2007 Queensland Open Championships
Photos courtesy of the Beaudesert Times
With sponsorship from local firm AJ Bush & Sons and under the umbrella of the Beaudesert Country & Horse Festival, the Queensland Open Championships were staged at Woodhill, via Beaudesert on 9th, 10th and 11th June. The little country hall was a perfect venue for a week-end of poetry, fellowship and fun.
From early Friday the poets and supporters started arriving to set up camp for the week-end. The Beaudesert Air Cadets saw that everyone was well fed and also gave extra support when more hands were needed.
The competition judges Noel Stallard, Ray Essery, Glenny Palmer and Carol Heuchan stated that the poetry was of a high standard. They staged a Bonza Bush Bash (concert) on the Saturday night which saw a sell-out crowd attending - mind you, the hall is small and can only hold 120 people. Soup and damper was served for supper.
Over the week-end country music artists - Fay Janson and Paul Ensbey (of Bullamakanka fame) helped with the entertainment and compering. Aitch and Jane McAllister also generously shared their great music and poetry. There was never a dull moment.
Mark "Bushie" Thompson who had hitch-hiked from Mackay took out the Male Performance Championship and Claire Reynolds of Gloucester was announced the 2007Qld. Open Ladies Champion. Carol Heuchan won the Written competition with John Roberts of Cunnamulla second and Joyce Alchin third. Claire Reynolds won the patrons award and the "Horsepower" themed poem went to Carol Heuchan.
Sectional performance winners included Jan Facey, Sue Carcary and Carmel Wooding in the Female competition and Mark "Bushie" Thompson, Jim Tonkin and Bernie Keleher in the mens competition. It was great to see Life Member Ron Selby return to the competition stage after a considerable break and take home three silver medals. Full results are published elsewhere in the newsletter.
The Sunday Poets Brekkie was well attended as was the campfire on Sunday night. The ladies of the Beaudesert Bush Bards had cooked up stew to warm the patrons at the campfire and it went down well with damper. Tasty slices followed. Lee Miller was the popular winner of the 1 Minute poetry event at the campfire after a "recite off".
The performance competition was concluded by 10.30am Monday and was followed by the announcement of the Written awards. John Roberts had travelled from Cunnamulla, via Gulgong, to receive his prize. Both Carol and John performed their winning poems. Glenny read Joyce's beautiful poem "The Shadow of the Pine".
John and Sandy Lees spent a busy week-end keeping the scores and quickly had the results ready for the announcement of the performance results. Young performer Shannon Iedema won both of the novice sections and is headed for a bright future in Bush Poetry.
Those travelling home were able to get an early start on their return journey after a fun filled and entertaining time at Beaudesert's Queensland Open Bush Poetry Championships.
All in all it was a beaut week-end. As usual, the fellowship shared by the followers of bush verse was to the fore and those attending for the first time are sure to put future bush poetry events on their "must do" lists. My thanks goes to everyone who helped make the event the success that it was.
Pamela Fox of the Beaudesert Bush Bards |
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