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.

 


2011 BREAKING NEWS: HOT OFF THE PRESS!

Rhymer shows his form at the "Ekka" 

Royal Brisbane Show Bush Poetry Competition Aug 2011

 

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

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

Highlight of the Bush Poetry calendar at the Show is the annual Bush Poetry Competition sponsored by the RNA Show Society held on the 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

 

MORE 2011  NEWS

Rhymer from Ryde WINS Original Section of Golden Damper
Bush Poetry Performance Competition at Tamworth Country Music Festival 2011
 

Country Energy Tamworth Poetry Competition Report 2011

 

Two of the Country’s most eagerly sought after awards went up for grabs in January at West’s “Blazes” Auditorium during the Tamworth Country Music Festival 2011. After 3 days of torrid Heats the 10 Finalists in both the Original & Established competition sections ‘faced off’ to a sellout crowd at West’s Leagues Club on the last Saturday of the event. 

 Despite the floods the competition saw entries from all over the nation. The level of competition was second to none as Males & Females went ‘head to head’ performing an interesting mix of original comedy and serious work as well as a stunning array of Traditional Bush Verse and Established Contemporary pieces. 

The crowd was treated to displays of showmanship, pathos and varied subject matter (where do they get their imaginations from) in a bright and bubbly showcase of all that is good with regards to “Aussie Bush Verse”. 

David Proust Mc’d the event and kept it flowing at a ‘cracking pace’ and filled the gaps with jocular stories as only “Prousty” can. 

Hats off to Jan Morris and the rest of the Tamworth Poetry Reading Group for all their efforts in running and co-ordinating such a fine event.


Country Energy Tamworth Poetry Competition Results 2011
   
Original Poetry

First: Graeme Johnson
Second: Jim Riches
Third: John Best
Established Poetry

First: Noel Bull
Second: Brenda Joy
Third: Peter Mace

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

 

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

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)

___________________________________________________________

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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