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Prizemoney increase at the Victorian Bush Poetry Championships by Graeme Johnson TN167 Dec 24 Organisers are thrilled to announce that in 2025, the Victorian Bush Poetry Championships will again be included within the “Man from Snowy River Festival’s” programme of events. The Championships have not been held on consecutive years for quite some time and believe me they return “Bigger, better and brighter” than ever before in April 2025. The 2025 Championships will be a “Landmark” event in the history of Australian Bush Poetry competitions with a record $8,000 on offer in total prizemoney, including trophies. As well as the $4,000 worth of prizemoney usually offered for the Written and Performance sections, this “Premier/Showcase” event will also offer, for the first time, three new Awards valued at $1,000 each. These will be for the “Overall Written Champion”, the “Overall Performance Champion” and the “Overall Grand Champion” with the best combined score over both the written and the performance sections. Under this system, it is quite possible that 1 single performer could win $4,000 of the total $8,000 prizemoney on offer. All the regular Performance Championship sections will be on offer in which competitors vie to show their skills over a range of subject matter including Classical, Modern, Original Serious and Original Comedy. Males & Females are judged separately in these sections. There will also be Yarnspinning & Novice competitions where males and females are judged together. In honour of the great A.B. ‘Banjo’ Paterson, Friday night’s competitions kick off with the ‘Man from the Snowy River Recitation’ section where three pre-selected poets grapple for the title of ‘Best Recitation’ of Banjo’s classic piece. There’ll also be ‘Walk-ups’ aplenty with three Poet’s Breakfasts hosted by those rascals “The Rhymer from Ryde” and his sidekick, Matthew Hollis. Never fear, there’ll be time to sit back and relax as well with Kevin McCarthy and Simon Dillon hosting the ‘Singalong Campfire Sessions’ late into the night on ‘Banjo’s Block’. Senior Judge and Assistant Poetry Events Manager, Graeme Johnson, will be joined by “Featured Poets” Gregory North, Geoffrey. W. Graham, The Rhymer from Ryde and Tim Sheed, who will also assist him on the various judging panels. Due to time restrictions imposed by the festival programme, a strict limit of 15 individual entries in each male and female division of each performance section will be imposed. It is the responsibility of each contestant to ensure that their entries are placed early to avoid disappointment. Entries close February 28. Entry forms and further information are available during October/Nov 2024 on the following websites: www.bushfestival.com.au and www. abpa.org.au/events.html |
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Festival to include Bush Poetry Championships by Graeme Johnson TN161 Feb 24 The Snowy Mountains alpine region of NSW is a wonderland of rivers, mountains, ski fields, caves and glacial lakes. At the base of the Kosciuszko National Park, at the upper reaches of the Murray, is nestled the beautiful little town of Corryong. Every April, Corryong comes alive to the sound of the stockman’s whip, the neighing of brumbies, the sounds of country music and the lilting rhythms of good old fashioned “Aussie” bush verse. For over a quarter of a century now, Australia’s best versifiers have gathered annually to ply their trade and entertain the crowds at this truly inspirational event. In 2024, those traditions continue with the holding of the Victorian Bush Poetry Championships. Come along and test your skills in the performance sections of the Victorian Bush Poetry Championships, in sections such as the Classical, Modern, Original Serious and Original Modern competitions and get creative with your written entries for the Serious and Comedy sections as well. This year’s entertainers are led by festival stalwart, Geoffrey.W.Graham, whose tribute shows to Banjo Paterson and the like fill the marquees each and every time he takes the stage. Not to be outdone, we will also showcase the many skills of “The Rhymer from Ryde”, winner of many prestigious awards such as the ‘Golden Damper’ as well as the Banjo Paterson, Leonard Teale and Bobby Miller Memorial Awards. He will share the stage and the judging table with John Peel, 2 time Golden Damper winner and former runner-up Australian Champion, and Australian Bush Poetry President, Tim Sheed, amongst other luminaries. Tall tales and general bulldust throwing will be the domain of Matthew Hollis, 2 time Australian Yarnspinning Champion, who will also Co-Mc the “Walk-up” Poet’s Breakfasts along with the “Rhymer”. Bush Music, campfire singalongs and all things ‘Australiana’ will be looked after by festival favourites, Kevin McCarthy and Simon Dillon. Bring your instrument and become part of this merry band of minstrels. The ‘Bonza Blokes Bush Band’ will play an assortment of classics ‘around the traps’. Christine Middleton also brings her consummate musicianship and beautiful playing to our musical crew as well. But of course, the most important part of the Bush Poetry festival is you, our wonderful and loyal audiences who bring your own vibrant personalities and skills to share with their “Aussie” mates. So, ‘Come One, Come All” to Corryong, we’re waiting to welcome you. The closing date for all entries in all section is February 29. Entry forms and further information is available on the following websites: www.bushfestival.com.au and www.abpa.org.au
The Man from Snowy River Bush Festival 2023 Published in Trad&Now 154 February 2023 The Autumn leaves are turning, Summer’s heat has faded and the citizens of Corryong wait with open arms to welcome back Australia’s Bush Poets to this year’s Festival. Assistant Poetry Events Manager, Graeme Johnson, has now completed hiring his list of “Featured Artists & Judges” who will ‘strut their stuff’ at ‘Banjo’s Block’, and it’s a mighty impressive cast of characters I must say. First and foremost, we have festival stalwart, Geoffrey.W.Graham, whose tribute shows to Banjo Paterson and the like fill the marquees each and every time he takes the stage. Not to be outdone we will also showcase the many skills of “The Man of Many Hats” Gregory North, former 3 x times Australian Bush Poetry Champion. He will share the stage and judging table with “The Rhymer from Ryde” and ABPA President Tim Sheed, amongst other luminaries. Tall tales and general bulldust throwing will be the domain of Matthew Hollis, 2 x times Australian Yarnspinning Champion, who will also Co-MC the Poet’s Breakfasts. Bush Music, campfire singalongs and all things ‘Australiana’ will be looked after by festival favourites Kevin McCarthy and Simon Dillon. Bring your instrument and become part of this merry band of minstrels. The ‘Bonza Blokes Bush Band’ will play an assortment of classics ‘around the traps’. Christine Middleton also brings her consummate musicianship and beautiful playing to our musical crew. But of course, the most important part of the Bush Poetry troupe is YOU! Our wonderful and loyal audiences and ‘Walk-up’ Poets who bring their own vibrant personalities and skills to share with their “Aussie” mates. Come One, Come All to Corryong! We’re waiting for you! Entry forms and further information is available on the following websites. www.bushfestival.com.au, www. abpa.org.au, www.vbpma.com.au
Bush Poetry at the Man from Snowy River Bush Festival Published in T&N 153 December 2022
Yes folks, we’re back, and we’d like you to return too! As you in the know may be aware, Jan Lewis, the previous Poetry Events Manager for the Bush Poetry component of the Man from Snowy River (MFSR) Festival 1997-2022, retired from her position at the end of the 2022 event. Jan had created one of the most substantial and well run Bush Poetry events in the country and should be highly lauded for her accomplishments over that time. Rumour then had it that this announcement heralded the end of Bush Verse at this festival in the future. Well folks, nothing could be further from the truth! Things move on and next year the mantle of Events Manager for the Bush Poetry section of the event will be taken up by Maureen Thomas. Her Assistant Poetry Events Manager will be none other than Graeme Johnson, who has been Jan’s assistant at the event over the last 10 years. Graeme brings a wealth of experience to the event having been Senior Judge at the event for the last 10 years. Jan’s considerable experience will not be completely lost however as she will continue working ‘behind the scenes.’ The 2023 event will once again be a drawcard for Poets from all over the country who flock to Corryong to breathe the mountain air, marvel at the scenery and enjoy the camaraderie of their poetic cohorts. The signature competitions will once again be held. Those being the Man from Snowy River Recitation, The Jack Riley Heritage Award and The Carol Reffold Memorial One Minute Cup. There will also be a veritable smorgasboard of ‘walk-up’ events, involving both ‘Featured Poets’ and various walk-up characters. These include 3 Poet’s Breakfasts, hosted by The Rhymer from Ryde and Matthew Hollis, and a series of concerts where the poets of all ages and abilities will be able to exhibit their skills in reciting Traditional, Modern & Original Bush Verse as well as spinning a few Yarns along the way. As per usual, the ‘Anzac Remembrance’ tribute concert will also be held whilst at night, musos and poets alike will ‘singalong’ by the campfire burning ‘till all hours at ‘Banjo’s Block’. Entry forms and further information is available on the following websites: www. abpa.org.au www.vbpma.com.au
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