Australian National Bush Poetry Championship Results
2007 at Dunedoo

We had an awesome event.  Thursday visitors started to arrive, a lot of them campers in motorhomes, caravans, tents etc.  During the middle of the day we had a spectacular storm.  We got a lot of rain in a short while, approx 40mls, including some hail and lots of wind.  A few campers lost their awnings.  By the evening “Meet & Greet” they had smiles firmly on their faces and enjoyed.  There would have been approx 100 at the Jubilee Hall where the function was held because the caravan park was too wet.

Friday bus trip was full, with 76 people on board the two buses.  It is not a touristy trip, visiting local points of interest. 

The Open Competition has a section performed and judged at the Golf Club from 9:00am.  We had so many poets we required this time to fit everyone in.  Reports from the audience is that it was beautiful Classical Poetry with verse from their childhood being recited.  The results from this section are listed below.

From 1:30 pm Friday the Competition shifted to the Central School for the Junior  Championship.  It was very well attended with 26 contestants.  There were 19 entries from Scone which had so many entered there was an earlier heat in Scone a week earlier.  It was great to see the young ones perform so well.  Bush Poetry will live on.  The results are:

JUNIOR POETRY COMPETITION

UNDER 7

1.                   Amelia Meler

2.                   Zoe Watts

3.                   Eleanor Tilse

7 – UNDER 12

1. Amelia Douglass - Australian champion junior
2. Nick Pritchard
3. Sophie Hinde

UNDER 16

1.                   Dylan Cartledge – Bingo, Bobby Miller

2.                   Bethany Brown – Law of the Land, Neil MacArthur

3.                   Helen Knight – The Wayward Cow, Wilbur G Howcroft

Friday night Yarns night was attended by more than 300 people.  It was very entertaining and the Australian Champion Yarnspinner was Frank Daniel.

Saturday Markets was occupied by 24 stalls of various types.  The surveys proved there were plenty of customers and they have indicated they want to come again next year.  The Devonshire teas and lunches provided by the Uniting & Presbyterian Ladies were a great hit as was the music by Des Kelly from Gulgong.

Saturday the Festival continued with the Novice Section at 8:00 am at the School Hall.  It was very well attended in spite of the early hour.  The results are:

NOVICE

1.                   Roger Knight – Old Time Rhyme – Veronica Weal

2.                   Megan Knight – Rugby League – Janine Haig

3.                   Don Kennaugh – Spirit of the Bush – Bruce Venables

The School Hall was the centre for the Poetry, it was well decorated, the outstanding decoration being wrought iron kangaroos, emus and other Australian fauna.  The Open Competition continued and was finalised by 10:30pm the results were:

 AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL BUSH POETRY CHAMPION 2007 (MALE)  -  TERRY REGAN

AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL BUSH POETRY CHAMPION 2007 (FEMALE) – CAROL HEUCHAN

CLASSICAL

Female

1.                   Carol Heuchan – The Amateur Rider, AB Paterson

2.                   Claire Reynolds – How the Fire Queen Crossed the Swamp, Will Ogilvie

3.                   Kathy Edwards – The Drover’s Sweetheart, Henry Lawson

Male

1.                   Terry Regan – Father Riley’s Horse, AB Paterson

2.                   Gregory North – The Poetical Linen Draper, Thomas E Spencer

3.                   Graeme Johnson – A Bush Bred Youngster, Thomas E Spencer

MODERN TRADITIONAL

Female

1.                   Carol Heuchan – Bronco Harry’s Last Ride, Jack Drake

2.                   Pamela Fox – A Waltz Without Matilda, Veronica Weal

3.                   Claire Reynolds – The Darkest Hour, Carmel Randle

Male

1.                   Terry Regan – Where the Eagle’s Shadow Falls, Veronica Weal

2.                   Gregory North – The Beauty of the World, Denis Kevans

3.                   Ken Jones – The Most Popular Bloke in the Bar, Neil MacArthur

ORIGINAL SERIOUS

Female

1.                   Carol Heuchan – The Last Pit Pony

2.                   Pamela Fox – The Ship to Australia is Leaving the Shore

3.                   The Special Rosebud

Male

1.                   Gregory North – Gundungurra Man

2.                   Terry Regan – Bullfrog Creek

3.                   William Lasham – The Vet

ORIGINAL HUMOROUS

Female

1.                   Carol Heuchan – Cruising

2.                   Pamela Fox – The All Female Circus

3.                   Claire Reynolds – Well Conditioned

Male

1.                   Gregory North – Fully Sick

2.                   Terry Regan – Roadside Signs

3.                   Peter Mace – Courting Mary

To wrap up the Festival there was Breakfast with the Poets on Sunday morning in the OL Milling/Lions Park from 8:00 am.  Here they ran the Poets Brawl.  This is a one minute grab of poetry with money collected for entry going back to the winner Heather Searles, with over rated.

The written Champion was Max Merkenschlager, this was judged prior to the commencement of the Festival and announced on Saturday night.

Other Written entry results are:

Winners Written Competition

Australian Bush Poetry  - National Championships – Dunedoo

The 2007 National Written Champion Poet  -

Max Merckenschlager – Caloote S.A.

Written Serious.

First Place . . . . .  .Along the Murranji - - Max Merckenschlager – Caloote SA

Second Place . . .  Snowy Mountain Magic - - Max Merckenschlager – Caloote SA

Written Humorous

Third Place . . . . .  A Cow of a Life - - Jean Lindley – Charters Towers Qld

Coordinator Sue Stoddart Ph. 02 63 751 975.  Fax. 02 63 751976  or
PO Box 1. DUNEDOO. NSW. 2844.

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