry venues scattered around the site.

 Poet’s Breakfast at the ‘Flute’N’Fiddle’, Featured artists concerts upstairs in the ‘Terrace’ & on the ‘Carnival Stage’, Poetry Slams in the ‘Majestic’, Themed concerts in the ‘Trocadero’, Open Mike sessions in ‘Central Park’, Yarnspinning in the ‘Stockcamp’, the ‘World Poetry Debate’ in the ‘Budawang’ and Workshops aplenty in the ‘Billy Moran’ Session tent. How’s that for a line-up?

 The Bush Poetry Fraternity were represented by Geoffrey.W.Graham, Jason Roweth, Megan Roweth, The Rhymer from Ryde, Stephen Whiteside & Maggie Somerville whilst the ‘City Poets’ or those aficionados of ‘Free Verse’ were staffed by luminaries such as “Irish” Joe Lynch, Andrew Galan, David Hallet, & Sandra Renew & friends.

 Hardy ‘early morning’ types were seen queuing outside the ‘Flute’N’Fiddle’ near Central Park to (a) make sure they got a seat & (b) make sure they got a spot on a very full Poet’s Breakfast performers run sheet each day. With only 3 days’ worth of Breakfasts to vie for the ‘National Reciters’ Award & the newly instituted “Blue the Shearer’ Award for best “Original Poem” there were only 3 opportunities for any of the poets to ‘hit their straps’ & ‘strut their stuff’ for the assembled masses & of course the most important person in the Marquee, the judge, who this year just happened to be Bush Poet John Peel from Tumut, NSW.

 John was often observed scratching & scribbling on his note pad (or anything else he could find) as he contemplated the overwhelming task of how he was going to judge over 90 separate recitations over a number of highly varying styles. (More on that in a minute).

 As well as all the familiar faces & ‘old hands’ one would expect to see gracing the ‘Flute’N’Fiddle’ stage there were also a swag of newcomers trying their hand at this ‘versifying’ business. Some, but by no means all of those fresh new faces were, Mona Finley, Roger Holmes, Anne Hayes, Phil Inn, David Stanley, Yvonne Glewis, Trevor Tisdall, Stuart Walkerden, Rowan McKewon & Bob Ross. A more eclectic bunch you would be hard to find.

 One of the interesting facets of the “Poet’s Breakfasts” at the National is that (far away from the conservative nature of a “Poets Breakfast” that you would normally experience at a purely Bush Poets event) the Breakfasts at the ‘Flute’N’Fiddle’ were bursting with calamity, controversy & a liberal amount of very ‘Free Speech’. Nothing wrong with that at all of course. Nurturing people to express themselves is one of the things that the Poets Breakfast is all about. Some of the mornings input was very challenging & topical and aroused extremely strong reactions from the assembled throngs.

 Back to the judging. Mr John Peel put on his thinking cap and after a number of sleepless nights finally stepped to the microphone to deliver, well, his deliberations on the poetic spectacle that he had witnessed over the last 3 mornings. And the winner is …as they say.

 “Reciter of the Year”-David Hallet

“Blue the Shearer Award for Best Original Poem”-“Irish” Joe Lynch

 And with that pronouncement the curtain was drawn on another National Folk Festival.

 Oh, by the way it would be remiss of me not to mention the departure of Laurie McDonald (from his position as Poetry Director for the National Folk Festival). Laurie has been assisting the main Committee for something like 7 years now, organising all the poetry venues & sourcing poets from all over Australia to entertain the National crowds. A big thank you Laurie from all your poetic brethren.

   
   
Dead Maggies

Truman Smith Band

Cog and Wheel Bar

Light Rail Station

   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
 
 

Man from Snowy River Festival 2019

Thurs 4th-Sun 7th April

(incorporating) Victorian Bush Poetry Championships 

Bush Poetry Competition

 Report & Results

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Corryong is supported by a variety of service clubs, a hospital & schools. It has a Catholic Primary & Corryong College P-12 school. The college has approx. 500 students. Corryong is also home to the Australian Institute of Flexible Learning which offers 100% online education to all of Australia.

  Corryong’s location makes it the Victorian gateway to the NSW snowfields, including the Thredbo Ski Village and the Snowy Mountains Hydro-Electric scheme. It is a way station for many travellers, particularly those on motorcycles, travelling across Australia’s highest mountains.

Corryong is close to the Burrowa Pine Mountain National Park and the massive Alpine National Park. The Kosciusko National Park is located nearby across the State border. Both of these areas were extensively burnt in the bushfires that raged through the region in January 2003.

 During the town’s annual Man from Snowy River Festival nothing captures the imagination of the public like the “Man from Snowy River Re-enactment” extravaganza held in Thowgla (5 klms) from the town’s centre. This 3-hour spectacle brings Banjo Paterson’s epic poem to life set amongst the spectacular scenery of the Thowgla Valley.

This year the spectators enjoyed some pre-re-enactment entertainment by way of Bush Music provided by special guests Pete Denahy & Danny Phegan and some whip cracking from Emiliqua East. They also viewed the Larne Draught horses and an exceptional display of horsemanship from the “Double Dans”.

 The re-enactment itself starts with the arrival of “Riley’s Riders” at the end of their epic journey to commemorate Jack Riley’s life. Their ride references his last journey and is held to laud the efforts of those who selflessly sought to rescue him under harsh & trying conditions. In addition, this year a Light Horse troupe showcased the skills required by these wonderful horsemen in the theatre of war. The Australian Light Horse had its inception on 1897 in Harden NSW and proudly continued its outstanding efforts until the last parade as an active military unit at the Queen’s Coronation in London in 1952

 

Then the stirring theme song from the “Man from Snowy River” feature films rings out across the valley as the re-enactment of Banjo’s poem reaches its crescendo and culmination as a mob of wild brumbies thunder down the valley’s slopes being eagerly pursued by a mob of hardy bushmen and their steeds. The re-enactment proceeds along the lines of Banjo’s poem until the wayward horse is finally corralled. Crowds go wild at this spectacle and young and old alike are enthralled by all this fast-paced action.

 Meanwhile back in town the ‘Live’ entertainment kept a similar frantic pace with Gretta Ziller, Travis Collins, Jetty Road, Pete Denahy, Danny Phegan & the Longreach Band & Jasmine Rae keeping the Showground Stage (and most of the town no doubt) rockin’ till the wee hours every morning. Joining these luminaries in the Entertainment Marquee were the wonderful Fanny Lumsden, Zac & Eliza Spalding, Greg Champion & Geoffrey.W.Graham & his long-lost brother Ralph.

 “True Culture” the Indigenous cultural group blended traditional sounds with a modern contemporary vibe and had the punters tapping their toes at locations all around the town as well.

 Add to this the excitement of the “Stockman’s Challenge”, the “Aussie Bush Idol” Talent Quest, the “High Country Bush Markets” and the “Art & Photography Exhibition” and it’s easy to see how most people filled in their weekends.

 Oops, nearly forgot the Bush Poetry. That would have been a ‘faux-pas’ of epic proportions.

 This year the “Man from Snowy River Festival” also encompassed the staging of the Victorian Bush Poetry Championships once again run by the “Bush Poetry Co-ordinator” Jan Lewis and her wonderful sub-committee of hard-working volunteers. The performance and written sections of said competition were once again presided over by the ‘Senior Judge’ “The Rhymer from Ryde” (whose residency at this post stretches back some 8 years to 2012). In this time “The Rhymer” has watched over 2 x Australian, 4 x Victorian & 2 x standard Man from Snowy River competitions and has been Jan’s ‘right hand man’ with regards to all thing’s competition wise.

The “Rhymer” was joined on the Judging panel this year by Tom McIlveen & Brenda Joy (2 of Australia’s best performers & writers of Bush Verse) as well as Howard James (from SA) Lorraine McCrimmon, Honor Auchinleck & Noel Bull (from Musk, VIC).

(Unfortunately (due to ill-health) fellow judge Carol Reffold was not able to attend the event this year. Carol has been one the mainstays of the Man from Snowy River event since its inception and her presence and warmth of character were sadly missed by all present. Best wishes & prayers go out to Carol in this difficult time).

 Head Collator Mick Coventry was ably assisted by Hal Pritchard & Malcolm Davies. Timekeeping duties were completed by Malcolm Batty, Malcolm Davies, Tony Lambides-Turner, Howard James & Val Kirley. Mc’ing duties were confidently handled (across all the competition sections) by Brenda Joy, Trevor Best, Geoffrey.W.Graham, Ralph Graham & Noel Bull.

 The major performance competition sections (they being the Modern, Traditional, Original Serious & Original Humorous) were hotly contested and barely a breath was taken as these marvellous orators captivated the hearts and minds of the attentive audiences with their skilful recitations of Australian classics.

 In addition to these Overall Championship sections there was also a separate Yarnspinning and Novice sections as well as the very popular “Man from Snowy River” Recitation Competition and “Poet’s Brawl”-1-minute competition.

 The aptly named “Banjo’s Block” and the nearby Lions Youth Hall hosted the Championship sections again this year and were (at times) full to overflowing with curious onlookers and poetry devotees crammed into every seat that the building and lawns could accommodate.

   

Every morning come 8.00 am “Banjo’s Block” also resounded to the crackling sizzle of the open log fire and the chattering voices of the early morning poetry set as the “Poet’s Breakfasts” swung into action. Eager to warm up before the day’s competition sections hordes of poets (both professional & practised -as well as a school of exceptionally keen novices and first timers) stepped ‘up to the plate’ to exhibit their wares. Holding sway over this seething mass were the ‘Breakfast’ Mc’s “The Rhymer from Ryde” and his burly sidekick Matthew Hollis (who had missed last years event due to work commitments). Matthew had returned to Corryong in fine form with his collection of yarns jokes and general ‘bullshit’ that only a man of his stature could get away with. Good to have you back, big fella!

 Bush Poetry also spread its wings into other venues ‘around the traps’ over the weekend including the Corryong RSL Hall (host to the annual “Anzac Remembrance Concert) and the “Bottom Pub” who once again held the “Poet’s Meet & Greet Session” in the Beer Garden marquee. Thanks for the support guys!

   
   

In conclusion an enormous debt of gratitude was expressed by everyone concerned with all the previously mentioned Bush Poetry events to the Bush Poetry Convenor Jan Lewis. To say that she ‘lives and breathes’ this festival and that ‘it’s in her blood’ would be an understatement. Jan Lewis is this Festival and it simply wouldn’t be the same without her. Thanks Jan from ‘one & all’. GJ.

 

Victorian Bush Poetry Championships Performance Competition Results

Classical Male
1st: Tom O’Connor
2nd: Colin Carrington
3rd: Max Pringle

Classical Female
1st: Jenny Markwell
2nd: Rhonda Tallnash
3rd: Kathy Vallance

Modern Male
1st: Tom O’Connor
2nd: Jeffrey Dowlan
3rd: Phil Mcmanus

Modern Female
1st: Jenny Markwell
2nd: Rhonda Tallnash
3rd: Kathy Vallance

Original Serious Male
1st: Laurie Webb (missing)
2nd: B. Chandler
3rd: Max Pringle

Original Serious Female
1st: Rhonda Tallnash
2nd: Jenny Markwell
3rd: Christa Dwyer

Original Comedy Male
1st: Colin Carrington
2nd: Max Pringle
3rd: Laurie Webb (missing)

Original Comedy Female
1st: Rhonda Tallnash
2nd: Jenny Markwell
3rd: Kathy Vallance

Overall Male Champion
“Clancy’s Choice Award”
1st: Max Pringle
2nd: Colin Carrington

Overall Female Champion
“Matilda Award”
1st: Rhonda Tallnash
2nd: Jenny Markwell

Open Yarnspinning
1st: Mick Coventry
2nd: Rhonda Tallnash
3rd: Matthew Hollis

Novice Champion
1st: Jeffrey Dowlan
2nd: Don Dwyer
3rd: Ross Vallance

Man from Snowy River Recitation
1st: Tom O’Connor
2nd: James Thomas
3rd: Matthew Hollis

Overall Champions
1st: Max Pringle
2nd: Rhonda Tallnash
   

Laurie Sheridan Encouragement Award
Ben Hoeksema

Seniors Encouragement Award
Jeffrey Dowlan

   

Jan Lewis Encouragement Award
Lorraine McCrimmon

 
   

Victorian Bush Poetry Championships Written Competition Results

Written Serious Poem
“Silver Brumby Award”
1st: Robyn Sykes
2nd: Robyn Sykes
3rd: Shelley Hansen
HC: Helen Harvey
HC: Helen Harvey

Written Comedy Poem
“Corryong Larrikin Award”
1st: David Campbell
2nd: Helen Harvey
3rd: Peter O’Shaughnessy
HC: Robyn Sykes
HC: Shelley Hansen

   

Novice Serious Poem
1st: Eliza Allen
2nd: Anne Sundbloom
3rd: Eliza Allen

Novice Comedy Poem
1st: David Stanley
2nd: Trevor Bryant
3rd: Jan Bentley

   

Overall Adult Written Champion
Robyn Sykes

Overall Novice Written Champion
David Stanley

   

Victorian Bush Poetry & Music Association Awards
Topscoring Victorian Performance Female:
Rhonda Tallnash
Topscoring Victorian Performance Male: Colin Carrington
Topscoring Victorian Yarnspinner: Mick Coventry
Topscoring Victorian Written Poem: David Campbell

 
   

Victorian Bush Poetry Championships Junior Written Competition Results

Grades 1 & 2
1st: Symone Malenab
2nd: Micheal Boers
3rd: Any Costello
HC: James Yule

Grades 3 & 4-Corryong Primary School
1st: Sienna Moore
2nd: Lauren Zimmer
3rd: Marlie McLean
HC: Ruby Jean Klippel

   

Grades 3 & 4-Sacred Heart Catholic School
1st: Chase Hamilton
2nd: Lewis Maguire
3rd: Bonnie Whitehead
HC: Addison Inde Rae Nugent

Grades 5 & 6
1st: Carmen Lee
2nd: Regan Mae Nugent
3rd: Jesse Pitman
HC: Jack Jarvis

   

Senior School Age
1st: Jessica Klien-Gibaud
2nd: Jessica Klien-Gibaud
3rd: Jessica Klien-Gibaud

Overall Written Junior Champion
Jessica Klien-Gibaud

   

Victorian Bush Poetry Championships Junior Performance Competition Results

Grades 1 & 2
1st: Matilda O’Connor

Grades 3 & 4
1st: Sienna Moore

   

Grades 5 & 6
1st: Gemma McNamara

Mateship Award
Carmen Lee

   

Best Comedy Performance
Ella Grzeschka

 
   

 

Dunedoo Bush Poetry Festival 2019

Fri 1st - Sun 3rd March

Report & Results

 “Echoes of the Past”

-----------------

 

Dunedoo largely functions as a service centre to the surrounding district which focuses on the production of wheat, cattle, mixed farming, timber, fat lambs & wool. As with many wheat growing centres in western NSW the village’s skyline is dominated by a large silo. Dunedoo also features a small hospital, two schools, 1 Hotel, a small commercial area, a small freight railway station as well as sporting and special event facilities.

It was also the locale for the 20th Annual Dunedoo Bush Poetry Festival held between the 1st-3rd March 2019.

Lloyd Graham (President of the Dunedoo & District Development Group Inc.) presided over the organisation of the event and was once again assisted by the Festival Co-ordinator Kylie Brougham. In only her 2nd year on the job Kylie kept things running smoothly and managed to keep a smile on her face all weekend (whilst doing so)!

It was the “Rhymers” 12th consecutive journey to Dunedoo and his 2nd appearance at the Festival’s new venue, the Dunedoo Jubilee Hall. (which he absolutely loves performing in).

A little bit short of new serious material the “Rhymer” trawled through his ‘back catalogue’ of verse to find one that hadn’t been aired at the Dunedoo Festival before. “Have you seen my Dad” is a touching emotional piece written whilst his dad was in the Intensive Care Unit @ Liverpool Hospital (after a serious car accident some years ago). It was written to give to his father (when he recovered) but sadly that was not to be. The “Rhymer” said, “It’s not a piece that I perform often, however occasionally the ‘time feels right’ for a bit of reminiscing”. And powerful reminiscing it was too as the “Rhymer” picked up a 3rd place in the Original Serious Section with said poem. The result brought both a tear to his eye and a smile to his face.

Gregory North soldiered through countless hours of Mc’ing to bring the audiences all the information they needed to know about proceedings and also informed them at great length about the events many sponsors. Many audience members are now much wiser about the finer details of breeding fat lambs & ploughing crops for e.g.

Greg also judged the event along with fellow adjudicators Sandra Nicholson, Des Kelly, Alan Walker, Norma Gallagher & Tony Yeo. Jason & Chloe Roweth provided the entertainment at the Saturday Night Concert and the weekend finished up with a riotous “Poet’s Brawl” back in the Jubilee Hall.

Classical Male
1st: Ken Tough
2nd: Bob ‘Pa’ Kettle
3rd: Andrew Pulsford

Classical Female
1st: Heather Searles
2nd: Rhonda Tallnash
3rd: Claire Reynolds

   

Contemporary Male
1st: Ken Tough
2nd: Paddy O’Brien
3rd: Bob ‘Pa’ Kettle

Contemporary Female
1st: Rhonda Tallnash
2nd: Heather Searles
3rd: Jacqui Warnock

   

Original Serious Male
1st: Ken Tough
2nd: Bob ‘Pa’ Kettle
3rd: Graeme Johnson

Original Serious Female
1st: Heather Searles
2nd: Claire Reynolds
3rd: Rhonda Tallnash

   

Original Humorous Male
1st: Ken Tough
2nd: Andrew Pulsford
3rd: Max Pringle

Original Humorous Female
1st: Heather Searles
2nd: Rhonda Tallnash
3rd: Jacqui Warnock

   

Yarnspinning Section
1st: Rhonda Tallnash

Original Serious Male
3rd: Graeme Johnson with Eric Beer
   
 

Intermediate Section
1st: David Melville
2nd: Carolyn Maxfiled
3rd: Marion Dreyer

 


The Tamworth Country Music Festival 2019

Fri 18th - Sun 27th January


   
 

What happened where and when @ Tamworth this January

 

This year marked the 47th year of the Festival which for decades has featured Australia’s top Country performers as well as newcomers eager to break into the Tamworth scene. The Festival has a proud history supporting rural & regional Australia and is the largest Country Music Festival in the Southern Hemisphere (as well as Australia’s largest Music Festival of any kind).

During the course or the event some of the industry’s biggest names were inducted into the “Hall of Fame”, the ABCRA National Finals Rodeo rocked and rumbled AELEC (the Australian Equine & Livestock Event Centre) & the Toyota Starmaker competition turned 40.

In addition to this there were Coca-Cola showcases at the Tamworth Town Hall, the Aristocrat Country Entertainer of the year @ Wests Diggers, the Mount Franklin Junior Talent Quest @ Wests and the new TSA Talent Quest at the City Bowling Club. Need I say more?

This year Tamworthians rolled out the ‘red carpet’ for a huge throng of visitors, numbered they say easily in the tens of thousands and I’d believe it to. Just saunter through the Carter Street Campgrounds on a sunny afternoon and you could see an assortment of tents, vans & caravans stretching out before you as far as the eye could see. A veritable blanket of humanity spread over the sporting fields beside the rambling Peel River.

And did the weather come to the party or what? In one of the hottest years on record the mercury broke the 40-degree mark on 5 consecutive days with the daytime temperature over the next 5 days never falling below 35 degrees. A real sauna. Definitely not for the fainthearted. Still that’s what we love about Tamworth in January isn’t it?

The Rhymer’s Roundup Wrap-up 2019 (Prelim)

Well one of major pieces of news to come out of the Festival this year was the fact that the “Rhymers Roundup” nearly didn’t happen at all. Take a look at the photo below and then I’ll tell you the full story.

 

It’s a sad & sorry sight isn’t it folks? Here’s what happened.

It’s New Years Eve morning about 2.00 am and the “Rhymers” thrashing round in bed feeling like someone’s stuck a knife in his guts. A short while later he presents to Ryde Hospitals Emergency Department to be told that he’s having a major Appendicitis attack. After a bit of prodding & probing by the Doctors & Nurses and a few X-Rays later it’s decided that they have to come out straight away.

So it’s a couple of days in hospital followed by a very lengthy recovery period (no driving for a week and no heavy lifting for a month at least). Trouble is a week or so later Graeme’s meant to be up in Tamworth organising his advertising responsibilities like erecting massive vinyl banners and handing out 1000’s of A5 flyers as well as plastering Peel Street with A3 full colour posters. Heck, he can’t even bend over to tie his own shoes…what’s to do? So it’s loving wife Narelle to the rescue who has to take a few days off to drive ‘hubby’ to Tamworth and do most of the hard ‘yakka’ herself under Graeme’s guidance. What a girl!

As for feeling like performing…ahhh…nuhhh was the answer. But as they say “The Show must go on” and another week later Graeme drives himself to Tamworth and with the help of his “Rhymer’s Roundup” cohorts makes it through a pretty uncomfortable 10 days ‘on the job’. Embarrassing though was the fact that to make it ‘on stage’ Graeme had to buy a new wardrobe of pants & shirts to accommodate his enlarged girth (a result of swelling caused by the operation). Well, ‘you’ll laugh about it later’ as they say. And he did! Worst thing was he didn’t have a drink for a month (following his hospitalisation). That hurts!

The Rhymer’s Roundup Wrap-up 2019 (The real truth and nothing but the truth)

 The 7th year of the “Rhymer’s Roundup” series of concerts (and the second consecutive year of a 10-day format) was welcomed with open arms by poetry devotees from every corner of the land as they parked out the corner of Bligh & Piper streets with every form of transportation imaginable. Even the odd ‘horse & cart’. Well you know what they say about Bush Poets ‘only half the lies they tell are the truth’.

Crowds kept the staff at the North Tamworth Bowling Club on their toes as they indulged in all the facilities that the Club has to offer. Early morning ‘heart starters’ from the bar, fine food from the bistro and a flutter on the pokies and ponies were all squeezed around a day at the ‘Bowlo’ and a fine selection of “Aussie” Bush Verse.

 There was one major disappointment for the crowds though and that was that one of Graeme’s “Featured Artists” Rhonda Tallnash was unable to attend the shows as she had her own little health scare a few days before the Festival as well. (Visiting poet Noel Stallard from QLD stood in for Rhonda one day though and laid the crowds in the aisle so to speak. More on that later).

So it was up to the blokes (from the troupe) to be a bit more feminine in their presentations just to soften the fact that there was no female presence at the shows (unless that is, you count Gregory North dressed as an old lady, and I wouldn’t!). Get well soon Rhonda. We need you back.

As you are now aware the “Rhymer” was still a little bit sore & sorry for himself by the time Fri the 18th rolled around. Unable to perform with his usually flare & theatrics (cause basically every time he moved something hurt) Graeme was more or less tied to the microphone stand in a fairly formal stance. Not one to let the side down though Graeme simply had to do more with his voice and hunkered down to doing his best for the remaining 9 days. His new poem “Appendicitis Blues” elicited gales of laughter from the sympathetic crowds on a daily basis as Graeme used the poem to elaborate on his apparent lack of movement. There’s one in every crowd isn’t there? Other than that, the “Rhymer” worked his way through his usual repertoire including some of his award-winning serious pieces like “Poles & Wires” (a tribute to the “Light Horse Interchange sculpture in Sydney’s west) & “The Voyage” (chronicling the hardships of convict transportation). Signature comedy poems such as “Chatterbox”, “Barangaroo & the Pontiff too” “If its FREE I want it”, Barbie Town” & “Bob the Beagle” were given a fair airing too!

Greg “Man of many Hats” North was once again the featured attraction of this three ringed circus with his usual hilarious hi-jinx cranked up to a maximum crowd-pleasing level. Not only was he entertaining the crowds with his poems on gastronomic delights “Tofu” (and the perils of eating same) & “Cake” (and what not to make it with) but also delved into his considerable ‘back catalogue’ to revisit some yarn spinning gems like “Corryong” (and anything that rhymes with it) and “Killer” (about a highly shady character who ‘exterminises’ anything that moves). Other bad taste classics like “Our Touch Football Day” (were explosive fart gasses ignite the club barbeque causing an ensuing riot) & “Slabs, TAB’s, Cabs & Kebabs’ (about regurgitating one’s evening meal onto the back seat of a taxi) also got a look in despite Graeme’s best efforts to ‘cut them off at the pass’. Thanks Greg, another mighty effort.

Gentleman John Peel was again another mainstay of the “Rhymer’s Roundup” troupe as he has been for many years. He brought forth a fourth poem in his fencing saga called “Know a fence”, explained the finer details of the political process in “The Candidates Speech”. He also enlightened us about his penchance for cross-dressing in “My Rocky Horror Nightmare” & continuing the underwear theme gave us “Stuck in a Lingerie Store”. Ned Kelly’s shoot out at the Glenrowan Inn was explained as an AFL game gone awry in “The true story of the Kelly Gang” and true love for the older set came into bloom in “The Ballad of Joan & Jack”.

Last but not least was the inimitable Noel ‘Raging’ Bull from Musk in VIC. Noel works for a Multinational Seed Propagation Company and has large portions of his farm dedicated to housing huge greenhouses full of funny looking plants…hmmm???. Need we say more?

Noels original poetry is ‘second to none’ as they say and match the level of his performance skills, no doubt about that! “Curio” tells the tale behind the life of the famous Australian bucking bronco that held court on the Australian Rodeo Circuit in the 40’s & 50’s. Undefeated for 8 years this little roan stood at just 14 hands. Her signature move was known as the ‘Hat Trick’ and unseated countless riders over that time. A nice little snippet of history thanks Noel. “Jandamarra-Outlaw Hero” was also a standout piece. Breathtakingly emotional and broad in its sweep of indigenous history the poem tells the story of Jandamarra (a Bunuba man). Recruited as a tracker working for an Englishman named Richardson Jandamarra was forced to track his own people and when forced to make a choice between black & white shot & killed Richardson to save his fellow countrymen. Hence he became an armed fugitive. For three years he led a guerrilla war against the police & European settlers. He was tracked shot & killed by “Micki” another aboriginal tracker in 1897.

Noel Stallard..oops I nearly forgot about him. Noel became the 14th honorary member of the “Rhymers” troupe when he appeared on Thurs 24th January (in place of Rhonda Tallnash). Noel spent 35 years teaching in both Primary & Secondary schools before retiring to become a full-time Bush Poet. Noel has the rare distinction of being 1 of only 2 people to win both sections of Tamworth’s “Golden Damper” performance competition in the same year.

Poetry, poetry, poetry…was that all there was? Well yes really. No, only kidding. The members of the “Roundup” troupe did have the privilege sharing our stage with two of Australian Country Music’s favourite sons Pat Drummond & Steve Passfield over the course of the shows 10-day cycle.

The usual daily format was to have 15 minutes or so of poetry followed by a couple of songs just to break things up a bit. This is where Pat & Steve came to the fore.

Everybody loves a good ‘sing-a-long’ and “Uncle Pat” (as he is affectionately known) has a mile of these ‘feel-good’ ditties up his sleeve. Crowds were seen ‘fist-pumping’ the air as they sang along to “If I Die before Keith Richard”, flapping their arms above their heads as they learnt about the dangers of the “Magpie Swat” and replicating the 1812 Overture as part of Pat’s song “Alfred Bremmer’s Organ” (about a fairground attraction formerly located at the Entrance NSW).

“The Sao Song” is another crowd favourite as Pat literally crams Sao biscuits into his mouth whilst continuing to sing. Yep, it’s hard to shut Pat up! As it was the Country Music Festival Pat also produce his classic tune “The Toilet Paper Line Dance” (about an unfortunate line dancer and a trail of toilet paper). It was Pats 31st year at the Tamworth Country Music Festival.

Steve “Golden Guitar Winner” Passfield also joined the fun filling in for three days when Pat Drummond was available. Steve is a truly rare talent. An easy-going laconic sort of bloke with a devilish ‘larrikin’ streak Steve took to the stage in the mornings as a bit of a practise for his 3 hour sets later in the day at Joe Maguires. Steve was a real ‘natural’ with the crowds, engaging them with his yarns & anecdotes, jokes, limericks and sometimes ’naughty’ stories. Songs like “Timberman”, “Old Friends”, “Five Silver Stars” & “Beneath the Southern Cross” showcased the variety & depth of Steve’s repertoire.

So there you have it folks. Another hot & sweaty Tamworth Festival bites the dust. Only 365 days to go. I can’t wait! Oh, by the way there’s a few photos to be found below. Since you’ve already seen a swag of photo’s from previous years showing members of the “Roundup” troupe in performance mode Graeme has chosen to go in a different direction with this year’s photography with some more scenic shots of the Tamworth locale and a bevvy of shots with some of his Tamworth “muso" mates like Andrew Clermont, The Hillbilly Goats, Mic Conway et al. along with some friends who stopped in to see his shows like relative Catherine Briggs and former poetic colleague Gary Cullen. Enjoy! (Oh yeah, there’s some personal shots of him with other “Rhymer’s Roundup’ members as well-just to complete the picture).

   
   
   
   
Bryce & Mahney from Hillbilly Goats Mic Conway
   
Catherine Briggs Garry Cullen
   
   
  Fred Smith
   
   
   
Steve's Impromptu Citizenship Ceremony Steve's Impromptu Citizenship Ceremony Part 2
   
Raiding Greg's Hat Box Raiding Greg's Hat Box
   

STOP PRESS!!! STOP PRESS!!!

 Knowing that the “Rhymer” enjoys the occasional beer or three he has decided to print (in picture form below for your edification and intoxication) the drinker’s guide to venues in Tamworth. Happy boozing!

Tamworth Services Club Diggers
   
Albert Hotel Courthouse Hotel
   
Central Hotel CH Boutique Hotel
   
Joe Maguires Good Companions
   
The Welders Dog The Welders Dog
   
Nomad Brewing - Imperial Hotel Red Door Lounge Bar - Imperial Hotel
   
Tamworth Hotel Post Office Hotel
   
Hopscotch Tudor Hotel
   
Pig & Tinder Box Pig & Tinder Box
   
   
Southgate Inn  Family Hotel 
   
   
Longyard Hotel  Wests Leagues 
   
   
 
 
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2018 ARCHIVED NEWS...........

“Crosses for Remembrance”

 Gulgong Henry Lawson Literary Awards June 2018

 Written Open Bush Poetry Competition

The Gulgong Henry Lawson Literary Awards are held on the June Long Weekend every year in conjunction with the Leonard Teale Memorial Performance Awards in the quaint little town of Gulgong NSW.

 Graeme Johnson, “The Rhymer from Ryde” has been fortunate enough to win both of these awards in his time and his 2 x bronze Henry Lawson statuettes sit in pride of place in his living room in suburban Sydney. Henry casts a wry eye over Graeme as he passes by every day, chiding him for not putting ‘pen to paper’ more often. Graeme always acknowledges with a knowing nod. Henry knows best.

 Back to this year’s Literary Awards.

 For the first time this year the written Poetry Judge was instructed to break the written poems received into four categories with prizes for 1st, 2nd, 3rd & HC, then to select the overall main prizes based on these 4 section results. Those 4 categories were:

Anzac Poems, Human Interest Poems, Outback Poems & Humorous Poems.

Results: Written Anzac Poems
1st: Irene Timponi-“Soldier Number Five”
2nd: Val Wallace-“A parcel form Home”
3rd: Graeme Johnson-“Plywood Crosses”
H/C: Heather Knight-“:This Soldiers Son”
C: Yvonne Harper-“Flashes from the Front”

Human Interest Poems
1st: Tom Mcilveen-“Pappinbarra Burning”
2nd: Helen Harvey-“I just need to know”
3rd: Tom Mcilveen-“Tempered & Tamed”
H/C: Tom Mcilveen-“Sealed with a Kiss”
C: Kevin Pye-“Fishers Justice”

 

Outback Poems
1st: Catherine Lee-“A Miner’s Legacy”
2nd: David Campbell-“Cap in Hand”
3rd: Kevin Pye-“What happened to the ‘a’?
H/C: Catherine Lee-“Folly on the Road”
C: Max Merckenshlager-“The Women Walkers of Hahndorf”

 Humorous Poems
1st: John Roberts-“A Cow Yard Yarn”
2nd: Shelley Hansen-“’Channel’ No 5”
3rd: John Roberts-“Dining with the Devil”
H/C: Jim Kent-“Bandy Bills (Almost) Wedding”
C: Tom Mcilveen-“A Simple Colonoscopy”

   

Overall Results
1st: Catherine Lee
2nd: Tom Mcilveen
3rd: David Campbell
H/C: Irene Timponi
H/C: Kevin Pye
H/C: Catherine Lee
H/C: Val Wallace
H/C: Max Merckenshlager

 

Graeme’s poem “Plywood Crosses” was inspired by the Anzac Centenary celebrations being commemorated by the Australian War Memorial in Canberra. Two of these projects, the “Roll of Honour Soundscape” & the “Commemorative Crosses” formed the inspiration for Graeme’s poem.


“Johnson’s a real ‘Chatterbox’”

 Royal Brisbane Show

 The “Ekka”

 Bush Poetry Competition 2018

   

For 143 years the Royal National Agricultural & Industrial Association of Queensland has been dedicated to celebrating & championing agriculture and the critical role it plays in the everyday lives of Queenslanders. The Royal Brisbane Show or “Ekka” (as it is more commonly known) is the associations way of sharing this passion with the constituents of the State. Is it popular? Well, with an average attendance through the turnstiles of approx. 400,000 people annually that statement seems to be well supported.

 Bowen Park (as it was then named) was chosen as the site for the first ever Royal Queensland Show way back in January 1876. The Park covered 6.8 hectares bordered by Bowen Bridge Road. Gregory Terrace and a creek ran through the middle of what is now the Main Arena.

The Intercolonial Exhibition of 1876 was declared a Public Holiday and on opening day 17,000 people attended. Not bad considering Brisbane’s population at the time was only 22,000. Men attended in their suits and ladies in their finest garments. Food was served on long tables and the first Showbag (a bag of coal by the way) was free for all visitors.

The first “Royal” Show was held in 1921 when the association was granted the prefix under warrant from His Majesty King George V. Since then the shortened name ‘Ekka’ has replaced ‘Exhibition’ in the Queensland vernacular-indicating locals’ affection for the show. The ‘Ekka’ has been held every year since with only two exceptions-in 1919 due to the Spanish Flu epidemic and in 1942 when the ground was used for a WW2 staging depot.

Of major importance to this event (in the modern era) is the wide range of competitions that are offered to participants. As a matter of fact, some of the “Ekka’s” competitions were even recognised at the 2017 International Association of Fairs & Expositions which represents more than 1,100 fairs around the world.

The RNA received a total of 19 International awards for excellence, 6 of those for competitions such as the Woodchop & Sawing, Paddock to Plate & Pisciculture.

 Talking of competitions as we are, we might as well have a bit of a chat about why the “Rhymer” was at the ‘Ekka’ anyway. You guessed it, a Bush Poetry Competition. This year’s Bush Poetry Performance competition was sponsored by ‘The Consultancy Bureau’ & the ‘Australian Stockmen’s Hall of Fame’ and was once again held on the first Saturday of the show in the grounds of the rustic “Museum” precinct.

 2 adult sections are held as part of the competition. The “Original” & the “Established” sections. Males compete against the females and all ages recite in the same section.

 “The Rhymer from Ryde” once again featured prominently in the ‘winner’s circle’ taking to the dais on 2 occasions with a Win in the “Original” section and a 2nd place in the “Established” section.

 His poem in the “Original” section was entitled “Chatterbox”. Chatterbox” was inspired by a rail journey Graeme and his wife took a couple of years ago up to Armidale to see a music concert called “A Day on the Green” starring John Farnham. It tells of the incessant chatting of the two old ladies that sat behind them all the way from Central Station to Armidale and then (believe it or not) sat behind them again on the return journey back to Sydney many days later. Adding ‘fuel to the fire’ was the fact that the two old ladies in question also stayed in the same Motel as them. True story! The denouement was that they also sat beside Graeme and his wife at the RSL Club dining room the next night and sidled up beside them later on that evening whilst Graeme and his wife were playing the poker machines. With such exposure to these two ‘windbags’ Graeme had a wealth of material to draw from in the writing of this poem. It’s a ‘cracker’. Thanks ladies!

 The poem that Graeme performed in the “Established” section was another piece by one of Graeme’s favourite authors, Rita Diplock (from QLD) called “Gone”. Without giving to much away “Gone” is an involving story of family heartbreak & loss. Sad I know, but written with such compassion as to endear itself to the listener Thank Rita! Well done again. (Graeme came third in this section last year with another of Rita’s poems called “The Grey”).

Original
1st: Graeme Johnson
2nd: Mal Beveridge
3rd: Geraldine King

Established
1st: Peter Marrion
2nd: Graeme Johnson
3rd: Mal Beveridge

   

Graeme’s other major participation at the “Ekka” is spending a couple of days working with Trisha Anderson and her merry troupe of Poets. Trisha has been organising Bush Poetry performances at the “Ekka” now for 22 years. That’s a pretty superb effort. In so doing not only does she showcase the very diverse talents of this motley crew but at the same time also highlights to the public the importance that the ‘spoken word’ has had in shaping Australia’s artistic landscape.

 The Showgrounds ‘Urban modification’ programme continues blending the old with the new as it re-invigorates the entire site. This year the new ‘Bowen Hill’ precinct ‘sprung into life’ with one of the old showground pavilions given new life as a Boutique Tavern/restaurant. As well as showcasing a fine range of QLD brews the décor/theme of the tavern reflects memorabilia & photographs from the show’s past. Informative & inspiring!

 Next to this (separated by an open air ‘al-fresco’ dining area) is the new ‘Beerhaus’ which boast an impressive selection of 40 tap beers. Need we say more?

 The old “Woodchop Arena” had also been replaced by a Multi Storey Carpark and was temporarily housed (for this year at least) in a huge new ‘state of the art’ marquee beside the Showbag Pavillion.

 As per usual the culinary delights of the Show lured you into a smorgasboard of fast food delights like “Pizza in a Cone”, “Curly chips on a Stick”, “Chocolate covered Apples” and the ‘piece ‘d’ resistance’ a “Hamburger Pie” no less? What were they thinking?

 Well we only do it to ourselves once a year don’t we? See ya in 2019!

   
   


 

Man from Snowy River Festival - Thu 5th - Sun 8th April 2018

Bush Poetry Competition

Report & Results

--------------------------

“…there was movement at the station for the word had passed around…”

Jack Riley was born in Ireland in 1841 and buried in Corryong in 1914. There are many great horseman and pioneers who are worthy of recognition who are buried in the cemeteries of the Upper Murray & Snowy Mountain areas, but Jack Riley’s grave draws special attention. It is marked with a circular tablet of unpolished local grey granite and bears the inscription ‘In memory of the Man from Snowy River-Jack Riley-buried here-16th July 1914’

Legend has it that in the mid 1880’s Riley joined a party of mountain stockmen who were attempting to capture a thoroughbred stallion that had escaped and was running with a mob of wild horses near Mount Leatherhead. A stockyard was built on a creek at the foot of Leatherhead and the mob was located, as Riley had predicted, on a high ridge. A report of the incident relates ‘when the riders closed in on the mob, the stallion broke away and galloped down a fearsome slope with Riley alone in pursuit. The mountainside was pitted with wombat holes, strewn with loose shale and covered with low scrub. The stallion and Riley’s pony literally tobogganed down to the bottom, where the stallion blundered into the stockyard and Riley, with the slip rails up and stallion secured, was waiting when the rest of the riders, having taken an easier route down, arrived’.

Early in 1890, Walter Mitchell of Bringenbrong Station took his friend, Banjo Paterson, on a ride through the high country where they visited Jack Riley @ Tom Groggin. He guided them to the top of Mt. Kosciuszko, then south along the great divide to the South Ram’s Head, through to the head of the Cascade country to the Tin mines and on to the Pilot and back down to Groggin. Banjo gleaned many stories from the mountain stockmen, including the recapture of the stallion. It was this trip and these tales which gave Banjo the inspiration to write the poem which has become known and loved by so many. ‘The Man from Snowy River’ was first published in the bulletin in April 1890.

In July 1914 word reached the town that the old stockman was in very poor health and Senior Constable Moore gave instructions that a group of cattlemen should set out and bring Jack back into the Corryong hospital. The extreme cold and high rivers made this a huge task and so it was that (via Harrington’s Track) on the 14th of July that the men sought to bring Jack to town. They made it over Hermit Mountain and on to Carters Hut. But darkness had closed in and so they had to make camp there for the night. It is there that Jack drew his final breath.

From this history & legend ‘The Man from Snowy River’ Festival was born. Now in its 22nd year the Festival attracts horsemen and audiences from all over Australia eager to participate in and be part of that marvellous history. The Festival now encompasses events as diverse as Bush Poetry, Trainers Challenges, Camp drafting, Cutting horses, Draught horses, Striplings Challenge, Rodeo & Cattle Dogs, Whip cracking and a showcase of ‘Live’ entertainment including performances by Brad Cox, Fanny Lumsden, Adam Harvey & Beccy Cole, Travis Sinclair & Danny Phegan & the Longreach Band. These superstars were ably supported by Geoffrey. W. Graham, Johnny Huckle, Greg Champion & Jake Sinclair.

Corryong during Festival time is indeed a wonderous place. There’s nothing like rising to a cold misty morning to take in an early morning walk through the town and down to the showground with the heights of Mt. Mittamatite looming over the horizon.

The smells, the sights, the sounds of the Australian bush come to life with the ringing of the anvils, the smoke of a thousand campfires, the neighing and whinnying of the horses intermingled with the yap of the working dogs as they go about their business. Through the shadows come the shrouded forms of the mountain cattlemen and riders, cloaked in their ‘DrizaBones’, reins and saddles slung over their shoulders as they go to mount their trusty steeds. If you want to know that being Australian is all about, this is the part of it that you need to see and experience firsthand.

Wander up from the Showgrounds towards the town proper and you are greeted by a smaller communal campfire at a location they call ‘Banjo’s Block’. This is the haunt of those strange creatures known as Bush Poets who will assail you at any time of the day with stories yarns and poems on this great country of ours. Step up and have a go yourself or settle into the background and be transported back in time as these talented versifiers immerse you in their rhyming magic.

This year’s Bush Poetry programme was slightly paired back to that of previous years as Jan Lewis (the Poetry Co-ordinator) and her team of willing volunteers had decided to lighten their workload and take things a little bit easier this year-round and actually have time to enjoy the bush poetry presentations themselves. So, whilst the usual features of the weekend like the Poet’s Breakfasts, the Campfire Sessions, One Minute poems, Workshops & Bush music continued as per normal, the actual Competition Sections of the weekend were reduced somewhat. Funnily enough, even though there were less poetry events on the Festival calendar, crowds at all events were way up on the previous year regardless of the time of day. Whilst there wasn’t so many of the ‘high profile’ poets that the audiences may be accustomed to seeing, a raft of new ‘fresh faces’ took to the stage with such enthusiasm that we could barely fit them all in. A very satisfying result for Jan and her crew!

Still the thrill of competition got the adrenaline pumping as it always does and once such a challenge is extended there is never a shortage of people willing to ‘have a go’ and take it on.

Friday evening saw the running of the annual “Man from Snowy River Recitation” competition held under the sparkling stars at ‘Banjo’s Block’ & Saturday saw the heats of the “Jack Riley Heritage Award” (expanded this year to include poets, muso’s & yarnspinners) being pitted against one another in a ‘winner takes all’ environment. A very difficult task for the resident judges indeed!

Speaking of Judges, “The Rhymer from Ryde” once again led the adjudication panel as ‘Senior Judge’ in residence (a position that he has held since 2012, presiding over 2 x Australian, 3 x Victorian and 2 x standard “Man from Snowy River” events during that time). Graeme was accompanied on the judging panel this year by newly accredited ABPA judge, Noel Bull (from Musk in VIC), Carol Reffold & Brenda Joy. Former ABPA President Hal Pritchard took the reins as ‘Head Collator for the competition sections. Thanks Hal!

As we come to the close of this year’s report it would be remiss of me not to mention, once again, the ceaseless and untiring work of the event’s Poetry Co-ordinator Jan Lewis. Over her many years at the helm of the Bush Poetry contingent of the show, she has put in an effort way beyond her call of duty, often working through great personal losses to ensure that the ‘show must go on’. Her support through these often-testing times has been her long-time partner Linton Vogel. A better pair you’ll never find!

 

Man from Snowy River Bush Poetry Competition Results 2018

 

Man from Snowy River Recitation
1st: Rhonda Tallnash
2nd: Tom O’Connor
3rd: James Thomas

Jack Riley Heritage Award Female
1st: Christa Dwyer
2nd: Rhonda Tallnash
3rd: Annette Roberts

Jack Riley Heritage Award Male
1st: Ted Webber
2nd: Trevor Best
3rd: Colin Carrington

One Minute Poem
John Watkins
Christa Dwyer

 

Lawrie Sheridan Encouragement Award
Barbara Klippel

   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
 
 

 

Dunedoo Bush Poetry Festival 2018-Report & Results

“The Past and the Present”.

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The ‘past and the present’ proved to be a very successful formula for the “Rhymer from Ryde” during his 11th consecutive visit to the Dunedoo Bush Poetry Festival 2018. The 19th annual staging of this event (not being held in 2017 due to the severe bushfires in the region) took place from Thurs 1st -Sun 4th March this year.

For the first time in many years the competition venue had changed location from the Dunedoo Central School Hall to the Dunedoo Jubilee Hall (which over the last 2 years had undergone extensive renovations).

Brought to you be the hardworking committee members of the Dunedoo & District Development Group Inc. (“Where people make the difference”) this years President Lloyd Graham was more than happy with the way things panned out over the course of the weekend. Ably assisted by new Co-ordinator Kylie Brougham Bush Poets from all over the land were enticed to travel thousands of kilometres to perform in the friendly little hamlet

found in the Warrumbungle Shire in the Central Western Region of New South Wales. Located 399 metres above sea level on the southern bank of the Talbragar River, Dunedoo is situated at the intersection of the Golden & Castlereagh Highways.

But back to the ‘past and the present’ mentioned above.

Yes, the “Rhymer from Ryde” returned to his winning ways with a 1st place in the Modern Section reciting a beautiful poem by Rita Diplock from QLD entitled “The Grey” (that’s the present part of the title above). He was also placed 3rd in the Traditional section with a poem from 1915 by Thomas Brennan called “Our Nameless Dead”. (that being the past). Thomas Brennan was a clerk working in Brisbane when he enlisted in WW1.

He served as a stretcher bearer for the Australian Light Horse Brigade Field Ambulance in Gallipoli. Returned to Queensland for mental convalescence he fell to his death from the balcony of his inner city boarding house in Brisbane’s CBD. He was 35 years old. “Our Nameless Dead” was his most widely published work. The “Rhymer” was humbled and very proud to bring Mr. Brennan’s work back into the public eye.

Comperes Lloyd Graham, Gregory North & Chris Sullivan kept proceedings rolling along and Judges Sandra Nicholson, Gregory North, Des Kelly, Norma Gallagher, Tony Yeo & Kevin Pye flexed their considerable acumen and implementation of the various rules to full effect to deliver verdicts on all performance sections that seemed to please everybody concerned.

 
   

Contemporary Male
1st: Graeme Johnson
2nd: Max Pringle
3rd: Bob ‘Pa’ Kettle

Classical Male
1st: Bob ‘Pa’ Kettle
2nd: Andrew Pulsford
3rd: Graeme Johnson

   

Classical Female
1st: Jenny Markwell
2nd: Jacqui Warnock
3rd: Rhonda Tallnash

Contemporary Female
1st: Jacqui Warnock
2nd: Claire Reynolds
3rd: Jenny Markwell

Original Serious Female
1st: Heather Searles
2nd: Jenny Markwell
3rd: Jacqui Warnock

Original Serious Male
1st: Bob ‘Pa’ Kettle
2nd: Max Pringle
3rd: Andrew Pulsford

Original Humorous Female
1st: Rhonda Tallnash
2nd: Claire Reynolds
3rd: Jacqui Warnock

Original Humorous Male
1st: Max Pringle
2nd: Bob ‘Pa’ Kettle
3rd: Les Smith

   

Intermediate Section
1st: Andrew Pulsford
2nd: David Fatches
3rd: Kerry Sprigg

Written Competition
1st: Tom McIlveen
2nd: Terry Piggott
3rd: Tom McIlveen

Yarn Spinning
1st: Claire Reynolds

One Minute Poem
1st: Jacqui Warnock

Overall Female Champion
Jacqui Warnock

Overall Male Champion
Bob ‘Pa’ Kettle

 
 

 

The Tamworth Country Music Festival 2018

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(But first, a little bit of History)

 

You know folks, it all started for me way back in 2002 when Len Knight (Motelier, Muso & Bush Poet from Cessnock in the Hunter Valley) invited me up to Tamworth to perform in some shows he’d organised at Joe Maguire’s Pub at the end of Peel Street.  “What, hang around to perform 1 or 2 poems a day in some dilapidated shanty, or worse still, in the full blazing sun of some mangy backyard beer garden to a couple of boozy shearers and their camp dogs. No thanks mate! And the heat. Nah, I don’t do the heat thing mate. Specially over 10 days. Thanks, but no thanks!”

"But Graeme, I’ll look after you, we’ll put you up in Joe Maguires so you won’t have to pay for accommodation and you’ll get a small performance fee and a free beer or two after every show. Then I’ll take you around and introduce to all important people on the Tamworth scene and show you around the town so you can ‘find your feet’ and become a part of it all”.

Well, it was the offer of free beer that got me. My apprenticeship to the Tamworth Country Music Festival had begun. In 2002 I also managed to pick up some shows at the City Bowling Club (run by Carol Reffold) so I was ‘on a roll’ so to speak. Len’s shows (at Joe Maguires) carried on till about 2004 I reckon.

2003 saw Carol Reffold run a series of performances at the Tamworth Showgrounds (of which I was a part) and by 2004 I’d started working at the Oasis Hotel as well.

In 2005 new opportunities arose when given ‘Guest Spots’ at the City Bowling Club as part of Sam Smyth’s extravaganza’s. These spots continued for another 4 years and concluded in 2009. 2005 also saw the start of “Next Generation Comedy” at the Tamworth Campgrounds (Riverside Park-which ran for 1 year only) and I also started making the odd appearance with the Australian Bush Balladeers as part of their “Members Showcase Concerts” which I have continued doing until the present day (14 years).

2005 also marked my first ‘gig’ with Neil McArthur at the famous “Longyard Hotel”. (Which I repeated in 2009). I also ‘trod the boards’ at the Longyard in 2008-2010 as part of Pat Drummond’s “Shoestring Records Showcase” Concert series.

In 2006 Gary Cullen took over the poetic activities at the Oasis Hotel and I worked with him and his troupe for 4 years until 2009. 2006 was also the year that I ‘hooked up’ with ‘Lefty’ Fahey and his lovely wife Loris doing shows at the Cricket Club Stage in Carter Street. This collaboration lasted for 9 years until ill health forced “Lefty” to give up his post. Wayne Holly took over the running of this stage and I continue to entertain the campers @ Carter Street to this very day. (13 years all up!)

In 2007 the Australian Bush Poets Association started some “Members Showcase” concerts at St Edwards Hall which I participated in until 2010. (4 years).

New horizons beckoned in 2010 with a change of venues when Paul Robert-Burton employed me as an Mc/Bush Poet to help run his new venture at the Atrium Shopping Centre Stage. This ‘gig’ ran for me for 3 years and concluded in 2012.

So, by the time 2013 rolled around (my 12th consecutive year slaving away at the coalface of the Country Music Festival) I’d worked for nearly every venue in Tamworth that had produced Bush Poetry shows in any way shape or form. Time for a change I thought. Why not have a go at running your own shows? Why not indeed?

And in 2013 “The Rhymer’s Roundup” concept was born and went into its first year of concerts. For the first 5 years we ran for the first 6 days of the Tamworth event and in 2018 (our 6th year) we ran for the full 10 days of Tamworth for the very first time. Exciting times indeed!

2013 also happened to be the year that we tried a new style of show at the Balladeers Homestead on the Goonoo Goonoo Road. Called “The Bard & the Balladeer” these gatherings consisted of a rotating roster of Bush Balladeer notables accompanied every day by “The Rhymer from Ryde”. A bit of verse and a bit of music to ease into the day. These shows ran for 4 years until 2016.

So, as far as history goes, that’s it ‘in a nutshell’! 17 years of fun, beer, music & tears. Tamworth’s certainly ‘had it all’!

 

What happened where and when @ Tamworth 2018 (Really).

The 46th Annual Tamworth Country Music Festival kicked off on Friday the 19th January this year with performances all around the New England Region. From Manilla & Barraba through to Nundle and the famous ‘Peel Inn’, townships big & small reverberated to the sounds of Country, Bluegrass, Jazz, Rock ‘N’ Roll, Honky Tonk, Gospel and much much more. Throw in a bit of “Bush Poetry” & Line dancing and the entertainment picture becomes pretty complete. Tamworth 2018 was certainly all about ‘choices’, and plenty of them!

Those punters making a return visit to Tamworth would have noticed a revitalised CBD district with a re-vamp of Fitzroy Street where it connects where it connects ‘Fanzone’ to Toyota Park.

Over 700 performers hosted 2800 events across 10 days with an estimated 50-60,000 visitors making Tamworth their temporary home over that time.

Free Concerts in the park where a major highlight in 2018 showcasing the talents of the best Country Music Superstars Australia has to offer. Artists of the calibre of Travis Collins, Amber Lawrence, Darren Coggan, Graham Rodger, Keith Jamieson & Adam Brand lit up the stage on a nightly basis with a series of themed shows to keep the expectant audiences ‘on their toes’.

Pubs, Clubs, Cafes, Restaurants and every conceivable space where a human being could fit with a guitar and an amp were utilised to the fullest to keep the entertainment going seemingly 24 hours a day.

Throw in the “Golden Guitars”, “Toyota Starmaker”, The “Country Music Cavalcade” and the ‘Boulevarde of Dreams” and your Tamworth experience 2018 was pretty much complete.

 

“The Rhymer’s Roundup Wrap-up” (finally)

What happened where and when

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That being said the ‘hidden gem’ of the Festival surely had to be found on the corner of Bligh & Piper Streets North Tamworth in the shape of the North Tamworth Bowling Club. Apart from hosting Andrew Clermont’s ‘world famous’ “Supper Club” theatre shows the ‘Bowlo’ also hosted (for the 6th consecutive year) another instalment of the highly successful & popular “Rhymer’s Roundup” concerts.

As I just mentioned we ran for the full 10 days of Tamworth in 2018 for the very first time. A big challenge but the “Rhymer” and his merry hoard of followers were more than up to the task.

Punters just love it at the ‘Bowlo’. It’s a comfortable, intimate venue. Not too large, not too small and it’s well appointed too. Let’s see, there’s air-conditioning…. that’s it…what else do you need in Tamworth in January??? Seriously, there’s heaps of other good stuff there too. Cold beer…and plenty of it. Good ‘Aussie’ lagers and some of that strange tasting ‘foreign stuff’. Plenty of wine & spirits too for the more adventurous. Food, yep, there some of that gear too in a well-appointed bistro down the back.

Looking for a bit of break in the Country Music cycle. Well you can have a punt at the TAB or try your luck at the ‘Pokies’ if you like. As I said, the ‘Bowlo’s’ ‘got it all’.

For God’s sake Graeme…tell us about the bloody poetry. Ok, ok, I’m getting there.

Well, there was plenty of it, that’s for sure. Each of the selected poets ran through about 15 minutes worth of different material each day whilst Gregory North & Patrick Drummond got away with half an hour on the main stage to their credit.

As you would expect the "Leader of the Pack” “The Rhymer from Ryde” led from the front every day and warmed the crowd up for show that was to come. Out of his ‘treasure trove’ of award winning originals Graeme let fly with some of his comedic classics like “Barangaroo & the Pontiff too” (re the Pope’s visit & World Youth Day), “ Bob the Beagle” ( a canine tail-pardon the pun-about his sister’s misbehaving household pet) “Role Reversal” ( a battle between him & his wife about whose responsibility it was to do certain household chores) “Barbie Town” (a poem that ‘takes the piss’ out of certain social stereotypes as represented by different Barbie Dolls) “Chatterbox’ (don’t sit behind ‘gasbags’ on a long rail journey) & “If it’s FREE” (his obsession with collecting things for nothing). The “Rhymer” also showed a little of his ‘serious side’ with recitations like “Have you seen my Dad” (a touching recollection of his father’s passing) “That’s Australia” (you’ve got to love being an ‘Aussie’) “Faces on the Wall” (a poem of Anzac Remembrance) & “A good way to begin” (a new piece about Graeme’s ongoing struggle with technology). 

Gregory North “The Linguist from Linden” roamed about the auditorium interjecting himself into proceedings under the guise of a myriad of characters he has created and their many foibles’. Classics (and soon to be classics) from Greg’s many albums included gems such as “Frackin’ Fricker” (re coal seam fracking) “Who is this Greg bloke anyway’ (an autobiographical tome about Greg’s upbringing) “Court Thought” (or what goes on in the ‘Carpet Court’ retail chain) “In the Bush” (what to do and ‘not’ when abluting in the bush) “Reach Out” (a conciliatory tale about people whose professions require an altogether to close relationship with their clients) “Goddess” (love lorn tales of a horny parking inspector) “The Tradesman” (an expose of the ‘tricks of the trade’ and the tradesmen’s predilection for showing a bit of ‘bum crack’) “Young People” (and their obsession with ‘sex’ shall we say?) & “Stick it” (how not to wrap X-Mas presents).

Rhonda Tallnash (the lone female of the group) frequently shouldered the male members of the contingent out of the way (and off the stage) to perform from her extensive repertoire. Hits such as “The Wrapper” (a play on words and the misunderstanding thereof) “Pumpkin Patch Pickle” (being ravaged by her husband’s out of control genetically modified, steroid enhanced vegetable patch) “Maurie’s Money Making Mini Mansion” (the re-invention of a local historic house for some rather nefarious ‘naughty’ night-time goings on) “Possum Problems” (trying desperately to remove possums from your wall cavities can prove frustrating & frightening)

& “Football bloody Football” (AFL that is-how could anyone hate the NRL?) were spieled out to the crowd’s delight along with some more sombre & moving pieces such as “The Shirt” (a WW1 homecoming with a twist).

John Peel commanded the stage (as he always does) with a fine smattering of original poems. ‘Rib-ticklers’ like his “Fencing” Trilogy (a bushies take on Olympic fencing) “Driven to Distraction” (car accidents cause by perving on sheilas) “The Birds show them little Respect” (a ditty regarding the ‘Politicians Walk of Fame’ busts in a local park that have been creatively altered by bird droppings) “When Elvis came back from the Dead” (the revelation that the ‘King’ indeed didn’t die in 1977 but relocated to outback Australia via Parkes) & “The Cootamundra Silo Saga” (exploding gasses sending a grain container on a one way trip to the moon) constantly amused the audience whilst his quiter works such as “Flames of Fury” (arsonists & nature’s revenge) “The Bloke form Brindabella” (John’s reply to the ‘Man from Snowy River’) & “The King of ‘Snubba Range’” (wild brumbies in the Victorian Alps) were revered with suitable appreciation from the crowds.

Noel Bull is a shy retiring easy going bloke who spends his life rummaging around his expansive farming empire tending to his crops & cattle etc. etc. That is the kind of man his neighbours in Daylesford/Musk think he is anyway. They obviously haven’t seen Noel in ‘full flight’ as his ‘alter ego’ Noel ‘Raging’ Bull and his ‘take no prisoners’ approach to bush poetry. Noel just doesn’t ‘take to the stage’…he literally destroys it. ‘Stand back Australia’ would be a good way to describe Noel when he’s at work ‘treading the boards’ as he throws himself into his performances with ‘gay abandon’. That’s not to say that there isn’t a softer side to his persona because there is. And this is the magic of the man. Some of his more serious poetry is as emotionally charged as any you’d ever hear. His poem called “Jandamarra-Outlaw Hero” (about the life of an aboriginal warrior, leader & activist) would bring tears to the eyes of even the most hardened listener as would his stirring piece “Curio” (about the famous Bucking Bronco of the Australian Rodeo circuit). Thanks Noel for your input to proceedings.

“That’s way too much poetry” I hear you say. Well yes, there was quite a bit…after all that’s what we do. However, we did break up the poetry here and there with some musical interludes provided by “The Muso from Medlow Bath” Mr. Patrick Drummond. Pat has been a mainstay and musical icon on the Tamworth Country Music scene for 30 years now and was celebrating this very anniversary in January 2018.

For those of you who aren’t aware Pat has spent a large part of his life touring the ‘highways & byways’ of this wonderful land discovering along the way the source of our “Aussie” ethos and patriotic spirit. The people he has encountered along the way have regaled Pat with their own life stories which Pat has then dutifully turned into song. So, during the course of the “Rhymer’s Roundup” concerts in 2018 Pat delved into his extensive back catalogue of albums like “Laughter like a Shield” “Of Wheels & Wires” “Through the Cracks” “Six Days in December” “The Chess Set” and his most recent epic “Late Final Extra” to enthral and entrance his captive audience.

Sing-a-longs have long been a staple of Pat’s performing diet and there was certainly no shortage of them being exhibited during our shows. “18 Wheels” (a trucking song for romantics) “40 into 24” (‘turning back the clock to your younger years) “Somewhere in the Car” (spiders on the dashboard and ‘things that go bump in the night’) & “In like Flynn” (a tribute to the Flying Doctor service) had the crowds humming along and tapping their toes day after day after day.

Some of Pat’s more thoughtful tomes also got an airing. Meaningful meanderings like “The Kelly Option” (the impact Ned Kelly has had on our history) “Spirit of Endeavour” (young Australians taking on the pioneering pathways of our predecessors) & “Colours of the Cross” (the beauty of our landscape) also received some ‘airplay’ during the course of our 10 days together.

Also joining us on Pat’s occasional ‘days off’ was another country music luminary, Steve Passfield. We were also graced with the presence of Bush Balladeer extraordinaire John Smith (& his wife Christine) who helped us celebrate “Australia Day” on Fri 26th.

So there you have it folks. Jealous that you may have missed out? Well, there’s one way to fix that. Book in for the “Rhymer’s Roundup” 2019 N O W !!! In the meantime there’s a swag of photos of our exploits to be found below. Just scroll down and have a laugh with us. See ya next year!

 

 
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
 
2017 ARCHIVED NEWS...........

"Plywood Crosses make their mark"

Ipswich Poetry Feast October 2017

Written Open Bush Poetry Competition

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It’s been quite a while since “The Rhymer from Ryde” has spread his wings to enter a written Bush Poetry competition. Not that he’s had a lot of time to write over the last 5 years or so with his various commitments to performing and organising major events for the Australian Bush Poets Association etc.

 Having shed a few responsibilities over the last 6 months or so (in that area) Graeme has been able to go back to being Graeme which means a lot more writing and a lot more learning new poems to enlarge his stage repertoire. This has made Graeme a considerably happier chappie!

 So, when the phone rang recently with an invitation to the Awards Presentation Dinner for the “Ipswich Poetry Feast” Written Poetry Competition (that he had entered) Graeme thought that he might ‘tag-along’ and see if he’d possibly picked up a prize.

 The “Ipswich Poetry Feast” was launched in 2002 and this was its15th annual competition to be held over that time. Encompassing 5 Junior award sections as well as an ‘Open Bush Poetry’, ‘Open-Other Poetry’ & ‘Open Local Poets’ sections the 2017 awards were held in the spacious auditorium of sponsors the Metro International Motel.

 The “Ipswich Poetry Feast” was inspired by Henry Lawson’s poem ‘The Babies of Walloon’ which has a link to the local regions history. This years’ competition attracted 1,319 poems from as far afield as Indonesia, Thailand, South Africa, New Zealand and the US.

 Councillor David Pahlke (Chair & Founder of the Ipswich Poetry Feast Committee) was joined onstage by the groups National Patron Hon. Matt Foley (former QLD Attorney General & Minister for the Arts) to present the various awards.

 Graeme was awarded a Highly Commended for his poem “Plywood Crosses”. The poem was set in motion by the Anzac Centenary Celebrations being commemorated by the Australian War Memorial in Canberra. Two of these projects, the “Roll of Honour Soundscape” & the “Commemorative Crosses” formed the inspiration and basis for Graeme’s poem.

 Briefly put both projects involve school children from all over Australia being given the chance to pay their respects to our fallen soldiers through verse and the spoken word. Got you interested? You should be. Go to the ‘Lyrics’ page on this website to read this stunning piece!

Open Bush Poetry - Written
1st: Kate O’Neil
2nd: Terry Piggot
3rd: Terry Piggot
HC: Graeme Johnson
Caroline Tuohey
Jim Kent
Noel Stallard
Kevin Pye

 

 

“A good way to begin”

 Royal Brisbane Show

The “Ekka”

Bush Poetry Competition 2017

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Every year, come August, ‘Bushies’, ‘Cattleman’, ‘Drovers’ & ‘Farmhands’ from all over Australia descend on the “Exhibition Grounds” of Queensland’s Capital city, Brisbane. They bring with them a wide variety of animals such as sheep, pigs, cattle, horses, goats as well as more domesticated creatures like canines, cats, chickens & birds along with a stunning range of produce and horticulture.

 Why do they do this? For the simple love of competing against their fellow countrymen and showcasing their very obvious pride in what it is that they do for a living. As we all know, farming is the backbone of our great nation and is a mainstay of the Australian economy.

 Since the very first “Royal Queensland Show” in 1876 these competitors have been the founding cornerstone of the State’s biggest annual event. At the very first exhibition 140 years ago 1,700 entries were received in 650 classes competing for trophies, cash & prizes with the largest prize worth 25 guineas (or $44.00 in today’s currency).

 This year (in comparison) there were approx. 21,000 entries in 11,000 classes over 42 competition sections with a total prize pool of more than $530,000.00. It is estimated that over the last 140 years that over 30 million people have passed through the gates of this iconic event.

 As well as showcasing the best livestock, the “Ekka” (as it is affectionately known), is also renowned for its wide range of culinary delights. No, I’m not talking “Cheese on a Stick” here (Mmm, but it was nice), but rather a bevvy of samples sourced from the Royal Queensland Food & Wine Show Medal Winners.

 Everything from sumptuous mouth-watering grain fed steak to fine cheeses, seafood & desserts could be washed down with a high-quality range of local red & white wines and boutique beer. Sounds appealing? It was!

 Talking of competitions (as we are) let’s not forget what led us to the gates of this years “Ekka” in the first place. Bush Poetry. You got it!

 This year’s Bush Poetry Performance competition (sponsored by ‘The Consultancy Bureau’ & ‘The Australian Stockman’s Hall of Fame’) was again held in the newly opened “Museum” precinct of the Show site. As a matter of fact, as show patrons filed through the entry gates the Bush Poetry stage was the first thing they saw and heard as they entered the grounds. What an Australian welcome that must have provided!

 2 Adult sections are held as part of the competition proper. The “Original” section & the “Established” section. Males and Females compete together and this year over 30 of the nation’s most versatile versifiers ‘strutted their stuff’ for the esteemed judges.

 Carmel Wooding continued her winning ways (as she did in 2016) by taking out ‘First Place’ in both sections this year. Her performing skills are obviously ‘second to none’. A performer ‘par excellence’ if ever there was one.

 “The Rhymer from Ryde” also featured prominently in the winner’s circle with a Second place in the “Original” section and a Third place in the “Established” section.

 Graeme’s poem in the “Original” section was entitled “A good way to begin”. “It was (as it turns out) a great way to begin my participation in this years ‘Ekka’” Graeme said afterwards. “I’ve been coming up to the show for 17 years now to perform with Trisha Anderson’s ‘Poetry Troupe’ and both the competition and performing around the showgrounds are the highlight of my performing year”.

 “A good way to begin” was actually written pre-2010 and was included in that year’s double CD release “Home Brew” (although until 2017 had never been performed “Live” so to speak). The poem tells of Graeme’s ‘Luddite’ tendencies when it comes to advancements in new technology and the frustration that they cause him. “I think (as a society) that technology’s leading us in a fairly perilous direction from which there is no return” Graeme quipped.

“Technology is de-humanising us and causing us to become insular and isolated within ourselves rather than reaching out to simply talk and interact with one another as ordinary human beings. I think technology is causing us to lose sight of our objectives and lose track of our ideals and moral grounding”.

 The poem that Graeme performed in the “Established” section was called “The Grey” by QLD author Rita Diplock. Graeme had actually judged Rita’s poem during the course of this years “Man from Snowy River” Festival in Corryong Victoria (see report below) and met her at the same event. “The Grey” is a wonderfully emotional and powerful poem that tells how the intervention of fate into a certain circumstance can change the lives of those concerned.

 As mentioned earlier Graeme’s other participation in this year’s entertainment schedule was performing with Trisha Anderson’s troupe of artists. Trisha has been conducting these shows for 21 years now and they are a great testament to her unwavering love of the spoken word and its ability to reach out and touch her fellow Australians. It is also a way of preserving and recording our country’s history through the ‘rhyme & metre’ of traditional ‘Bush Verse’.

 The Showground sites “Urban Modification’ refurbishment continues and this year (due to its imposition into areas typically occupied by the Show itself) proved to make things a little bit ‘squeezy’ for all concerned. Still you can’t beat the sights. smells and sounds of your typical country fair as you weave your way through the milling crowds jealously guarding your showbags whilst shoving another ‘Dagwood Foot Long Dog’ down your gullet.

 See ya next year Show lovers for more of the same!

   

Original Placegetters
1st: Carmel Wooding
2nd: Graeme Johnson
3rd: Peter Fraser

Established Placegetters
1st: Carmel Wooding
2nd: Suzanne Honour
3rd: Graeme Johnson

   
   
   
   
   

National Folk Festival 2017

Fri 14th - Mon 17th April 2017

 Report

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Each year they come from all corners of the country, an eclectic mix of people of all ages, races and varying backgrounds with the sole common purpose of immersing themselves in everything this iconic event has to offer. They form that year’s National Folk Festival Community. One that has been growing steadily since the event was founded way back in 1967. Yes, some 51 years ago this year.

 The National Folk Festival has a proud history of presenting world class music, poetry, dance, circus related activities along with practical teaching workshops, market & craft stalls and a wide range of foodstuffs from around the globe and this year was certainly no different.

 Prior to settling at the National Exhibition Grounds in Canberra the Festival had spent some time circulating around the country between the states but as time passed this became somewhat financially unviable and the event settled down to live its life in the National Capital.

 This year’s programme contained a veritable ‘Pandora’s Box’ of spoken word treasures as well. These included themed shows by Geoffrey .W. Graham (including “Voices of War” & “Three Bards & Me”), Me ‘N’ Me Mates spoke of “Yarns that were Told”, David Hallet covered off on a “Century of Australian Poetry” whilst a “Pot Pourri of Poetry” continued the tradition of throwing all kinds of verse into a great big melting to pot to see what would happen. Oh, there were plenty of other shows too, I just can’t remember them all!

 The National always provides an interesting mix of City & Bush Poets and this year was no exception.

 Representing the Bush Poetry fraternity were Chris McGinty, Geoffrey .W. Graham, Laurie McDonald (the Poetry Co-ordinator for the event) Peter Mace, Rhonda Tallnash, “The Rhymer from Ryde”, Stephen Whiteside & Maggie Somerville. Speaking on behalf of the ‘Free Versers’ were CJ. Bowerbird, CJ. Shaw, David Hallet, Sandra Renew and friends.

 Four “Poet’s Breakfasts” were held over the course of the Easter Long Weekend and they were literally ‘bursting at the seams with eager poetic types lining up to get a go on the ‘Flute ‘N’ Fiddle’ stage. Diversity was definitely the ‘name of the game’ as this was not your typical ‘family oriented’ Bush Poets type of turnout. Lewd and lascivious poetry of a ribald nature abounded and ‘freedom of expression’ and ‘strong’ language was certainly the norm. However, it was all done in the spirit of entertainment and the feeling of the moment as all good verse should be.

 Last year’s “Reciter of the Year”, Chris McGinty was on hand for the duration to cast his eyes over prospective candidates for this year’s crown and with 25-30 poets stepping up to the microphone each day Chris really had his work cut out for him. As it transpired septuagenarian poet “Leno” from Nimbin triumphed to take out the title in a well-deserved win.

 A Yarnspinning competition was also held at the “Stockcamp” venue judged by last year’s “Yarnspinner of the Year”, Rhonda Tallnash. The year’s Champion “Bullshit Artist” was CJ. Shaw from Canberra. (CJ used to run the “Shut the Folk Up” Folk Club in Erskenville Sydney). CJ’s yarn was a very visceral tale about the hi-jinx that butchers get up to with meat when there’s no-one much around.

 A highlight of the weekend in terms of poetic presentation was the “Bush V’s the Rest” “Poetry Slam” held in the carnival atmosphere of the “Majestic” marquee.

 

“Bush V’s the Rest” Poetry Slam Report

 “Bush is Best: Forget the Rest-Bush WINS again!”

 

“Bush V’s the Rest” is an annual poetry battle that pits 4 ‘Bush Poets’ against 4 ‘Open’ or ‘Free Verse’ poets (however you’d like to categorise them) in a ‘no holds barred’ ‘free for all’ of verbiage to see who holds the ‘upper hand’ in the versifying stakes. The two teams square off in front of a raucous crowd baying for blood (or an occasional laugh instead). Judges were appointed from the crowd (to maintain impartiality) and are often known to be influenced (one way or another) by the occasional bribe or schooner of beer.

On the day it was the “Bush Brigade” of Laurie McDonald, Rhonda Tallnash, Peter Mace & “The Rhymer from Ryde” that triumphed, proving once again that ‘rhyme & metre’ rules the world when it comes to expressing oneself. Either that or they offered better bribes, we’ll never know.

“The Rest” were championed by CJ. Bowerbird and friends but fell short of taking home the prize. Better luck next year guys!

   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
 
 

Victorian Bush Poetry Championships-Thurs 30th March - Sun 2nd April 2017

 Incorporating the Man from Snowy River Festival-Corryong, Victoria

 Report & Results

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“Where Legends Ride” ran the slogan for the “Man from Snowy River Bush Festival’ in 2017, the 21st Festival of that same name to be held over the last 23 years in the quaint little town of Corryong, Victoria, nestled at the base of the mighty ‘Snowy Mountains’ in the heart of the Murray Valley.

 In 1995 a local was asked “if they could create an event which truly reflected what the “Man from Snowy River” poem meant to our Australian horsemen & women”. The result, some 13 weeks later, was the inaugural “Man from Snowy River Challenge” won by Bill Willoughby, a well-known horseman from SA.

 From those humble beginnings, the “Man from Snowy River Bush Festival” has grown into an event that encompasses a diverse range of activities such as a Rodeo, ‘Riley’s Ride’, Cattle Dog Championships, Whip Cracking & Bullock Droving Displays, Country Rock Bands, “Man from Snowy River” re-enactments, Line Dancing, a Ute Muster, Strong Man & Woman competitions, a Historic Machinery Show, Photography and Art exhibitions, Bush Markets, Street Parades, Moonlight Movies and a whole lot more.

 The “Man from Snowy River Challenge” itself has developed into an event that consists of six preliminary events including stock handling, saddle bag packing, whip cracking, bareback riding, horseshoeing & cross-country riding. Make it through to the finals and then you’re faced with 2 more ultimate challenges, the “Brumby Catch” & the “Stocksaddle Buckjump”. Definitely not for the faint hearted.

 The pre-cursor to the Festival proper is ‘Riley’s Ride’ where 50 riders set out on a 4-day trail ride from Tom Groggan Station to Corryong itself. ‘Riley’s Ride’ commemorates Jack Riley’s life and lauds the efforts of those who sought to rescue him under harsh and trying conditions. As ‘Riley’s Riders’ arrive at Thowgla a vivid re-enactment of the action of Paterson’s immortal poem comes to life and the poem itself is recited to the masses.

 Later that night at “Banjo’s Block” the “Man from Snowy River Recitation” competition is held and that is followed by a veritable feast of ‘Australiana’ as Bush Poets from all over the country arrive to compete for the Victorian Bush Poetry Championships, a performance competition that is one of the most prestigious State Titles in the land.

 Indeed “Banjo’s Block” is the central meeting place for weary drovers and stockmen, interested locals and visitors, the occasional lost cattle dog and poets’ eager to ‘spin a yarn’ or ‘tell a tale’ to anyone who saunters by. Many a late-night session can be enjoyed around the crackling fire as the wafting smoke mingles with the aroma of ‘Billy Tea’ from the pot. Pull up a log or a stump, bring your own camp chair (or whatever) and be warmed by both the genuine camaraderie and heat of the bush bonfire as it sizzles through the night.

 Those who make it through the night are then treated to a more formal “Poet’s Breakfast” (starting at 8.00 am) run by “The Rhymer from Ryde” and his road trip companion Matthew Hollis. Matthew Hollis is a ‘Coach Captain’

of renown (for Murray’s Coaches) whose extensive knowledge of Australia has been painstakingly collected over his last 30 years on the road, travelling the highways & byways of this ‘Great Southern Land’. There’s not much Matthew doesn’t know about Australia and where his gaps of knowledge are evident, Matthew is more than happy to fill in the blanks with liberal amounts of well-constructed ‘bullshit’ and outright lies. A very entertaining bloke indeed.

 The “Poet’s Breakfasts” themselves are ‘walk-up’ affairs where everybody is encouraged to ‘have a go’. By simply adding your name to the burgeoning list you can take to the stage for your ‘5 minutes of fame’ and prattle on about whatever it is that’s on your mind. Perform or read a poem, tell a joke or relate a ‘life’s story’ recollection if that’s what you want to do. It’s an ‘open mike’ and the attending crowds have voracious appetites for all forms of versification.

 Once the Poets have had a chance to ‘warm up’ at the Breakfast then it’s .’into the fray’ of the battle as the competition heats begin in the comfortable confines of the “Lions Youth Hall”.

 The Competition Championships are divided into 4 main sections (they being Modern, Classical, Original Serious & Original Comedy) and are further divided into Male & Female sections within these categories. In addition to this there is also a ‘Yarnspinning’ competition, a 1 minute “Poetry Challenge” and sections for Novice & Intermediate level performers. There is also an extensive Junior Level performance competition held involving schools from the local area.

 It is not uncommon to see audiences sit for hours in their seats completely entranced by the engrossing and engaging nature of the emotive performances presented. This is Bush Poetry at its best as seasoned professionals and amateurs alike open their hearts to what it is that touches them in the hope that it will touch you too.

 Writers of Bush Verse are also celebrated with the presentation of the “Silver Brumby Award” for serious verse and the “Corryong Larrikin Award” for comedic verse. These events are judged pre-festival and their results are incorporated with those of the performance sections at the end of the event.

 Senior Judge for this year’s Performance and Written competitions was none other than “The Rhymer from Ryde” who has been the ‘Head Judge’ in residence since 2012, casting his eyes & organisational skills over 2 x Australian, 3 x Victorian and 1 x standard “Man from Snowy River” competitions.

 Graeme was joined on the judging panel this year by ABPA accredited judges Robyn Sykes and Carol Reffold (for both the written and performance sections). Judges for other sections included Rhonda Tallnash, Maurie Foun, Noel Bull & John Peel.

 Head Collator for the Championships was once again Mick Coventry who was assisted in his duties by Barbara Williams. Ian McDonald & Tom O’Connor.

 Timekeeping duties were carries out by Lisa Ride, Mick Davies, Tim Shead, Ken Prato & Anne Bull.

 Our “Featured Mc & Guest Poet of Note” was the wonderful Laurie McDonald from Canberra who kindly stepped in at a moment’s notice when ‘Dingoes Breakfast’ had to withdraw due to various difficulties.

 Not all the Bush Poetry was confined to the Youth Hall & “Banjo’s Block” however. The annual ‘Anzac Memorial’ concert was held in the local RSL Club Hall and commemorated with reverence the sacrifice of our fallen soldiers through verse song. A very moving concert indeed! 

Modern day Banjo Paterson, Geoffrey. W. Graham also took ‘poetry to the people’ performing solo shows & teaming up with the ‘Wimmera Girls” at the Entertainment Marquee down in the Showgrounds.

 The “Bottom Pub” also continued the fine tradition of supporting the spoken word by presenting the annual “Meet & Greet” concert with the poets in a marquee behind the premises on the Thursday night.

 Of course, none of these times would have been had if not for the ceaseless and untiring efforts of the event’s Poetry Convenor, Jan Lewis and her hardy band of volunteers. Hip Hip Hooray I say to them all!!! Heaps of meetings, untold hours on the telephone, countless hours in front of the computer and all the physical ‘hands on’ side of things when it actually comes around to the weekend itself, this tireless troupe of poetry supporters toiled away ‘behind the scenes’ (without anyone even realising it) so that the event could flow like clockwork. Once again, a big ‘Thank You’ to Jan Lewis. What a marvel she is!

 I know, I know, I know. Enough of this ‘waffle’. You want to know the results, right? Well here they are.



 


 


 
Victorian Bush Poetry Championships 2017 - Performance Competition Results
   

Classical Male
1st: Tom O’Connor
2nd: Ken Potter
3rd: Ken Tough
HC: John Davis
HC: Ralph Scrivens

Classical Female
1st: Christine Boult
2nd: Kathy Vallance
3rd: Rhonda Tallnash
HC: Julie Morris
HC: Margaret Beechey


Modern Male

1st: Tom O’Connor
2nd: Ken Tough
3rd: Ralph Scrivens
HC: John Peel
HC: John Davis

Modern Female
1st: Christine Boult
2nd: Kathy Vallance
3rd: Rhonda Tallnash
HC: Jenny Markwell
HC: Julie Morris




Original Serious Male
1st: Ken Tough
2nd: Ralph Scrivens
3rd: John Peel
HC: Ken Potter
HC: John Davis

Original Serious Female
1st: Rhonda Tallnash
2nd: Christine Boult
3rd: Julie Morris
HC: Christa Dwyer
HC: Kathy Vallance

Original Comedy Male
1st: Ken Tough
2nd: Ken Potter
3
rd: John Peel
HC: Ross Vallance
HC: Ralph Scrivens

Original Comedy Female
1st: Rhonda Tallnash
2nd: Kathy Vallance
3rd: Christine Boult
HC: Jenny Markwell
HC: Julie Morris

Overall Male Champion
“Clancy’s Choice” Award
1st: Ken Tough
2nd: Ken Potter



Overall Female Champion
“Matilda” Award
1st: Rhonda Tallnash
2nd: Christine Boult



Open Yarnspinning
1st: Rhonda Tallnash
2nd: Mick Coventry
3rd: Don McQueen
HC: John Davis
HC: Tim Shead


Novice Champion
1st: Christa Dwyer
2nd: Don Dwyer
3rd: Margaret Beechey




Intermediate Champion
1st: Judy Boyd
2nd: John Raine



Man from Snowy River Recitation
1st: Ken Tough
2nd: Rhonda Tallnash
3rd: Ralph Scrivens


Jack Riley Heritage Award: Rhonda Tallnash


Lawrie Sheridan Encouragement Award: John Davis


Senior’s Encouragement Award: Rita Diplock

Jan Lewis Encouragement Award: Mary French

   
 

Victorian Bush Poetry Championships 2017-Written Competition Results

 

Written Serious Poem

“Silver Brumby” Award
1st: Tom McIlveen
2nd: Tom McIlveen
3rd: Rhonda Tallnash
HC: Tom McIlveen
HC: Helen Harvey

 Highest Scoring Novice Serious Poem
Rita Diplock

 Written Comedy Poem
“Corryong Larrikin” Award
1st: Brenda Joy
2nd: Tom McIlveen
3rd: Tom McIlveen
HC: Brenda Joy
HC: Shelley Hansen

Highest Scoring Novice Comedy Poem
Pamela Fox

Overall Adult Written Champion
Tom McIlveen

Overall Novice Written Champion
Rita Diplock

 Victorian Bush Poetry & Music Association Awards 2017
Topscoring Victorian Performance Female:
Rhonda Tallnash
Topscoring Victorian Performance Male:
Colin Carrington
Topscoring Victorian Yarnspinner:
Rhonda Tallnash
Topscoring Victorian Written Poem:
Rhonda Tallnash
Topscoring Victorian Written Novice Poem:
Julie Morris

 

Victorian Bush Championships 2017-Jumior Performance Competition Results

 Prep-Grade 2
No Entries

 Grades 3-4
1st: Charlotte Findlay
2nd: Jack Jarvis
3rd: Thomas Shipman
HC: Isobel Costello
HC: Carmen Lee

Grades 5-6
1st: Kaylin Handley
2nd: Amelia Lappin
3rd: Nicola Costello

 Primary: “Spirit of Mateship”
1st: Regan Nugent

 Lisa Ride Encouragement Award
Kaylin Handley/ Jack Jarvis

 Bush Costume Award
Kaylin Handley

 Victorian Bush Championships 2017-Jumior Written Competition Results

 Prep-Grade 2
1st: Sienna Moore
2nd: Tess Paton
3rd: Will Klippel
HC: Angus Edwards
HC: Jock Paton
HC: Lauren Zimmer

 Grades 3-4
1st: Isobel Costello
2nd: Jessica Martin
3rd: Lena Babu
HC: Angel Grabasch
HC: Claire Noonan

 Grades 5-6
No Entries

 
   

ABPA “Golden Damper” Bush Poetry Awards 2017

Finals & Heats – Report & Results

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The highly renowned and prestigious “ABPA Golden Damper Awards” Bush Poetry Performance Competition was held again this January during the staging of the 45th Annual Tamworth Country Music Festival 2017.

 This was the 31st staging of the “ABPA Golden Damper Awards” that had their humble and inauspicious beginnings way back in 1987 at the famous “Longyard Hotel”. Since then the awards have had 4 permanent homes including the Imperial Hotel and West’s Leagues (and even a 1-year stint in the car park of Kentucky Fried Chicken). This year the awards were held at the Tamworth Rugby Club (in Marius Street Tamworth) for the very first time. The Australian Bush Poets Association Inc. has run the event for the last 5 years under the very capable hands of Co-ordinator Graeme Johnson, aka “The Rhymer from Ryde”.

 Three days of heats were held on Tues 24th, Thurs 26th & Fri 27th January leading up to the Finals that were held on Sat 28th January in said Rugby Club.

 Some of the country’s most astute judges (themselves accredited by the Australian Bush Poets Association) had the very difficult task of assessing some 18 different performances during the course of each heat that ranged from Original to Established works (including both comedic and serious verse). Males and Females were pitted against one another in the ‘cut-throat’ nature of the competition which seemed to bring out the best in each group of dedicated artists.

 The competitors this year were an interesting mix of seasoned professionals (and regulars to the fray) who were joined by a swag of new faces that provided an entertaining and lively mix of styles for the crowds of eager fans.

 The Rugby Club was filled to capacity on most occasions as punters got in early for their favourite seats to cheer on their preferred poets and hopefully influence the judges with their wild applause and laughter. As a matter of fact, people were turned away for the Finals on the Saturday as the Rugby Club had reached its seating capacity limit.

 Special congratulations are in order for Claire Reynolds for Gloucester in NSW for ‘scooping the pool’ in both sections this year (a feat that has only been achieved on 3 other occasions in the events history). Well done Claire from one and all!

 Sadly, it was Co-ordinator Graeme Johnson’s last year at the helm of this event as he has temporarily shifted his focus to other areas of his life. He wishes future Co-ordinator’s continued success with the competition and all the best of luck in the future.

 

Established Finalists

Bob ‘Pa’ Kettle
Jacqui Warnock
Paddy O’Brien
Claire Reynolds
Bill Gordon
Rhonda Tallnash
Tom McIlveen
Caroline Tuohey
Mal Beveridge

Established Placegetters

1st: Claire Reynolds
2nd: Jacqui Warnock
3rd: Rhonda Tallnash

 

Original Finalists
Jacqui Warnock
Paddy O’Brien
Jenny Campbell
Claire Reynolds
Rhonda Tallnash
John Peel
Tom McIlveen
Bob ‘Pa’ Kettle
Caroline Tuohey

Original Placegetters
1st: Claire Reynolds
2nd: John Peel
3rd: Rhonda Tallnash

 
 
 
 

The Tamworth Country Music Festival 2017
"
The Rhymer's Roundup Wrap-up"

What happened where and when
------------------------------------------------

Well the first thing that has to happen before we even get to the third week of January (when all the good times begin) is all the promotional activity that has to occur to ensure your venue has an even chance of being noticed in all the ‘hurly burly’ advertising madness that engulfs Peel St & surrounding districts in the weeks before the Festival.

 This means at least a week spent in town (pre-Festival) to do an assortment of ‘odd-jobs’ that are very much a ‘hands on affair’ when it comes to getting things done.

 First up is the late night torch waving, balaclava lead ‘poster run’ up and down both sides of the entire length of Peel Street where you endeavour to plaster anything that isn’t nailed down with the images of your particular event. Not a job to be taken lightly as it is a job that has to be repeated about a week later when you find that all your previous hard work has been covered over by some other enterprising entrepreneur whose layered his work over the top of yours. “All’s fair in love and war” as they say.

 Then it’s time to don the ‘meet and greet’ face as you re-introduce yourself to all managers of the various Caravan Parks, ‘pop-up’ campsites and regulation campgrounds (that blanket the Tamworth landscape) begging for a space on their advertising ‘Wall of Fame’ to put up another poster (that hopefully won’t get plastered over and actually last till the end of the Country Music Festival). Oh and don’t forget to beg for some space to lay out your advertising flyers too!

 Keep a hold of that happy smiling face and gregarious personality too because your real works only just about to begin.

Yes, it’s the arduous trek (in 40  heat ) along every by-way and dusty track that traverse the lengthy laneways of vast tracks of land (such as the Carter Street Campgrounds) to hand out some more flyers to the happy campers busily erecting their tents and preparing their living spaces for the busy weeks ahead. Indeed, apart from the heat and files and the excessive heat and flies and the lack of hydrating ports, a truly marvellous experience indeed, meeting and talking to your fellow ‘Aussie’s’ in their natural environment.

 The final stage of proceedings is usually erecting some overly large and gaudy vinyl banners that will hopefully stop traffic in its tracks (without actually causing an accident) and direct a steady flow of ‘punters’ into your respective venue.

 What next?...well hey, that’s when the fun starts because all the hard work that you’ve just sweated your way through gives way to the truly important part of the “Tamworth experience” and that’s getting up onstage to actually perform.

 So on to the “Rhymer’s Roundup Wrap-Up” for 2017.

 And so it was that on the morning of Fri the 20th January 2017 that various cars, utes, motorbikes, bicycles, skateboards, motorised scooters, motor homes and buses began arriving outside the North Tamworth Bowling Club (on the corner of Bligh & Piper Streets Tamworth) in readiness for the 5th instalment of the very popular “Rhymer’s Roundup” series of Bush Poetry Shows. For the next 6 days scenes of unmitigated traffic chaos were reported to the local constabulary as eager bush poetry devotees jostled for the best parking spots so as not to miss the action happening inside.

 The ‘Brunch Time’ timeslot of 10.30 am -12.30 pm is one that the public has been enjoying for the last 5 years as have the poets who no longer have to get up at some god forsaksen time to sprout their words of wisdom through the medium of bush verse. It’s a nice little ‘sleep in’ for all concerned followed by and early morning ‘get-together’ around the altar of ‘Bush Poetry’.

 And why wouldn’t you want to come inside and enjoy the friendliest Bowling Club in town with all its wonderful facilities. An air-conditioned auditorium that ranks right up there with the best available. Comfy seating and all modern amenities with a bistro menu that is the envy of many small businesses in town.

Oh, and of course, a wide range of local and imported beers and wine to suit all tastes. And if that isn’t enough to ‘wet your whistle’ then there’s 6 of the most entertaining Bush Poets around just waiting to share their stagecraft with you in this wonderful little venue.

 Talking of Poet’s as we were, well let’s get to it and give you a bit of an idea exactly what it was that they got up to from the 20th -25th January 2017 at the ‘Bowlo’.

 Joining the “Rhymer’ this year were stalwarts Gregory North, Rhonda Tallnash, John Peel, Noel Bull and the very special guest (for the second year running) , Country Music Megastar Mr. Patrick Drummond. Together this scruffy lot of rhymin’ rascals had the audiences begging for more as they waxed loquacious about all sorts of subject matter in the manner only first class bull-shit artists can.

 The “Rhymer” more than held his own with these other luminaries whilst debuting some of his newer comedic yarns such as “Chatterbox” ( a train travelling dilemma about being stuck behind two very verbose seniors on a very length rail journey) & “If it’s FREE, I want it” (about Graeme’s penchant for collecting ‘freebies’ of every possible variety and the ensuing dramas that that caused) along with a very touching poem about the anniversary of his father’s passing called “Have you seen my Dad?” and a stirringly patriotic piece entitled “That’s Australia” along with many other amusing ‘ditties’.

 Gregory ‘Man of many Hats’ North (from Linden in the beautiful Blue Mountains of Sydney) was again the ‘star attraction’ of the day with his predilection for poems that truly embraced the weird, bizarre and unusual side of life. (Hmmm, Linden must be one hell of a strange suburb, that’s for sure). Topics embraced such challenging subject matter as unusual bodily functions as those that have the unfortunate job of treating such maladies, the truth behind this Gregory North bloke-a somewhat autobiographical tome, the problem with young people today and old age and the trepidation that it brings. As well as these gems Greg always finishes the show with Banjo Paterson’s “Man from Snowy River” poem that he does in 14 different accents (Greg’s signature piece and much loved by all-even after you’ve heard it a hundred times or more!)

 Rhonda Tallnash, (the current Female Australian Bush Poetry Champion) did her home town of Violet Town (Vic) proud with another series of sterling performances that were, all in all second to none.

 As well as showcasing her flair for the comedic with hits such as “The Wrapper” (regarding a case of mistaken job identity and overcoming unseen adversities) Rhonda also gave some very vivid descriptions of a local house of ‘ill repute and the hilarious results of trying to staff the same in a small country town. Her award winning poem “The Shirt” was also well received (telling of a shell-shocked soldier’s return home and his disassociation with his wife).

 John Peel (from Tumut in NSW - buoyed by his recent venture into fatherhood) was also very much ‘on-song’ with his time on stage and wasn’t ‘backward in coming forward’ in getting his point across to the enthralled crowds. Often known to spontaneously burst into song (mid-verse) John’s distinctive style makes him a crowd favourite wherever he goes.

 Noel ‘Raging Bull’ (from Musk in VIC) once again managed to drag himself away from his farming duties to do one of his rare performance spots as part of the “Roundup”. One of the highlights of Noel’s set was his new piece on the dilemmas of old age and a case of mistaken identity that had Noel joined on stage by a very sexy mannequin and Noel dropping to  his knees to perform CPR on same. He had the audiences in howls of laughter at his ‘seen to be believed’ antics. Noel’s a real trouper with a great passion for performing that he does with great ‘gusto’ and volume.

 Then of course there were the highly engaging sing-a-longs from “Uncle Pat”, Patrick Drummond Esquire, that were liberally scattered throughout the programme. Pat’s ability to see things from the perspective of your average “Aussie” bloke means that the audience forms a familiar bond with his songs as soon as they seem to hear them and are only too happy to join in when given the opportunity. Pat’s intriguing insights and 30 years of experience ‘on the road’ (collecting stories on some very unforgettable Australian characters) has given him a wealth of material on which to draw from and were the perfect counterpoint to the bush verse being spun around them. Pat also showcased some of the material from his latest release “Late Final Extra-Tales from the Travelling Years” like “Spirit of Endeavour”, “Brothers on the Road”, “In like Flynn” and the “Phillip Song”.

 Makes you wish you’d been to Tamworth doesn’t it? Well if you did miss out, never fear, because “The Rhymer’s Roundup” returns for its 6th big year in January 2018 with an expanded 10 day format to accommodate the burgeoning crowds that just can’t get enough rhyming verse.

 (Again, for those that did miss out please check out the photographic panorama below. There’s some nice shots there believe me!)

 Ps. We also had a very special guest (for one day only) in the shape of one of country’s music’s finest artists Steve Passfield. Thanks Steve for joining us and becoming the ‘honorary’ 13th member of the troupe (over the years).

 

 
   
   
   
   

 

   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
 

***********************************
2016 ARCHIVED NEWS
"Back to the Future"
Royal Brisbane Show
Bush Poetry Competition 2016
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Every year in the middle of August the Exhibition Grounds in the heart of Brisbane transform themselves into the “Ekka”, the Royal Brisbane Show (now in its’ 139th year) and this year was certainly no different.

 The bright lights of the City hosted Country folk (and their animals) from all over Australia from Friday the 5th until Sunday the 14th attracting more than 21,00 entries across 13,000 classes in 48 competition sections.

 From the beginning competitions have remained at the heart of the show, initially highlighting the agricultural and pastoral excellence of our hard working farmers from the bush. These areas of competition broadened over the intervening years to include such varied exhibitors as Photography, Painting & Drawing, Creative Art & Craft, Cookery, Fashion, Bush Poetry and much much more.

 Indeed this years’ Bush Poetry Competition (sponsored by The Consultancy Bureau and the Australian Stockman’s Hall of Fame) was held on the first Saturday of the event on the newly constructed ‘Flower & Garden Stage’ in the precincts of the ‘Old Museum’ grounds which had been incorporated into the ‘Ekka’ site for the first time in 119 years.

 Walking through the immaculately kept grounds of the ‘Old Museum’ visitors passed the Heritage Water Fountain, the ‘Sculpture Walk’, the ‘Secret Fairy Garden’ and the ‘Ekka’ ‘Love Tree’ before they came to the place where it was all happening, the ‘Flower & Garden Stage’.

 2 Adult Sections were held, the ‘Original’ Section & the ‘Established’ Section. (See results below)

 Carmel Wooding continued her form from 2016 taking out First Place in both sections with some sterling and powerful performances.

 The “Rhymer from Ryde” gave it his best shot (as he always does) and came up with a Second Place in the Original Section with a poem entitled “Have you seen my Dad” (a poem written in 1996 after the passing of his father, Jim).

 “I hadn’t performed the poem for nearly 20 years” said Graeme “and I felt much more comfortable doing the poem now as a tribute to Dad rather than the draining experience of writing the piece in that very sorrowful time all those years ago”.

 Graeme’s entry in the Established Section “Rhymin’ Bill from Broken Hill” (by Peter Willey & Mathew Hobbs) was a rollicking ‘tongue in cheek’ poem about not taking yourself too seriously as a performer.

 “Again, I hadn’t done this poem for many many years” continued Graeme “and when I was searching through my papers to find the poem about Dad I re-discovered ‘Rhymin’ Bill’ and thought ‘that’s a laugh’ why not do 2 old poems for the competition this year instead!” “After those results I’m glad I did”.

 Other Adult placegetters included Paddy O’Brien, Ken Dean & Amy Bradfield.

 After the excitement of the morning competition Trisha Anderson led her merry troupe of Bush Poetry reprobates to the ‘Sheep Shearing’ Stage (near the Animal Nursery) where the Bush Poetry performances continued for the rest of the “Ekka”. As a matter of fact Trisha and her poets have been gracing stages at the Show for 20 years now and each and every day 2-3 ‘top notch’ poets from all around Australia ‘strut their stuff’ for the assembled throngs. (That’s ‘throngs’ not ‘thongs’).

 The Showground site is currently in the middle of a decade long ‘Urban Modification’ process that will see the entire site transformed into a residential village & parklands that will incorporate all the popular and iconic Showground heritage buildings & arena’s into the overall future plan.

 For the moment though the site is still fairly recognisable as the Showgrounds of old and the wafting smell of the cattle stalls still mingled in the air with the alluring odour of ‘Chips on a Stick’ & ‘Fairy Floss’ as you fought your way through the crowds to your next destination. Damn those ‘Sample Bags’ are getting heavy these days too!

 See ya next year folks for ‘all the fun of the fair’ at the 140th Royal Brisbane Show’!

 

Original

1st: Carmel Wooding

2nd: Graeme Johnson

3rd: Paddy O'Brien

 

Established

1st: Carmel Wooding

2nd: Amy Bradfield

3rd: Ken Dean

   
   


Victorian Bush Poetry Championships 2016
Incorporating the Man from Snowy River Festival-Corryong, Victoria-
Thurs 31st March - Sun 3rd April 2016
Report & Results
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120 kilometres east of Albury-Wodonga on the Murray Valley Highway (in the Shire of Towong) sits the bustling country town of Corryong (Pop 1440 approx.) Nestled close to the upper reaches of the Murray River its commerce is basically Beef & Dairy farming and Forestry industries.

However once a year in late March/early April the town sheds it’s quiet & quaint exterior to turn into a bustling metropolis of activity as something in the vicinity of 5000 visitors invade the town for 4 days of “True Blue” Australiana activities the like you’ve never seen.

The Primary focus of the Festival is the “Stockman’s Challenge” an annual event designed to find that years modern “Man from Snowy River” equivalent. In addition to this event the “Man from Snowy River” Festival is also an important showcase for the world of “Bush Poetry”. Its annual Bush Poetry competition is held in high regard by versifiers from all over the country, who in turn are all vying for the opportunity to be crowned the next or modern, ‘Banjo Paterson’.

If that’s ‘wet your whistle’ for more then hang around. Further to the events described above there is “Riley’s Ride” (a 4 day trail ride through the breathtaking & rugged countryside from Tom Groggan station to Corryong culminating in a visit to Jack Riley’s grave in the Corryong cemetery), the Man from Snowy River Rodeo, Cattle Dog Championships, Whip cracking, a Ute Muster, Markets, Country & Rock music, an Art & Photographic display and much, much more. As a matter of fact too much to see on a single visit so you’ll just have to keep coming back to view the entire gamut of entertainment available at this magnificent event.

But, back to the Bush Poetry, ‘cause that’s why we’re looking at this website after all.

‘Banjo’s Block’ is the appropriately titled block of land that forms the basis for all things poetic. Located on the corner of Strzelecki Way and Donaldson Street Corryong this is where you’ll discover the continual camaraderie of the roaring log fire and all night sing-a-longs and recitations. Snuggle up in your ‘DrizaBone’, grab a warm cup of coffee and be transported back to the olden days through the authentic yarns & stories spun by ‘fair-dinkum’ bushmen and swaggies. Oh yeah, we let the ‘city slickers’ ‘have a go’ as well.

Mornings at ‘Banjo’s Block’ see the crisp mountain air welcome the “Poet’s Breakfast” sessions run by “The Rhymer from Ryde” and his companion in crime, Mr. Matthew Hollis (a man whose knowledge of all things Australian has been borne from 20 years on the road as a Driver for Murrays Coaches). What Matthew doesn’t know, he’ll make up. That’s why he’s been a former ‘Australian Yarn Spinning Champion’. 3 mornings in a row the ‘walk-up’ format of these shows showcases the talents of a wide range of poets from the very young to the very old, from the novice to the professional. This interesting mix surely keeps the audiences on their toes as no-one is ever really sure what’s coming up next.

Most of the poets on hand use the opportunity for an early morning recitation to ready themselves (in practise) for the various heats of the competition that are invariably to follow.

This year’s Victorian Bush Poetry Championships absorbed the normal Man from Snowy River competition and had sections such as Traditional, Modern, Original Serious & Original Comedy that formed the basis for the Overall Championship Titles. Other sections of competition held were the ‘Man from Snowy River’ recitation, the Novice & Intermediate sections as well as the Yarnspinning section itself. There is also a ‘One Minute’ competition held and an extensive junior section covering a wide spectrum of age & ability groupings on the Thursday of the event. Something for everybody as they say!

Senior judge for this year’s Performance & Written competitions was “The Rhymer from Ryde” himself who has been the “Head Judge” in residence since 2013 casting his watchful eye and organisational skills over 2 x Australian &  2 x Victorian Championships and one Man from Snowy River competition.

Joined on the Judging Panel this year by ABPA accredited judges Robyn Sykes & Carol Reffold the “Rhymer” & his highly skilled crew were also ably assisted (in other judging duties) by Robin Christmas, Rhonda Tallnash, Maurie Foun, Colin Driscoll & John Peel.

Head Collator for the event was once again Mick Coventry who was assisted by Trisha Anderson, Tom O’Connor, John Peel, Graeme Johnson and Ian McDonald.

Timekeeping duties were carried out by Ian McDonald, Bob Winnett, Harry Reed & Lyndon Baxter.

Our “Featured” Mc & ‘Guest Poet of Note’ for the weekend was Victorian Bush Poet, Colin Driscoll.

In addition to the competition and the breakfasts there is also the annual ‘Anzac’ concert in the RSL Hall, as well as special featured & themed presentations (at various venues around the town) by our modern Banjo Paterson, Mr. Geoffrey.W. Graham. Geoffrey was accompanied this year by “Lazy Harry” Stephens & Trevor Best.

The “:Bottom Pub” otherwise known as the Corryong Hotel also hosts the Thursday night “Poets Meet & Greet” held this year (for the first time) in a 100 seater marquee set behind the Hotel itself. Away from the noisy hustle and bustle of the Pub itself Bush Poets had an opportunity to preview their skills to the assembled throng and a wonderfully friendly night of fun & laughter was shared by one and all.

Writers of Bush Verse were welcomed with open arms as well as prior to the weekend itself the “Silver Brumby” award for serious written verse and the “Corryong Larrikin” award for comedic written verse were also decided.

Of course none of this would have been possible without the input of the Poetry Convenor, Jan Lewis and her eager band on volunteers. Working quietly behind the scenes Jan is very much the community liaison for the event, working with local schools to encourage participation in the Junior competition and organising the “Schedule of events” for the Bush Poetry competition itself. Jan is owed a great ‘debt of gratitude’ by anyone who enjoys any part of the poetic side of the festival as it simply wouldn’t happen without her.

So now (after all that chat) I suppose you’d like to know the results. Well here they are.

 

Victorian Bush Poetry Championships 2016 - Performance Competition Results

 
 

Classical Male

 1st: Tom O'Connor

2nd: Lynden Baxter

3rd: John Peel

HC: Barry Tiffin

HC: Travis Johnson

 

Classical Female

1st: Sue Pearce

2nd: Rhonda Tallnash

3rd: Kathy Vallance

HC: Jenny Markwell

HC: Robyn Christmas

   
   

Modern Male

 1st: Lynden Baxter

2nd: Tom O'Connor

3rd: Barry Tiffen

HC: John Peel

HC: Bill Gordon

 

Modern Female

1st: Sue Pearce

2nd: Rhonda Tallnash

3rd: Robyn Christmas

HC: Jenny Markwell

HC: Kathy Vallance

   

Original Serious Male

1st: Lynden Baxter
2nd: John Peel

3rd: Barry Tiffen

HC: Harry Reed

HC: Bill Gordon

 

Original Serious Female

1st: Rhonda Tallnash

2nd: Jenny Markwell

3rd: Sue Pearce

HC: Christa Dwyer

HC: Kathy Vallance

   
   

Original Comedy Male

1st: John Peel
2nd: John Davis
3rd: Harry Reed

HC: Barry Tiffen

HC: Lynden Baxter

 

Original Comedy Female

1st: Sue Pearce
2nd: Kathy Vallance
3rd: Rhonda Tallnash
HC: Jenny Markwell

HC: Lisa Ride

   
   

Overall Male Champion

Clanch's Choice Award

1st: Lynden Baxter
2nd: John Peel

 

Overall Female Champion

Matilda Award

1st: Sue Pearce
2nd: Rhonda Tallnash

   
   

Open Yarnspinning

1st: Rhonda Tallnash
2nd: Matthew Hollis
3rd: Mick Coventry

HC: Robyn Christmas

HC: Betty Walton

 

Novice Champion

1st: Ian McDonald
2nd: Ross Vallance
3rd: Margaret Beechey

HC: Jack Leahy

HC: David Taylor

   
   

Intermediate Champion

1st: Julie Morris
2nd: Judy Boyd
3rd: Travis Johnson

 

Man from Snowy River Recitation

1st: Barry Tiffen
2nd: John Davis
3rd: Rhonda Tallnash

   
   
 

Special Awards

Jack Riley Heritage Award: Rhonda Tallnash

One Minute Poem: Kaylin Handley

Lawrie Sheridan Encouragement Award: Lisa Ride

Senior's Encouragement Awards: Ruth Davis

Jan Lewis Encouragement Award: Christa Dwyer

 

   
   

Victorian Bush Poetry Championships 2016 - Written Competition Results

Written Serious Poem

Silver Brumby Award

 1st: Brenda Joy

2nd: Brenda Joy

3rd: Tom McIlveen

HC: Brenda Joy

HC: Tom McIlveen

 

Written Comedy Poem

Corryong Larrikin Award

1st: Tom McIlveen

2nd: Jan Bentley

3rd: Tom McIlveen

HC: Brenda Joy

HC: Beryl Stirling

Highest Scoring Novice Serious Poem

 Des Bennett

 

Highest Scoring Novice Comedy Poem

Jan Bentley

Overall Adult Written Champion

 Brenda Joy

 

Overall Novice Written Champion

Des Bennett

 
 
Victorian Bush Poetry Championships 2016 - Junior Performance Competition Results

Prep 2

 1st: Charlotte Findlay

 

Grade 5-6

1st: Molly Murphy

2nd: Kaylin Handley

3rd: Sophie Dunoon

Primary: "Spirit of Mateship"

 1st: Sophie Dunoon

 

Lisa Ride Encouragement Award

Charlotte Findlay

   
Victorian Bush Poetry Championships 2016 - Junior Written Competition Results

Prep - Grade 2

 1st: Daniel Shipman

2nd: Darby Whitehead

3rd: Lewis Costello

 

Grade 3-4

1st: Joseph Houston

2nd: Thomas Shipman

3rd: Claire Noonan

Grade 5-6

 1st: Madison McKimmie

2nd: Nicola Costello

3rd: Lachlan Vandervalk

 

Ancillary Awards

Best Costume Award

Charlotte Findlay

Kaylin Handley

Finlay Pinkster

 
Victorian Bush Poetry & Music Association Awards 2016
Topscoring Victorian Performance Female:  Rhonda Tallnash
Topscoring Victorian Written Female: Jan Bentley





See you next year Corryong......
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Rhymer’s trip a ‘Voyage’ worthwhile

Dunedoo Bush Poetry Festival 2016- Report & Results

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The 18th annual Dunedoo Bush Poetry Festival was held between the 3rd-6th March this year in the town of the same name tucked away between Mudgee & Dubbo in the Central Western NSW Shire of the Warrumbungles. (its name is derived from the local aboriginal dialect for ‘swan’ of which there are many in the district).

It was the “Rhymer’s” 10th consecutive visit to this event and it one of the favourites on his Bush Poetry calendar as it is for many of the nation’s Bush Poets who ‘hitch up the wagons’ and make the yearly pilgrimage from all parts of this ‘wide brown land’ to this scenic little destination.

The running of the annual event has for many years now been the responsibility of the “Dunedoo & District Development Group Inc.” headed by its Poetry Co-ordinator, Eric Beer and his team of local volunteers. (Yes, what as surname!) Eric has a deep love of the land (being a farmer himself) and has long been an admirer of the ‘spoken word’ genre.

Sadly one of the Festivals’ major sponsors Peter Fallon from Personal Wealth Management  Pty Ltd had passed away as the result of a motorbike accident some weeks before the Festival and was sorely missed by his many poetic friends. However (by way of an appropriately placed photograph beside the stage) Peter’s smiling countenance looked over the school’s auditorium stage and poetic proceedings as if he had never been away.

Judges Sandra Nicholson, Brenda Joy & Hal Pritchard (current ABPA Vice President) had the unenviable task of judging the assembled reciters and toiled away ceaselessly at their task for the entire weekend. Who’d be a judge then hey? Compere Des Kelly (from Gulgong) kept the crowds amused with his never ending string of bad jokes (only kidding) and performed many musical items in Saturday night’s closing concert as did Brenda Joy.

The “Rhymer” once again stepped into the winners circle at Dunedoo garnering a First place in the Original Serious section and a Third place in the Traditional section.

His entry in the Original Serious section was a poem called “The Voyage” a gritty piece about the rugged & dehumanising nature of convict transportation and the loved ones that were left behind. His entry in the Traditional section was a poem by the master himself, Henry Lawson, entitled “The Old Jimmy Woodser”. (A “Jimmy Woodser” was a derogatory term referring to a man who drank alone).

 
 

Contemporary Male

 1st: Bob 'Pa' Kettle

2nd: Jim Lamb

3rd: Max Pringle

HC: Don Clarey

 

Traditional Male

1st: Bob 'Pa' Kettle

2nd: Terry Regan
3rd: Graeme Johnson
HC: Max Pringle

   

'The Old Jimmy Woodser'

 

 

'The Old Jimmy Woodser'

 

 

 
   

Original Serious Male

 1st: Graeme Johnson

2nd: Terry Regan

3rd: Max Pringle

HC: John Seers

 

Original Comedy Male

 1st: Terry Regan

2nd: Max Pringle

3rd: Bob 'Pa' Kettle

HC: Don Clarey

 

   
'The Voyage' 'The Voyage' presentation

 

Overall Male Champion

1st: Terry Regan

 

 

Contemporary Female

 1st: Rhonda Tallnash

2nd: Cay Ellem

3rd: Jacqui Warnock

HC: Heather Searles

 

Traditional Female

 1st: Rhonda Tallnash

2nd: Heather Searles

3rd: Jacqui Warnock

HC: Lois Sanders

 

Original Serious Female

 1st: Rhonda Tallnash

2nd: Jenny Markwell

3rd: Heather Searles

HC: Jacqui Warnock

 

Original Comedy Female

 1st: Jenny Markwell

2nd: Cay Ellem

3rd: Rhonda Tallnash

HC: Jacqui Warnock

 

Overall Female Champion

1st: Rhonda Tallnash

 

 
 

ABPA “Golden Damper” Bush Poetry Awards 2016

Finals & Heats – Report & Results

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One of Bush Poetry’s “Showcase” events was once again held during the Tamworth Country Music Festival 2016 at West’s Leagues Club.

Three days of heats were held on Tues 19th, Thurs 21st & Fri 22nd (in the Club’s “Outback Bar”) culminating in the pageantry and spectacle of the Finals that were held in “Blazes” auditorium on Sat the 23rd January.

The Awards have been held @ West’s Leagues Club since 2005 and have produced 24 “Golden Damper” trophy winners since then. The “Golden Damper” awards are one of the premier performance competitions in the country and have been run under the auspices of the Australian Bush Poets Association for the last 4 years.

Prior to that (1987-2012) the awards were run by the Tamworth Poetry Reading Group and began at the Longyard Hotel in 1987 before moving to the Imperial Hotel in 1989 where they were conducted until 2004.

The “ABPA Golden Damper Awards” 2016 saw 25 individual contestants compete over three days of heats in both the Original & Established (Modern or Traditional) sections. On a daily basis 3 finalists were chosen from the Original section and 2 finalists from the Established section to compete in Saturday’s Finals. That gave us 9 overall competitors in the Original section and 6 overall competitors in the Established section once the Finals rolled around on Sat 23rd.

Come the Saturday and the atmosphere in “Blazes” auditorium was electric. The crowd ‘buzzed’ with anticipation & the adrenalin surging through the veins of the contestants was almost palpable. The hushed silence that greeted each competitor’s pre-amble soon gave way to gales of laughter or thoughtful silence as the audience revelled in the storytelling skills of the versifiers.

Judges sat glued to their seats as the valiantly searched the judging sheets for ways to separate one contestant’s score from another. Believe me, it wasn’t easy! Once the ‘smoke had settled’ the judges had indeed selected a top three performers in each section. (For all the photos & results please see below).

 

 


Original Finalists

 Lance Lawrence

Max Pringle

Claire Reynolds

Garry Lowe

Rhonda Tallnash

John Peel

Tom McIlveen

Bob 'Pa' Kettle

Caroline Tuohey

Established Finalists

 Cay Ellem

Claire Reynolds

 Jason Roweth

Sue Pearce

Lyn Tarring

Tom McIlveen

   

Combined Group Finalists

 

 

Combined Group Finalists

 

 

   
Trophy Table Winners McIlveen, & Roweth with Gordon

 

Original Placegetters

 1st: Tom McIlveen

2nd: Garry Lowe

3rd: Caroline Tuohey

 

Established Placegetters

 1st: Jason Roweth

2nd: Sue Pearce

3rd: Cay Ellem

 

   

 
 

The Tamworth Country Music Festival 2016

“The Rhymer’s Roundup Wrap-up”

What happened where and when

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In early January anyone driving through the intersection of Bligh & Piper Streets North Tamworth became aware of the fact that in a few short weeks time their local Bowling Club was going to be invaded by a ‘rag-tag’ bunch of shady looking individuals that called themselves “Bush Poets”. How did they know? From the two huge banners that had just been affixed to the fences of said premises that were boldly advertising the fact.

Yes, it was nearly time for the annual Tamworth Country Music Festival and the return of the “Rhymer’s Roundup”.

Stretching over 5 metres long and 1.5 metres high the banners bore the ‘mug shots’ of this band of merry reprobates in sizes large enough to scare away the neighbourhood children and cause the occasional traffic accident. There they were in all their glory, “The Rhymer from Ryde” himself along with the other members of his troupe, Rhonda Tallnash, Gregory North, John Peel, Noel Bull and the very special guest, Country Music Superstar Mr. Pat Drummond.

And indeed, every morning between the 15th and the 20th of January this year (between the very respectable hours of 10.30 am until approx. 1.00 pm) the North Tamworth Bowling Club (located on the corner of Bligh and Piper Streets) was transformed into wonderland of wonderful words (second to none) as the “Rhymer’s Roundup” took to the stage to transport their eager audiences into raptures of delight as they espoused the virtues of the “Aussie” bush and the ethos of our Australian character through verse & song.

This was the 4th instalment of the “Rhymer’s Roundup” residency at the North Tamworth Bowling Club having ‘kicked off’ there way back in 2013. The best ‘little bowlo’ in town has a range of facilities second to none including plenty of ‘on-street’ parking, air-conditioned auditorium, comfortable seating, modern sound system, top class meals and a wide range of icy cold beers and beverages. Why wouldn’t you go there?

The “Rhymer” once again held the reins of this tremendously talented troupe and was no slouch himself when it came to ‘treading the boards’ holding the crowds spellbound with his titillating tales of the beautiful blonde next door, domestic disputes and the subsequent near demolition of his semi-detached house in Sydney, “Bob” the troublesome Beagle and some more sorrowful tales such as the rigours of convict transportation.

Rhonda Tallnash (the current Australian Female Bush Poetry Champion) flew the flag for the fairer sex as the only female member of the group and let it be known early on that she was no mere pushover. Holding her own with the other ‘blokes’ Rhonda reeled of her riotous rhymes regarding such topics as belching fridges, the right time to pass away during the night, her dislike of football and the true story behind the Ned Kelly legend.

John Peel (the Karaoke Kid) continued to amaze audiences with his rich and melodic voice and when not bursting into song actually did some excellent bush verse. John’s answer to the “Man from Snowy River” “The Bloke from Brindabella” received avid applause as did his other ditties that talked of subject matter such as romance for the older set, exploding grain silos that rocket into space & being at one with nature.

Noel “Raging” Bull managed to keep his clothes on most of the time long enough to burst into some inspiring verse regarding iconic “Aussie” stockmen, our indigenous history and the overabundance of plastic shopping bags and managed to keep the decibels levels of his performances just below those of an approaching aircraft. He also managed to go overtime most of the time but as nobody really cared we just let him have his head.

Not to forget the unforgettable Mr. Gregory North (our main ‘Featured Poet’ so to speak). Greg has been with us from the start and he’s definitely the glue that holds everything together. Greg’s many poetic ‘alter egos’ manifested themselves on stage in the form of a disagreeable old Granny, a flatulating schoolboy, a ‘nerdy’ scientific type and a Cicada that gets dismembered mid poem(not for the squeamish). You’ve got to ‘see it to believe it’ as they say!

Oops! Hang on a minute I nearly forgot “Uncle Pat”, Mr. Patrick Drummond esquire, who joined us as our very very special musical guest.

Deciding it was time to ‘change things up a bit’ the “Rhymer’s Roundup” this year enlisted the services of one of Australia’s finest singer/songwriters Pat Drummond to add his considerable talent to the team in the manner that only Pat Drummond can. Insightful and challenging lyricism, memorable tunes & ‘charisma’ to boot, Pat was a firm favourite of each and every audience. His tunes like “Alfred Bremmer’s Organ”, “If I die before Keith Richards”, “The Sao Song”-(complete with a Sao jamming demonstration), “The Toilet Paper Line Dance”, “Marilyn Monroe was a Size 14” & “Working for the R.T.A.” amongst a swag of others had the punters tapping their feet and singing along like there was no tomorrow.

Sorry you missed it all? Well...never fear! We did manage to capture a fair bit of it on camera so if you’re brave enough and over the age of 18 there’s some vision below that might give you a laugh.

Ps. We also had a very special extra guest for one day only in the form of one of the country’s finest folk artists Jason Roweth. Normally performing with his wife Chloe, Jason joined us a ‘solo’ performer to regale us with some “Aussie” sing-a-long classics and well crafted original songs. Thanks Jason!


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Some Special Snaps

 
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"The Rhymer's Roundup"

Special Featured Artist 2016

Pat Drummond

 

Pat’s career began with his spectacular stints as Sydney’s ‘King of the Hill’ in the anarchic ‘sing-a-long’ uni/bar/pub scene of the late 1970’s. His 10 year Fri night residency at Sydney’s Rest Hotel was a ‘rite of passage’ and the pub saw well over 300,000 fans pass through its’ doors over that time. The night before the Hotel’s demolition in the mid eighties saw Pat’s final gig at the venue attract 2000 punters to the pub (which only had a capacity of 350). It was utter chaos as traffic in the surrounding streets was brought to a standstill.

 Always theatrical it was only natural that Pat’s next project was the 1986 Rock Opera; “SkoolDaze” which saw Pat and his 6 piece rock band decked out in short pants and school uniforms re-living the heady days of his & our youths.

 Shortly after the demise of the “SkoolDaze” project long time friend Roger Corbett invited Pat to become a member of the re-vised Bushwackers Band and shortly after that enterprise Pat formed a duo with John Schumann (of Redgum fame).

 With the release of “Tales from the local Rag” in 1990 Pat adopted the onstage persona of a 1940’s newspaperman as the reporter for his fictional paper ‘The Local Rag’. Whilst touring the country he interviewed people he met in his travels, fellow Australians that captured something special about our national character and ethos. These lucky people became the subject of songs on this & subsequent albums.

 By 1998 Pat’s long standing interest in the Spoken Word led to what was to be a massively successful association with the “Naked Poets” troupe, a gathering of 5 of Bush Poetry’s most prominent comedic performers. With sales in the tens of thousands nationally their 5 albums would have been a significant release for any major Australian label but for Pat & his Independent record company ‘Shoestring’ it was an overwhelming success.

The runaway sales of these albums at a retail level greatly expanded ‘Shoestring’s operations and led to the radical development of its roster. By 2005 the company had 73 albums on its books and was representing 10 artists (including “The Rhymer from Ryde”) and supplying 600 record shops across Australia.

 Meanwhile Pat’s immersion in commercial country had shifted his song writing style again to link up with vocalist Karen Lynne in the genre of country duets etc. which led to many successful releases and awards as well.

 In 2001, restless yet again, Pat created an astonishing bi-polar theatrical metamorphosis into his “Chess Set” characters. One who wore white, the other who wore black. Men who saw life from diametrically different viewpoints. It was Pat’s most challenging drama yet.

 Come 2008 and Pat had linked up with former buddies Tony Williams & Chris O’Leary to form the 3 piece comedy outfit “The Bar-B-Q Kings” and were immediately signed to ABC/Universal.

 When will he stop? Well Pat says this “It’s all about never stopping, always changing & growing older creatively”.

 Pat’s current shows feature music from all of his previous incarnations and a splendid and challenging time is guaranteed for all. Bring your brain, your voices and your foot tappin’ shoes. You’ll need them all!

 

"Partners in Crhyme"

Special Feature 2016

Gregory North & Graeme Johnson

When not busy with their other respective projects “The Man of Many Hats” & “The Rhymer from Ryde” combine in these very special Bush Poetry presentations called “Partners in Crhyme”. Catchy name hey? Greg thought of it amongst a host of others mostly not repeatable here.

 With their penchant for dressing up and doing incredibly silly and self deprecating things on stage Greg & Graeme seem like a natural fit together performing Bush Verse on the same programme.

 No-one in the audience is safe as Greg & Graeme often leave the confines of the stage looking for willing victims to participate in their on stage escapades.

 Like a party in your own backyard you’ll feel ‘right at home’ in the audience for these shows as you split your sides laughing at Greg & Graeme’s hilarious antics.

 Tell your friends, tell your neighbours, tell the bloke next to you at the pub or the group you share your evening barbeque with as there’s only ONE of these shows being held at the Tamworth Country Music Festival in 2016. Make sure you don’t miss it!





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2015 ARCHIVED NEWS

 

“Rhymer’s Doin’ OK!”

Royal Brisbane Show

Bush Poetry Competition 2015

 

The “Rhymer from Ryde” continued his winning ways at the “Ekka” recently during the staging of the annual Royal Brisbane Show Bush Poetry Competition sponsored by the Australian Stockman’s ‘Hall of Fame’.

 Graeme picked up 2nd place in the Established section of the competition with a poem by Milton Taylor called “You’re Doin’ OK” which talks about ‘keeping your chin up’ when things are getting you down. With Milton’s passing at the end of 2014 Graeme had wanted to do one of Milton’s poems as a tribute to him and everything that he had contributed to the Bush Poetry genre.

 In Graeme’s 15th years performing at the “Ekka” he’s only missed out on a prize ribbon on a few occasions so he was particularly honoured to pick up a guernsey this year with one of Milton’s poems.

 “I hadn’t performed the poem for about 10 years or so actually” said Graeme “so I thought that it was about time that I dusted it off and gave it another run”.

 Professional as Graeme’s performance was it wasn’t strong enough to beat Carmel Wooding who ‘cleaned house’ winning both sections of the competition. (See results below). Carmel’s young children also added to the families ‘prize larder’ with a win and a third in the Junior competition sections.

 Other adult placegetters included “Pa” Kettle, Paddy O’Brien and Geraldine King.

 Graeme’s entry in the Original Section of the competition was a poem called “The Currency Kids” a historically based poem on the first generation of white children born on Australian soil back in the early colonial days.

 Due to the ongoing nature of the renovations on the Showground site this years’ competition sadly had to say farewell to our favourite stage in the John Reid Pavilion which was promptly replaced by the competition’s new home on the ‘Education Stage’ in the magnificent brand new Conference Centre.

 As well as the competition on the first Saturday of the show Trisha Anderson’s Poetry Troupe was also busy ‘around the grounds’ performing 4 times a day on the “Sheep Shearing Stage” in the Animal Pavilion.

 Yes the barnyard setting of the Animal Pavilion was perfect for the presentation of Bush Verse as the recitations were neatly placed in between exhibitions of sheep shearing and educational demonstrations that were held for schoolchildren and adults alike.

 Indeed the site’s massive urban modification expansion plans had displaced many exhibitors from their traditional homes and it was quite an exciting challenge to find all your old favourites in their new locations around the precinct.

 Still the grand traditions of the show continued unabated and once again the glitter of sideshow alley met the ‘dust of the bush’ with a ‘Dagwood Dog’ thrown in for good measure. See ya next year!

 

 

Royal Brisbane Show Bush Poetry Competition

Results 2015

Original

1ST: Carmel Wooding

2nd: Geraldine King

3rd: Paddy O’Brien

Established

1ST: Carmel Wooding

2nd: Graeme Johnson

3rd: ‘Pa’ Kettle

   

Junior (Under 12 years)

1ST: James Wooding

2nd: Sarah Isbester

3rd: William Wooding

Junior (Under 12-17 years)

1ST: Emily Bradfield

2nd: James Kleen

 

Overall Champion

1ST: Carmel Wooding

 
 
 
2015 News Continued

Australian Bush Poetry Championships 2015

Corryong, Victoria Thu 9th-Sun 12th April 2015 - Report & Results

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 Campfires roared, horses whinnied, stockwhips cracked, music played, yarns were spun, poems recited, friendships forged & beers were drunk....and that was only on the first night of “The Man from Snowy River” Festival 2015.

 Host this year to the Australian Bush Poetry Association’s “Australian Bush Poetry Championships” the “Man from Snowy River” Festival epitomises all things ‘Bush’ as mountain men and versifiers join forces to showcase their skills to the waiting public.

 Corryong swells to many times its normal size as Bush Poets, Stockmen, Muso’s, Car enthusiasts, Photographers, Artists and others mill about ‘doing what they do best’ in venues scattered around the town. The town centre traditionally is home to the markets, Art & Photographic displays, The Lions Youth Hall hosts the Bush Poetry competition and the local Showground comes alive to the thills & spills of the “Stockman’s Challenge” an event whose purpose is to discover this year’s modern equivalent of the famous “Man from Snowy River”. 

Early mornings on “Banjo’s Block” brings the Bush Poets to the fore and 3 Poets Breakfast were held on the Fri, Sat & Sun mornings of the event ably Mc’d by “The Rhymer from Ryde” and Bus Driver extraordinaire Mr. Mathew Hollis from QLD. The Bush Poetry is so popular in Corryong that quite often not all names on the daily list got a turn so poets were actually lining up before the starting time to make sure they got to have their say. No more sleeping in for the poets that’s for sure!

 The Poets Brekky’s were followed every day by the various Australian Bush Poetry Championship Competition Performance Section Heats. Those sections being Modern, Classical, Original Serious & Original Humorous. Other competition heats (not part of the Overall Championship schedule) were held for Yarnspinning, Novice & Intermediate Poets.

Added to this already full schedule were the “Man from Snowy River” (A.B. Paterson) recitation competition, the Laurie Sheridan, Seniors & Jan Lewis Encouragement Awards as well as a burgeoning Juniors section in both written and spoken word competitions.

 Authors of the adult written word were not forgotten either. To showcase their skills the Australian Bush Poetry Championship Written Competition was also held and pre-judged before the festival proper began. The “Silver Brumby” Award for Serious Poetry was accompanied by the “Corryong Larrikin” Award for Comedic Verse. An Overall Written Champion was also selected.

 Senior Judge this year for both the Performance & Written Championships was none other than “The Rhymer from Ryde”. He was joined on the written judging panel by Brenda Joy & Robyn Sykes who also accompanied him on the performance judging panel for the overall championship sections.

Other judges joining the panel over the course of the 4 day event were Maurie Foun, Carol Reffold, Hal Pritchard & Brian Bell (Brian also doubled up with lengthy stints as our resident timekeeper. He was joined at the timekeeper’s bench by Ray & Peter Lobo).

 Head Collator for the Championship sections was Mick Coventry (ably assisted by Hal Pritchard) (Tom O’Connor also assisted in various sections).

 All of the competition sections were ‘bursting at the seams’ with performers of exceptional quality and the overall standard presented was the highest seen at this level for some time.

 “Hats Off” & plaudits must be awarded to Jan Lewis (who presided over the poetry contingent of the festival) for all her tireless work in bringing the festival to fruition once again. Jan is a stalwart in the Victorian Bush Poetry Association as well as an invaluable committee member for the ABPA.

 
 
 
 
 
 

 

For the full list of section winners please see below.

Australian Bush Poetry Championships 2015 - Performance Competition Results

Classical Male

1st: Roderick Williams

2nd: Bernie Keleher

3rd: Tom O’Connor

HC: Peter Mace

HC: John Peel

Classical Female

1st: Jenny Markwell

2nd: Sue Pearce

3rd: Rob Christmas

HC: Rhonda Tallnash

HC: Maggie Murphy



 
 

Modern Male

 1st: Roderick Williams

2nd: John Peel

3rd: Ken Tough

HC: Tom O’Connor

HC: Ralph Scrivens

Modern Female

 1st: Rhonda Tallnash

2nd: Rob Christmas

3rd: Jenny Markwell

HC: Annette Roberts

HC: Sue Pearce



 

Original Serious Male

 1st: Roderick Williams

2nd: John Peel

3rd: Ken Tough

HC: Bernie Keleher

HC: Peter Mace

Original Serious Female

 1st: Rhonda Tallnash

2nd: Jenny Markwell

3rd: Sue Pearce

HC: Maureen Luke

HC: Annette Roberts



 
 

Original Comedy Male

 1st: Roderick Williams

2nd: Peter Mace

3rd: John Peel

HC: Bernie Keleher

HC: Ralph Scrivens

Original Comedy Female

1st: Sue Pearce

2nd: Rhonda Tallnash

3rd: Jenny Markwell

HC: Annette Roberts

HC: Lisa Ride



 
 

Overall Male Champion

Clancy’s Choice Award

 1st: Roderick Williams

2nd: John Peel

3rd:Ken Tough

Overall Female Champion

Matilda Award

 1st: Rhonda Tallnash

2nd: Jenny Markwell

3rd: Sue Pearce



 

Open Yarnspinning

1st: Mathew Hollis

2nd: Mick Coventry

3rd: Rob Christmas

HC: Tom McIlveen

HC: Ken Prato


Novice Champion

 1st: John Raine

2nd: Ian McDonald

3rd: Caitlin Klippel

Intermediate Champion

1st: Lisa Ride

2nd: Michelle Roberts

3rd: Maureen Luke


 

Man from Snowy River Recitation

 1st: Rob Christmas 

2nd: John Peel

3rd: Maggie Murphy


Special Awards

One Minute Poem: Ilya Nordemeer 2nd: Carol Reffold

Laurie Sheridan Encouragement Award: Maureen Luke

Seniors Encouragement Award: Des Bennett

Jan Lewis Encouragement Award: Jannette Morris


Australian Bush Poetry Championships 2015 - Written Competition Results

 

Written Serious Poem

Silver Brumby Award

 1st: Tom McIlveen

2nd: Tom McIlveen

3rd: David Campbell

HC: Tom McIlveen

HC: Carol Heuchan

Written Humorous Poem

Corryong Larrikin Award

 1st: Will Moody

2nd: Will Moody

3rd: Tom McIlveen

HC: Tom McIlveen

HC: Tom McIlveen


Overall Written Champion

 1st: Tom McIlveen


Novice Written Champion

 1st: Lisa Ride




 

“Rhymer ‘Flushed’ with success”

 Dunedoo Bush Poetry Festival 2015

-----------------------------------

The quaint little hamlet of Dunedoo, NSW once again held their annual Bush Poetry Competition over the weekend of the 6-8th March 2015.

 A popular event that attracts Bush Poets from all over Australia the success of this major event is a direct result of the hard work done by the local “Dunedoo & District Development” Committee headed by Mr. Eric Beer.

It is often remarked by competitors that ‘strutting their stuff’ on the vast expanse of the Dunedoo Central School Hall is amongst one of their favourite performance experiences. Adorned with various symbolic Australia decorations the stage makes audience and performers alike feel very welcome indeed.

Weekend Mc Milton Taylor withdrew suddenly at the last moment (due to ill health) and was ably replaced by ABPA Secretary Brenda Joy (visiting with her husband ABPA President Hal Pritchard) who then proceeded to talk non-stop for the remainder of the weekend as she Mc’d everything in sight. Well done Brenda!

Dunedoo is a perfect example of the old adage that you don’t have to have a ‘big’ town to hold a ‘big’ show which was borne out by the high quality of entrants & performances alike.

The “Rhymer” was flushed with his success with wins in 3 of the 4 male sections as detailed below. Even more thrilled as the poems he performed had all been learned in the month before the competition and had not been performed in public before! Oh well, that’s the way it goes sometimes!

 

Dunedoo Bush Poetry Festival 2015 Competition Results

 

Contemporary Male

 1st: Graeme Johnson

2nd: Ken Potter

3rd: Paddy O’Brien

HC: Terry Regan

Traditional Male

 1st: Terry Regan

2nd: Garry Lowe

3rd: Ken Potter

HC: Barry Ellem



 

Original Serious Male

 1st: Terry Regan

2nd: Ken Potter

3rd: Graeme Johnson

HC: Paddy O’Brien

Original Comedy Male

 1st: Garry Lowe

2nd: Paddy O’Brien

3rd: Terry Regan

HC: Graeme Johnson


 

Traditional Female

 1st: Rhonda Tallnash

2nd: Jenny Markwell

3rd: Cay Ellem

HC: Heather Searles

Contemporary Female

 1st: Rhonda Tallnash

2nd: Heather Searles

3rd: Jenny Markwell

HC: Freda Harvey


 

Original Serious Female

 1st: Jenny Markwell

2nd: Heather Searles

3rd: Rhonda Tallnash

HC: Freda Harvey

Original Comedy Female

 1st: Rhonda Tallnash

2nd: Heather Searles

3rd: Cay Ellem

HC: Jenny Markwell


 

Overall Male Champion

 1st: Terry Regan

Overall Female Champion

1st: Rhonda Tallnash


The Tamworth Country Music Festival 2015

"The Rhymer's Wrap-up"

What happened where and when

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

North Tamworth was once again the ‘place to be’ during the 2015 Country Music Festival if you wanted to enjoy ‘top-quality’ “Aussie” Bush Verse but not have to get up early to do so.

The third instalment of this popular series of Bush Poetry shows (run by “The Rhymer from Ryde” himself) again highlighted the fact that the typical ‘man on the street’ much preferred to see his verse at a more respectable time of the morning. Hence the 6 ‘Brunch-time’ shows kicked off at 10.30 am on a daily basis in the comfortable confines of Bus Poetry’s new home, The North Tamworth Bowling Club (cnr. Bligh & Piper Streets, North Tamworth).

 And why wouldn’t you go with ‘on the street’ parking right out front of the premises, buses right to the door, good food, cold beer and a nice air-conditioned room in which to sit back and enjoy yourself. Once inside pull up a seat, put your feet up and laugh your guts out at the funnies bunch of vagabonds ‘this side of the black stump’.

This year the “Rhymer’s Roundup” troupe consisted of Gregory North, Robyn Sykes, John Peel, Brenda Joy, Rhonda Tallnash, Noel Bull and “The Rhymer from Ryde”.

 The “Rhymer” waxed lyrical & loquacious with his original comedy tales about such varied subjects as Barbie Dolls, the Pontiff’s visit and misbehaving Beagles whilst also showcasing his more serious poems such as “Poles & Wires” (regarding the Light Horse Regiments of WW1) & “Faces on the Wall” (a tale of the Anzacs).

 Robyn Sykes detailed life on the farm from the female perspective with some amusing hi-jinx about ‘carryings on’ round the farmyard whilst teaming up with Brenda Joy for some duo work as well. Brenda continued drawing unsuspecting audience members into her presentations (much to the delight of their friends) to act out the storylines of some classic pieces of verse. The unpredictability of these ‘skits’ really had the audience on the ‘edge of their seats’.

 John Peel continued his narrative poems about “The Fencing Farmer” ( now a trilogy) Elvis’s ‘return from the dead’, defecating pigeons, old age wedded bliss and wild mountain brumbies whilst Noel “Raging” Bull did his best to destroy the stage (or anything on it) and the audience’s eardrums with his wildly vigorous style of show. There’s only one pace for Noel and that’s “Full-On” that’s for sure.

 Rhonda Tallnash (the current NSW & QLD Female Bush Poetry Champion) joined Graeme’s troupe for the first time and ‘wowed’ the audience with her distinctive style, eloquent manner, dress sense and intriguing tales.

 Gregory “Man of many Hats” North was again the ‘Star’ attraction of this 3 ringed circus. Indeed so many costume changes were featured during his shows (over the 6 days of performance) that no-one really knew whether it was Greg North on stage or not. Either way it didn’t matter which of Greg’s entities was at the microphone, you could rest assured that they would be totally captivating ‘none the less’.

 For a more pictorial representation of the action described above please ‘have a gander’ at the photo galleries below (if you dare!)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ABPA "Golden Damper” Bush Poetry Awards 2015

Finals & Heats - Report & Results

--------------------------------

One of the Bush Poetry calendars “Showcase” events was held during the Tamworth Country Music Festival 2015 at West’s Leagues Club’s “Blazes” Auditorium on Saturday the 24th January.

 The Finals of the “Golden Damper” Bush Poetry competition are one of the country’s premier performance competitions and are run under the auspices of the Australian Bush Poets Association Inc. The Awards ceremony & competition itself were Co-ordinated this year by Graeme Johnson, “The Rhymer from Ryde”.

 With only 3 performers taken from the 9 entrants in each daily heat (in each section) the pressure was on for competitors to produce their very best performance on each & every occasion (which of course made excellent viewing for the attentive and appreciative audiences over that time).

Original Finalists
Claire Reynolds
Cay Ellem
Dave Elson
Paddy O'Brien
Rhonda Tallnash
Kathy Edwards
Lyn Tarring
Tom McIlveen
Garry Lowe
Established Finalists
Claire Reynolds
Jacqui Warnock
Cay Ellem
Barry Ellem
Rhonda Tallnash
Gabby Colquhoun
Lyn Tarring
Jason Roweth
John Peel
   

9 performers then (in total) from the 3 daily heats made the Finals in each section of the competition.

The race was well and truly on to see who would ‘snaffle’ the superbly hand crafted “Golden Damper” trophies and performances the like you’d never seen were witnessed on many occasions as the battle weary competitors ‘pulled out all the stops’ to gain an advantage over their adversaries.

Time limits were stretched to the last second as performers raced to cram their respective poems into the 6 minute time limit and judges scratched furiously at their adjudication sheets to try and separate one competitor from the other, one slip or tiny indiscretion the only difference between a second or third place such was the overall quality of the poems presented.

But decide they did and everybody retired for the day happy in the knowledge that they had done their very very best.

Original Placegetters
1st:  Lyn Tarring
2nd:  Claire Reynolds
3rd:  Rhonda Tallnash
Established Placegetters
1st:  Lyn Tarring
2nd:  Jason Roweth
3rd:  Gabby Colquhoun
 
 
 
 
2014 ARCHIVED NEWS

“A New Face in the Crowd”

Report on the Royal Brisbane Show

Bush Poetry Competition Aug 2014

-------------------------------

Original Section Winners (L - R)
Geraldine King, The Rhymer from Ryde & Kevin Dean
Original Section Winners (L - R)
Geraldine King, The Rhymer from Ryde & Kevin Dean

First held in 1876 Brisbane’s Royal Show or “Ekka” (as it is affectionately known to the patriotic locals) held its 138th show in 2014 making it one of the longest running agricultural shows in the country.

 Bush Poetry has been an important feature of the show’s entertainment line-up for over two decades pioneered by local identity Trisha Anderson.

 Trisha, well connected in bush poetry ‘circles’ gathers a ‘motley crew’ of the best poets from every State to showcase Australian stories in verse, told in the rhymed & metred style of the masters, Lawson, Paterson et al.

 The ‘ever changing, ever amazing’ “Ekka” site (currently undergoing a decade long urban renovation facelift) once again welcomed record crowds keen to see its push towards the future.

 The John Reid Pavillion once again hosted the annual Bush Poetry Competition and enthralled guests with lively tales of the city & the bush told in the myriad styles of its contestants.

 The Rhymer from Ryde had long held sway in the Original Section of the competition having won the last 5 years trophies but was deposed in fine style this year by newcomer Geraldine King from QLD. Graeme had to genuflect to the superior skills of his female foe who swept all before her with consummate ease. Well done Geraldine!

 Graeme’s 2nd place in the Original Section was for his poem “Faces on the Wall” a solemn Anzac tribute focusing on the horrors of war. “Faces on the Wall” was inspired by a visit to the Corryong RSL Club in rural Victoria and their gallery of photographs of local lads who served & died in the “Great War”.

 Bush Poetry aside Graeme also met a famous face backstage during his travels. Yep, none other than Ronald McDonald himself (who gave Graeme some handy tips about ‘how to work a crowd’). Thanks’ Ronald!

 

“Bush Poets Trump City ‘Push’”

Bush Poets triumph at the National Folk Festival 2014

-----------------------------------------------------

 
NFF
NFF2


Slam vs Bush Poet Winners
Laurie McDonald, Lorraine McCrimmon,
Dick Warwick, The Rhymer from Ryde
Featured Poets
The Rhymer from Ryde, Milton Taylor, Gregory North,
Geoffrey W Graham, Dick Warwick

 

The Majestic Marquee at the National Exhibition grounds was once again the carnival setting for the Annual “Slam Vs Bush” Poetry Competition held as part of the National Folk Festival in Canberra over the Easter Long Weekend.

Four City based “Slam Poets” Vs four Bush Poets in a “Winner takes all” versifying showdown. Three minutes per poem, 5 randomly selected judges and a venue bursting at the seams with punters avidly cheering or booing for their side of residence.

The Bush Poets were ably captained by Laurie McDonald, joined on stage by “The Rhymer from Ryde”, Lorraine McCrimmon and a ‘blow-in’ from Washington State USA, Mr Dick Warwick (making a welcome return to the National stage).

Their opponents (the “Slam Poets”-led by the cinematic storyteller Candy Royalle) ‘huffed & puffed’ aplenty (with their naval-gazing esoteric histrionics) but couldn’t bring the Bush Poetry house down. Common sense and the calming influence of well metred verse finally overwhelmed the judges and the Bush Poets came home in a landslide to take the win.


 

The Tamworth Country Music Festival 2014

 “The Rhymer’s Wrap-up”

What happened where and when

-------------------------------------

 The doors of the North Tamworth Bowling Club were once again thrown open to throngs of eager Bush Poet devotees for the Tamworth Country Music Festival, January 2014. Why was this the popular destination for these early morning “Grey Nomad” gatherings I hear you ask? Simple, the return to the North Tamworth Bowling Club of Graeme Johnson’s “Rhymer’s Roundup” Bush Poetry troupe.

 Returning by “Popular Demand” after the initial success of their Inaugural shows in 2013 the “Rhymer’s Roundup” continued their series of 6 “Brunch-time” shows kicking off at the leisurely time of 10.30 am each day. The public were obviously in tune with the idea and flocked in droves to see just what it was that there friends were talking about so eagerly.

 A lovely air conditioned auditorium, comfortable seating, modern amenities, free on-street parking (or a short bus ride from the city centre) good food and ice cold beverages. Oops, what have I forgotten...of course...and the Bush Poets.

 This year the “Rhymer’s Roundup” Bush Poetry troupe consisted of 3 times Australian Champion, Gregory North, ex Australian Champion, Robyn Sykes, ex NSW Champion, Brenda Joy & previous Tamworth Country Music Festival Golden Damper Winners John Peel, Greg Scott, Noel Bull (& the “Rhymer” himself).

 “The Rhymer” was in fine form drawing from his extensive repertoire of modern, traditional & original verse to entertain the masses over the 6 days. The audiences were enthralled by John Peel’s frequent foray into song (mid poem) and Brenda Joy’s audience-interactive tableau’s that had the punters falling about in fits of laughter.

 Noel “Raging” Bull took masterful command of the stage (and most of the room while he was at it) with his wonderful interpretations of some Murray Hartin classics and Greg Scott introduced some ‘home spun country views’ with his hilarious stories of life on the land.

 Robyn Sykes emotive poems tugged at the ‘heart strings’ of crowds one minute, then had them sliding of their chairs with hilarity the next.

 Gregory North the “Man of many Hats” celebrated his wins in the Bush Laureate Awards by taking his performance skills to another level over the course of the 6 shows, people coming back time after time to see what else he had in his ‘kit-bag’ of poetic tricks. Coal seam ‘fracking’, “Carpet Courts” “Sticky Tape” and “Tradie’s” butt-cracks were but only a small sample of the subject matter pilloried by this modern day poetic marvel.

 A photographic panorama of the “Rhymer’s Roundup” hijinks 2014 can be found below.


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 
 


2013 ARCHIVED NEWS!

"Rhymer “Poles Apart” at the Ekka"

Report on the Royal Brisbane Show

Bush Poetry Competition Aug 2013

------------------------------------------

 

13 proved far from unlucky for Graeme Johnson, “The Rhymer from Ryde” at this year’s Royal Brisbane Show Bush Poetry Competition. The event is run annually in early August as part of the “Ekka” and has been held in QLD since 1876. This year was Graeme’s 13th at the site and over that decade or so he’s come up with 10 awards (including this year’s)!

 Bush Poetry at the “Ekka” has been run for nearly 20 years at the Show by local identity & icon Trisha Anderson. Every year she musters Poets from all over Australia who gather at the various pubs, auditoriums, halls and venues around the site to ‘spruik’ a bit of good old fashioned “Aussie” Bush Verse to the assembled masses.

Major renovations at the site and surrounding areas (which will continue for a decade or more) did nothing to halt the advance of the crowds who poured through the turnstiles at a record breaking ‘rate of knots’ to ‘have a squiz’ at the brand new Convention Centre and many other changes.

The Bush Poetry competition (held in the heritage listed John Reid Pavillion) once again attracted established performers from all over the country vying with all their skills to take home one of the coveted prizes.

A grand mixture of serious, comedic, original & contemporary poetry was showcased during these performances keeping the crowds enthralled for hours on end.

Graeme’s First Place in the Original Section was for his poem “Poles & Wires” a piece about the “Light Horse Interchange” sculpture that can be found in Sydney’s western suburbs. The sculpture is a memorial to the Light Horse Regiment of WW1 & their valiant horses.  PS: full poem available on this website.

 

Royal Brisbane Show Bush Poetry Competition Results 2013

 
Original
1st: Graeme Johnson
2nd: Carmel Woody
3rd: Mal Beveridge
Established
1st: Paddy O'Brien
2nd: Kevin Dean
3rd: Carmel Woody
Juniors (under 12 yrs)
1st: Francis Wilson
2nd: James McMillan
3rd:
Bridget Heggarty

Juniors (12-18 yrs)
1st: Amy Bradfield
2nd: Emily Bradfield

 

“Dunedoo Rings True for The Rhymer”

 Dunedoo Bush Poetry Festival 2013

--------------------------------

 

The Dunedoo & District Development Group Inc (headed by President Eric Beer) once again presented their annual Bush Poetry competition at the magnificent Dunedoo Central School Hall on the weekend of the 1-3rd March 2013.

Some of NSW’s finest reciters were joined by many interstate competitors keen to ‘have a crack’ at the many titles on offer.

Judges Tony Yeo, Sandra Nicholson, Garry Lowe & Des Kelly had the unenviable task of separating the combatants as they pitted their well honed skills against one another in a spirit of comradeship, fun and a little bit of friendly ‘niggling’.

Gregory North showed off his exemplary vocal skills and staying power by Mc’ing everything in sight. The audiences were bombarded by a barrage of ‘pithy’ puns, amusing anecdotes, clangers, bloopers and blunders as Gregory soldiered on for many more hours in front of the mike than would be recommended by OH & S recommended safety limits. Well done Greg!

Other highlights of the weekend included Yarn Spinning & Intermediate competitions (results not available at this time) and a “Poet’s Brawl” held on the Sunday morning.

 There was also a “Meet & Greet” session held in the Jubilee Hall and a Bus Trip to see the local sights.

Be there or ‘be square’ next year!!!

 Dunedoo Bush Poetry Festival 2013 Competition Results

Traditional Male
1st: Robert Markwell
2nd: Terry Regan
3rd: Neil Jones
HC: Ken Tough
Traditional Female
1st: Robyn Sykes
2nd: Lois Sanders
3rd: Claire Reynolds
HC: Jacqui Warnock
Contemporary Male
1st: Ken Tough
2nd: Graeme Johnson
3rd: Terry Regan
HC: Bob Sanders
Contemporary Female
1st: Robyn Sykes
2nd: Claire Reynolds
3rd: Heather Searles
HC: Jacqui Warnock
Original Serious Male
1st: Terry Regan
2nd: Ken Tough
3rd: Neil Jones
HC: Graeme Johnson
Original Serious Female
1st: Robyn Sykes
2nd: Claire Reynolds
3rd: Jenny Markwell
HC: Heather Searles
Original Humorous Male
1st: Neil Jones
2nd: Ken Tough
3rd: Terry Regan
HC: Max Pringle
Original Humorous Female
1st: Claire Reynolds
2nd: Jacqui Warnock
3rd: Heather Searles
HC: Robyn Sykes
Overall Male Champion
Ken Tough
Overall Female Champion
Robyn Sykes
 

The Tamworth Country Music Festival 2013

"The Rhymer's Wrap-up"

What happened where and when

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Yes folks, the Rhymer’s Roundup really took the Tamworth Country Music Festival by storm in 2013 with all roads leading to the front doors of the North Tamworth Bowling Club every morning at 10.30 am.

Crowds built steadily over the first few days as the audiences ‘found their feet’ (and sense of direction) and made the North Tamworth Bowling Club their new “Bush Poetry” home.

Many punters through the door came back multiple times, often bringing their friends with them as they did. Word travelled fast and by the 3rd day we were starting to ‘pack them in’. As a matter of fact we even had to put the ‘House Full” sign up a couple of times over the 6 day period of the shows.

Crowds commented that they were very much in favour of our “Brunch” timeslot and the fact that they could enjoy a simple ‘sleep-in’ before their morning dose of good old fashioned “Aussie” verse.

Verse and versatility was what the people got too with the varied array of artists on offer at the “Roundup”.

“The Rhymer” entertained with original comedy pieces from his “Home Brew” CD opus, John Peel demonstrated his developing singing skills by occasionally ‘bursting into song’ mid poem and Greg Scott delivered some ‘down-home’ country wisdom through his heartfelt poems of the land.

Colin Driscoll had the audience in stitches with his rendition of his troubles with an intoxicated “Wine Tasting” group gone ‘feral’ and sheep with a mind of their own whilst Australian female Champion Robyn Sykes spun some enchanting tales of our country’s history & colourful characters she has met.

Brenda Joy, “The Darling of the Outback” quite often left the stage trolling through the audience for people willing to get up and participate in her ‘wacky’ antics (and quite often succeeded in doing so).

Gregory North, “The Man of Many Hats” took quite a few of them out of his bag during our shows whilst introducing us to his new creation “Frackin’ Freddy” (See photo’s below). Freddy was joined on stage by a troublesome old granny who would never wait her turn and a scientific looking ‘fella’ in a white overcoat who introduced us to inmates of his clinic. Gregory also donned a pink cowboy hat, a blue feather boa, a tiara and a turban amongst other things. Audiences just couldn’t get enough of this lunatic from Linden in Sydney’s Blue Mountains.

Carol Heuchan showed why she was the recipient of 7 (now actually 9) Bush Laureate Awards by mesmerising the crowds with her ‘side splitting’ comedy creations about life as only a woman could see it. Her emotionally charged serious poems brought tears to many an eye showcasing the fact that audiences do like and will listen too poetry other than comedy.

A photographic panorama can be found below highlighting the antics of the “Rhymer’s Roundup” troupe.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 

“Rhymer’s Roundup” Artists “Scoop the Pool” at this years “Golden Damper” Bush Poetry Awards

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

John Peel and Robyn Sykes (2 of the artists featured in Graeme Johnson’s “Rhymer’s Roundup” shows at the North Tamworth Bowling Club) ‘scooped the pool’ at this years “Golden Damper” Bush Poetry Awards held at “Blazes” Auditorium at West’s Leagues Club on “Australia Day” Sat 26th January this year.

John Peel was placed 1st in the “Original” section and 2nd in the “Established” section whilst Robyn Sykes was placed 1st in the “Established” section and 3rd in the “Original” section.

A fitting testament to the talents of these two fine performers who also showcased their wares at the “Rhymer’s Roundup” from Fri 18th –Wed 23rd January 2013 as well.

9 performers from 3 daily heats made the finals in each section of the competition. As well as the poets mentioned above some ‘sterling’ performances were delivered by Rhonda Tallnash, Janeen Mapson, Tom McIlveen and Max Pringle.

Stalwarts of the “Golden Damper” competitions over the years were also once again on centre stage as part of the finalist mix adding their considerable talents to the day’s entertainment.

Also ‘strutting their stuff’ were Claire Reynolds, Jacqui Warnock, Anita Reid, Jim Brown & Brian Langley (all the way from WA). Joining them was newcomer Maggie Walsh.

Established Section
1st Robyn Sykes
2nd: John Peel
3rd:  Anita Reid
Original Section
1st: John Peel
2nd: Brian Langley
3rd: Robyn Sykes
 

 

*******************************************************************

2012 ARCHIVED NEWS!

Rhymer's "First Class Ribbon" 

Royal Brisbane Show Bush Poetry Competition Aug 2012

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Graeme Johnson, “The Rhymer from Ryde” returned to one of his old ‘stomping grounds’ to rack up another Win in the Royal Brisbane Show Bush Poetry Competition that was run in early-August as part of the 137th “Ekka”.

Mingled in with the sights, sounds and smells of the “Country meeting the City’ in this annual event, Bush Poetry has been an important part of this ‘True Blue’ Australiana experience for every person who plonks their hard earned cash down to walk through it’s welcoming entry gates.

 Still undergoing major changes as part of a 10 year, Multi-Million dollar re-vamp the “Ekka” site was a hive of activity from “Day One” as interested onlookers poured in to peruse the ever changing site.

Luckily for the Bush Poets this meant the opportunity to present the large majority of their verse in the relative comfort of the John Reid Pavillion on the Commonwealth Bank sponsored stage.

 Local QLD icon Trisha Anderson has been at the helm of organising said Bush Poetry presentations at the Show for the last couple of decades and consistently brings the ‘cream’ of the Bush Poetry crop to ‘strut their stuff’ at the various venues around the Showground over the 10 days that it is held.

The culmination of their efforts is presented in said Bush Poetry Competition sponsored by the RNA Show Society.

 This years Competition saw 3 winners awarded in both the “Original” & “Established” Adult sections of the event. A Junior Competition was also held.

 The overall quality of the performances was ‘top-notch’ with a current Australian and State Champion amongst the ‘players’ on the day.

Graeme’s 1st place was garnered in the “Original Section” for his comedy poem “If it’s FREE I want it” from his current 2 CD release “Home Brew”.

It tells the tale of a man obsessed by “Freebies” and his passion for collecting every possible promotional product he can get his hands on, whether its stubby holders, food samples or, in the end, a free Funeral. Hilarious stuff!

Royal Brisbane Show Competition Results 2012

Original
1st Graeme Johnson
2nd: Barry Ellem
3rd:  Peter Mace
Established
1st: Peter Mace
2nd: Cay Ellem
3rd:
Kevin Dean

Junior
1st Amy Bradfield
2nd: Emily Bradfield


2012's NEWS No 2

Rhymer "Blazes" at West Leagues

Tamworth Country Music Festival January 2012

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West's "Blazes" Auditorium was packed to the rafters on the final Saturday of the Country Music Festival for the finals of the annual Golden Damper Bush Poetry Performance Competition.

This normally brings together the top ten competitors in both the Original and Contemporary performance sections all vying for the coveted Golden Damper trophies.

For the fourth year running, The Rhymer once again found himself in the finals of both sections, a feat few others have attained.

In the Original section Graeme's poem 'Barbie Town' from his CD set 'Home Brew' wowed the crowd, but didn't quite make the final cut.

In the Contemporary section Graeme made the finals with another rendition from his CD set 'Home Brew' called 'Like Thunder on the Plain'. A stirring account of the final hours of Harry "Breaker" Morant by Queensland author Arthur Green (the only non original poem on Graeme's CD set).

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2011's ARCHIVED NEWS No 1

 Rhymer shows his form at the "Ekka" 

Royal Brisbane Show Bush Poetry Competition Aug 2011

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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 1st 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

Original
1st Graeme Johnson
2nd: Paul Montague
3rd:  Kevin Dean
Established
1st: Kevin Dean
2nd: Tom Maloney
3rd: Cay Ellem

“Bobby Miller Memorial Award” (for best Comedy)

1st Graeme Johnson

 

2011's ARCHIVED NEWS No 2

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.

 

Man from Snowy River Festival 2010 Bush Poetry Competition Results

Poet’s Breakfast Reciter’s Award
First: Graeme Johnson



Man from Snowy River Recitation
First: Will Stanfield
Second: Barry Tiffen
Third: Peter Mace

Original Poetry
First: Jenny Markwell
Second: Ted Webber

Non-Original Poetry
First: Jenny Markwell
Second: John Peel

Aussie Poem
First: Jim Brown
Second: Tie: B.Tiffen/J.Markwell

Aussie Comedy
First: Alex Allit
Second: Peter Mace

Matilda (Overall Female Champ)
First: Jenny Markwell
Second: Betty Walton

Clancy (Overall Male Champ)
First: Peter Mace
Second: Barry Tiffin

       

 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

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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 4-7th 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.

 

NSW Bush Poetry Championships 2010 Competition Results

Male Overall Champion
First: Gregory North
Second: Ellis Campbell

Third: Graeme Johnson

Female Overall Champion
First: Gabby Colquhoun
Second: Kathy Edward

Third: Brenda Joy

Original Section
First: Gregory North
Second: Jenny Markwell

Third:Gabby Colquhoun

Classical
First: Gregory North
Second: Ellis Campbell

Third: Dulcie Mclean

Contemporary
First: Gregory North
Second: Barry Ellem

Third: Gabby Colquhoun

 Novice
First: Terry Moore
Second: Daryl Lawrence

Third: Will Stanfield

Yarnspinning
First: Lois Sanders

Poet’s Brawl
First: Cathy Edwards

Written Original Serious
First: Brenda Joy
Second: Glenny Palmer
Third: Ron Stevens

Written Original Humorous
First: Glenny Palmer



 

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.

Royal Brisbane Show 2009 Bush Poetry Competition Results

Original Comedy:

First: Graeme Johnson

Second: Paddy O’Brien

Third: Dot Schwenke

 

Non-Original Comedy

 First: Barry Ellem

Second: Graeme Johnson

Third: Denis Scanlon

 

Bobby Miller Memorial Trophy for Most Humourous Poem

First: Graeme Johnson

 

 

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

 

 Leonard Teale Finalists

 

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 142nd 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

 

Henry Lawson Heritage Festival 2009 Competition Results

Leonard Teale Memorial Spoken Word Award

 First: Roderick Williams

Second: Graeme Johnson

Third: Robert Markwell

Henry Lawson Adult Literary Award

 First: Max Merckenschlager

Second: Matthew McLoughlin

Third: Arthur Green

Adult Short Story Award

 First: Chris Blackford

Second: Max Merckenschlager

Third: David Campbell

 

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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2009's ARCHIVED NEWS No 3

 

Rhymer from Ryde wins "OVERALL MALE PERFORMANCE CHAMPION"
at Dunedoo Bush Poetry Festival 2009

Rhymer from Ryde wins Second Place in Traditional Section
at Dunedoo Bush Poetry Festival 2009
 

Rhymer from Ryde wins HC in  Adult Written Section
at Dunedoo Bush Poetry Festival 2009


Dunedoo Bush Poetry Festival 2009 Report

Graeme Johnson

 

The 11th Annual Bush Poetry Festival was held over the weekend of the 5-8th March 2009 at the bustling little Warrumbungle Shire Council hamlet of Dunedoo in Mid-Western NSW. Don't let the little town title fool you though, the 11th Bush Poetry Festival is a premier event on the Bush Poets calendar for those that enjoy performance & written verse. Competitors come from all over the country to have a crack at the 'coveted' titles on offer.

Friday night saw the first performance section 'kick off' the weekend with the Yarnspinning Competition at the Golf Club. Winner takes all in this lively event.


Saturday saw the competition proper commence bright and early in the School Auditorium with 3 more performance sections, Traditional, Original & Contemporary.

The Sat evening "Variety Concert" was hosted by Festival judges Milton Taylor & "Lenny" Knight who entertained the crowd with their songs, bush verse & jokes.

Sunday saw a "Poet's Breakfast" & "Poet's Brawl" (i.e. the 1 minute poetry competition) held in the local park
.


Graeme picked up his Highly Commended award in the written section for his poem "Graystar". (see Lyrics page of this Website for the complete poem).

His Second Place in the Traditional section was for his recitation of the AB 'Banjo' Paterson poem, "The Road to Hogan's Gap".

 

Dunedoo Bush Poetry Festival 2009 Competition Results

Graeme Johnson, P. Fallon, L. Knight, M. Taylor

Yarnspinning:
First: Claire Reynolds 

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: 

First: Susan Carcary 

Overall Male Champion: 

First: Graeme Johnson


Susan Carcary, Graeme Johnson, P. Fallon
(Males & Females competed against one another in all performance sections. As you can see the ladies, especially Suzie had a very good weekend).

 

2009's ARCHIVED NEWS No 4

 

Rhymer from Ryde wins Second Place in "OVERALL MALE PERFORMANCE CHAMPIONSHIP"
at Man from Snowy River Bush Poetry Championships, Corryong, Victoria 2009

 

Rhymer from Ryde wins First Place in "Campfire Section" (Non original work)
at Man from Snowy River Bush Poetry Championships, Corryong, Victoria 2009

 

Rhymer from Ryde wins First Place in "Aussie Comedy Section" (Non original/Original work)
 at Man from Snowy River Bush Poetry Championships, Corryong, Victoria 2009

 

Man from Snowy River Festival 2009 Report

Graeme Johnson @ Banjo's Block 

 The 2009 Man from Snowy River Festival was held in the beautiful little town of Corryong in Victoria between the 2-5th April 2009. The Bush Poetry & Music Competition combines with the annual "Stockman's Challenge" (mentioned in the poem "Graystar" found on the Lyrics page of this website).to form a unique event that truly gives the audience an experience that is like no other. A very Australian event encompassing the traditions of the past with the heroes of tomorrow as crowned in the "Modern Man from Snowy River" in said "Stockman's Challenge"

The Festival attendance was bolstered this year with the appearance of a truly iconic figure in the form of Jack Thompson (who recited the A.B."Banjo" Paterson poem "The Man from Snowy River") at this years re-enactment of the stockman's famous ride.

Poet's Breakfasts were held over the 3 mornings of the event at "Banjo's Block" (an outside area situated near the open campfire around which easy going 'sessions' are held) The Breakfasts were an 'open mike' format where a casual mix of professionals & novices performed their work in a relaxed 'non-competitive atmosphere before the 'stress' of the competition proper that was held in the nearby "Youth Hall".

The sections of the adult competition were of a very high performance calibre with many former champions attending hoping to relive former glories. Males & Females competed against each other in the performance sections and each gender acquitted themselves admirably.

 

Man from Snowy River Festival 2009 Bush Poetry Competition Results

Man from Snowy River Recitation:

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


Jack Riley Heritage Award

First: John Peel
Second: Betty Walton

Campire Award (Non Original)

First: Graeme Johnson
Second: Annette Roberts

Aussie Comedy Award:
(Non Original/Original)

First: Graeme Johnson
Second: Annette Roberts

Annette Roberts & Graeme Johnson

Matilda (Overall Female Championship)

First: Betty Walton
Second: Annette Roberts

Clancy (Overall Male Championship)

First: John Peel
Second: Graeme Johnson

John Peel & Graeme Johnson


   
   
   
   
   



MORE ARCHIVED NEWS 2009 & PRIOR

Other Updated Competition Results for 2009 & 2008

 

Caboolture Urban Festival Written Bush Poetry 2009

Second: Graeme Johnson Rust & Rivets

(for complete poem see Lyrics page on this Website)

Tamworth Country Music Festival 2009
Oasis Hotel Written Bush Poetry Competition

First: Graeme Johnson "Traditions"
(for complete poem see Lyrics page on this Website)

Dunedoo Bush Poetry Festival Performance Competition 2008
Comedy Section

Third: Graeme Johnson

Tamworth Country Music Festival 2008
"Blackened Billy" Written Competition

Third: Graeme Johnson "The Voyage"
(for complete poem see Lyrics page on this Website)

Ipswich Poetry Feast Written Section 2008

Highly Commended: Graeme Johnson "Graystar"

(for complete poems see Lyrics page on this Website)

Highly Commended: Graeme Johnson "Rust & Rivets"

(for complete poems see Lyrics page on this Website)

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Rhymer from Ryde wins Henry Lawson Adult Literary Award 2007 *********

Rhymer from Ryde wins HC in Leonard Teale Memorial Spoken Word Award 2007******
(See Report Below)

Henry Lawson Heritage Festival 2007 Report

 

One of Australia's premier Literary events, The Henry Lawson Heritage Festival was held over the recent June Long Weekend in the Central West town of Gulgong NSW. (Yes, the town on the old ten dollar note-remember them?)

Though the heavens had well & truly opened in the local area (weather wise) Bush Poets from all over Australia still managed to make their way to the historic centre for the big event.

The rain managed to dissipate long enough for the regular activities to still take place. These included Busking & Pavement Art Competitions, Street Parades-including vintage vehicles & hot-rods, Market Stalls & much much more. Indoors local vignerons displayed & offered their products for tasting, Henry Lawson's birthday cake was cut in a ceremony attended by town officialdom and locals & visitors alike kicked up their heels at the Bush Dance.

As evening descended on the Saturday, Gulgong's "Opera House" became the centre of attention for the annual Literary awards sponsored by Country Energy & The Land newspaper. Up for grabs those beautifully crafted "Henry" figurines & a substantial amounts of prizemoney. (See winners list attached).

Sunday saw the Hunter Bush Poets officiate a Poets Breakfast & "Just Henry" session where only the masters work was allowed to be recited and the night time concert, "Tales of the Swag" saw Des Kelly & friends present the song, verse & humour of the Australian bush as seen in Lawson's times.

The Festival was also visited by Melbourne school teacher and thespian James Howard who had taken on the persona of Henry Lawson for the weekend and performed in costume on many occasions. It truly took one back in time to see the new "Henry" slouched on a bench in the main street or leaning from the door of a public house enticing fellow poets to join him. Most did.

Organised by the Henry Lawson Society of NSW and run by Secretary Cheryl Peters (and her committee & volunteers) the event is indeed a drawcard for the best writers & performers in the country.

Graeme was indeed thrilled and honoured to win the Adult Literary Award (with his poem entitled "Poles & Wires"-see Lyrics page of this Website for complete poem) and share the stage with other poetic luminaries such as Arthur Green, David Campbell, Ellis Campbell, Ron Stevens, Allan Buggy and other competitors, Vivienne Ledlie, Joyce Alchin, Ian Ridgway & Irene Timpone.

To add to the "Rhymer's" delight, he also picked up a Highly Commended in the Leonard Teale Memorial Performance section with a poem by Peter Willey & Mathew Hobbs entitled "Rhymin Bill from Broken Hill" which is available on Graeme's first CD "Land Ho!"

 

Henry Lawson Heritage Festival 2007 Competition Results

Adult Written:

First: Graeme Johnson
Second: Arthur Green
Third: David Campbell
HC: Melanie Hall, Ellis Campbell, Jacqueline Winn

 

Country Energy Leonard Teale Memorial Performance Poetry:

First: Lisa Quast
Second: Terry Regan
Third: Ellis Campbell
HC: Graeme Johnson, Ron Stevens, Tony Price

Other Updated Competition Results for 2007**************************

Man from Snowy River Festival
Corryong Victoria April 07

 

Aussie Comedy Section

Second: Graeme Johnson

 

Australian Bush Poetry Championships March 07

 

Traditional Section

Third: Graeme Johnson

 

Tamworth Country Music Festival 07
Golden Damper Performance Comp

 

Established Section

Third: Graeme Johnson

 

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