RESULTS from the inaugural “Linville Bush Poets Bash” Held 8th & 9th July 2023
List of place getters.
PREVIOUSLY PUBLISHED
1 Suzanne Honour
2 Jan Facey
3 Debby Berryman
ORIGINAL POEM
1 Jim Cosgrove
2 Ken Reimers
3 Andrew Pulsford
ENCOURAGEMENT AWARDS
Previously Published – Sam Greer
Original – Janet Munro
Linville Bush Poetry Bash Video clip
Linville Report
The inaugural “Linville Bush Poets Bash” was a runaway success and the Toowoomba bush poets
deserve a huge congratulations on a job well done. The North Pine bush poets attended in force and
several members donated significantly to the recipient charity “Are you bogged mate” This is a Rural
men’s support charity which Toowoomba bush poet Mary O Brien started some years ago. Peter
Frazer was a rural stock inspector and immediately saw the value of helping rural people as he had
been to too many funerals of men who just gave in the saddest of conditions. Peter runs the
Toowoomba group. Mary is a tireless worker in this area and she writes fantastic poetry based on
real life experience.
The weekend at Linville was full of fun and great poetry. Many said it was like the days of old, lots of
laughs and mateship. Quite a few Logan poets attended and Spin Hampson deserves a huge “thank
you” for his raffle ticket selling efforts. Paddy O Brien stood in for Mal Beveridge who was a last-
minute scratching due to his contracting Shingles, that wasn’t meant as a pun.
There were poets who traveled from Bundaberg, Central Coast NSW, Northern Rivers, Moreton and
the Logan area as well. The crowds loved the top-quality performances and stayed to listen as poet
after poet performed their very best poems.
Mick Martin is a North Pine Bush Poet and is involved with Are You Bogged mate as a fund-raiser and
as the facilitator of the activity “Are you bogged mate Breaks” Taking rural men to a resort and
surrounding them with support and giving them the tools to cope when the return after having a
break is the aim. Mick assisted Pete Frazer in the background work for the weekend.
It looks like the event will be repeated annually and we have heard requests for a slightly warmer
time in the year. Waking up to an icy swag is not the best so we are considering a better alternative.
The sponsors were “The Linville Hotel”, “Montrose on Moore” and several anonymous donors in the
background.
The Four Fence Posts of ‘Are you bogged mate?’
- Engaging directly with rural men – letting country blokes know
that they matter by speaking their language and meeting them in
their comfort zone. - Changing the landscape – breaking down the stigma around
mental health and bringing this crucial topic into the spotlight. We
do this through spreading awareness, as well as straight-talking
speaking engagements and education events that challenge,
enlighten and empower. - Bridging the gap – connecting rural men to the resources
available, supporting and directing them to the right places while
bringing the conversation to rural communities. - Being a voice for rural men – speaking up for those who often
won’t, we want to light the path to understanding and be a strong
advocate for all.
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The Primary Poetry Performance Competition.
A delightful morning spent at St. Williams Grovely Primary school, judging the grades Three and Four as well as the Fives and Six’s.
The Primary Bush Poetry Competition was a combined schools effort with five schools in attendance: St. Williams Grovely, Queen of Apostles Stafford, ST Catherines Wishart, Southern Cross Scarborough and Good Shepherd Springfield. The standard from the Third and Fourth grade students was enthusiastic and animated, whereas the Fifth and Sixth graders was more settled and polished. It was an all-round engaging performance from all the competitors.
The top three performers in both grade categories received a cash prize each, and the opportunity to perform at the upcoming July “Verse for Vinnies” concert. And yes, the performers will also each will receive a fee for their performance.
The Verse For Vinnies concerts, organised by Noel and Ann Stallard, have raised over $145,000 for the St. Vincent de Paul Conference.
Well done to both Noel and Ann for their ongoing work in both events; fostering the growth of Bush Poetry and supporting the local community through Verse for Vinnies.
“A Tribute to the ANZACS”
Sunday 16th April, 9am to 11:30am
New PA System/
The Club has purchased a new Bose twin speaker PA system along with a new Sennheiser Mic and speaker covers. The PA system was funded substantially by a grant from the Morton Bay Regional Council of $2,000. The club contribution was $301.
The new equipment has contemporary functionality, is much lighter to carry and easier
to set up. The new equipment will be used for our club meetings, public concerts, and community poetry recitals.
EKKA Results 2022
A report on the Ekka from Mal Beveridge and Mick Martin.
Well, the Ekka is done and dusted for Bush Poetry for another year. After the Covid hiatus it seemed so odd to be back with any sort of a competition and daily shows but it was all a resounding success. Many thanks to all of the Ekka’s hard working officials and stewards, Kathleen, Anna, James, Liam, Dan, John, Neil, Trisha and President David Thomas and others who contributed to the success of Bush Poetry at the Ekka. A special thanks to David Thomas who presented the sashes for the Caravanning section and who spoke highly of bush poetry at his official reception attended by many well-known dignitaries.
Our genre certainly had its profile raised substantially!
A record number of entries (nearly 80 after withdrawals) across all divisions saw Judges Mick Martin, Carol Heuchan, Gary Fogarty and Mal Beveridge (virtual comp) put to the test in a very competitive and high standard event across the board. The results were very close! The venue for the competition at The Stockman’s Rest was just about perfect and the weather brilliant!
The truly magnificent sponsorships from Caravanning Queensland, The Pronk family (noted philanthropists), Gympie Road Caravans and The Stockman’s Hall of fame ensured a well-supported and very pleasurable event.
Many thanks to Carol Heuchan who performed at the Woodchop arena daily in a difficult environment and to the MC for the comp, Mister Ron Liekefett.
For the official results please go to https://www.ekka.com.au/competitions/results/2022-results/
Pine Rivers View Club performance
Mick Martin, Mal Beveridge and Mike Gilmour performed at the Pine Rivers View Club birthday meeting on Thursday 16 March 2022. Certificate of Appreciation to NPBP below.
Life member
At the October 2021 AGM, Dot Schwenke was awarded Life Membership of North Pine Bush poets.
Committee changes at the 17 October 2021 AGM
Your new committee is President Mick Martin, Vice-President Mal Beveridge, Secretary Howard Kennedy, Treasurer Mike Gilmour, Committee members – Dot Schwenke, Kay Gorring and Suzanne Honour. A big thankyou to Doc Bland our retiring President and retiring Past President Ian McDonald for their service to the club.
Queensland Performance Championships 2021
The Queensland State Performance Championships were held on 11 September 2021 in conjunction with the Logan Performance Poets Muddy River competition. Overall Queensland State winners were male – Andrew Pulsford and female – Gerry King. Classical winner – Gerry King; Modern winner – Bob Kettle; Original winner – Bob Kettle. From North Pine Mike Gilmour was winner of the Novice Section and fourth in the Classical Section; Andrew Ryan was second in the Novice Section; Dave Melville was Fourth in the Original Section.
Golden Wattle Bush Poetry Competition and State Championship
The awards were announced by Zoom on 4th July. Congratulations to Peter O’Shaughnessy, Qld State Champion, for his poem ‘Kadaitcha’.
The full list of winners can be found here
Walking in Banjo’s Boots
By Catherine Lawrence | May 12, 2021 | 0
Congratulations to Moreton Bay Council for embracing the Anywhere Festival concept. Placing the North Pine Bush Poets’ Banjo’s Boots celebration of the spoken word in Burpengary Library was an enjoyable demonstration that libraries are ‘no longer shush places.’
Bush poetry is a much-loved genre of Australian writing, best enjoyed at a gathering where poets and entertainers recite (and occasionally sing) works old and new. Banjo Paterson is among the most popular and well known of the bush poets—with works including ‘The Man from Snowy River’ and the words of ‘Waltzing Matilda.’ So it is not surprising that those who celebrate Banjo Patterson’s work, and who seek to emulate his literary style, have created a show that walks in Banjo’s Boots.
New Life Memberships awarded!
Established in 1996, the North Pine Bush Poets are lovers of the spoken (and occasionally sung) word. It was great to see that the Anywhere Festivaltraditions were honoured in the 2021 festival placing of Banjo’s Boots in two Moreton Bay libraries. As repositories of memory and story, libraries provide a great community space. Welcoming the audience at the Burpengary Library 12th May premiere performance, Sarah Dashwood (Branch Leader) confessed to being a fan of ‘not shush’ libraries, so we knew we were in the right place.
The five performers presented a program of new and classic works of solos and duets (as well as an opening collective recitation of Clancy of the Overflow). Mick Martin was a professional compere of the program, demonstrating a range of ‘dad jokes,’ skilful harmonica playing, and an ability to slip easily into a performance of a number of pieces (I particularly enjoyed The Day I Shot the Telly and Gates on the Track). Dot Schwenke was compelling in performing two pieces, holding the full attention of the audience in both the first and second halves of the show (A Few Kind Wordswas delivered with excellent comic timing). Doc Bland brought musical flair into the program, where Moreton Bay was an apt highlight.
Newer members of the team, Keith Osborne and Mike Gilmour, demonstrated that they were a match for the more established performers. Osborne’s The Nar Nar Goon Pub was a poem in the best traditions of bush poetry (building up to a great punch line), and the audience greatly enjoyed the opportunity to play the role of chorus in his Different Day. Gilmour was a true entertainer, dressing the part for his performance of Banjo Patterson’s Mulga Bill’s Bicycle, while we all grimaced with him at the end of Lipstick Capers.
Banjo’s Boots is a very pleasant way to spend 90 minutes. I really must pay more attention to the programming of events at my local library. And if you are ever wanting to try out Bush Poetry, look up the North Pine Bush Poets, as they have an active program of events across the year.
Verdict: A free and enjoyable 90 minute show.
The reviewer attended the Wednesday 12th May 2021 premiere performance at Burpengary Library.
Long-time members (and top bush poets), Noel Stallard (OAM) and John Best (Long John), were awarded life membership of North Pine Bush Poets at the 2020 AGM in December. The awards recognise the invaluable contribution both poets have made to the club and to Australian bush poetry in general over many years. Congratulations, Noel and John, and thank you!
Committee changes
The 2020 AGM held in December saw the election of a new committee member, Kay Gorring, who replaces John (the Joker) Pampling. A warm welcome to Kay, and many thanks to John for your contribution to the committee over the last few years.
Ian McDonald decided 3 years of being president was enough but is still a committee member. Doc Bland was elected President, while Mick Martin was elected Vice-President, and Mal Beveridge and Mike Gilmour continue in their roles as Secretary and Treasurer respectively.
Congratulations to our North Pine poets at the Logan 2020 championships!
The Logan competition was held over the weekend of 11-13 September. The Friday evening was full of songs and poetry. A special guest was young Amy Ryan who won the “Welcome back to Tamworth’ song writing award 2020 .
The One Minute poem was won by Andrew Ryan.
Saturday competition results:
Overall Grand Champion and winner of the Logan’s Legacy award: Andrew Pulsford. Andrew won the Modern and placed second in the Classical and the Original.
The Logan’s Legend award Highest points in the Logan group went to Janine Keating who won the Classical and placed second in the Modern. Janine also received the Perpetual Trophy given every year to the top Logan Legend.
Bob Kettle won the Original and placed third in the Modern.
Paddy OBrien placed third in the Modern and Original
Mike Gilmour from North Pine got a third in the Novice and the Classical.
Don Macqueen won the Logan’s Luck. (This award goes to the highest point scorer in the Logan group who has not won an Open.
The Novice was won by Ruth Savage
Favourite ‘Logan Lag’ was won by Paddy O’Brien.
Written was won by Brenda Joy.
Great work by relative newcomers, Mike and Andrew, as well as vintage poet, Paddy, and of course young Amy Ryan who we all hope to hear much from at future gigs.
