Bronze Swagman Awards, Australia's premiere National Competition for Written Bush Poetry from 1972 to 2008.
The Gateway to Contemporary & Classical (Modern & Traditional) Bush Poetry

Carrying on the traditions of AB (Banjo) Paterson, Henry Lawson, Thomas E Spencer, CJ Dennis,
PJ Hartigan (John O'Brien), Adam Lindsay Gordon, Dorothea Mackellar, Harry Breaker Morant,
Henry Kendall, Barcroft Henry Boake, Will Ogilvie, Francis Kenna and George Essex Evans.

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Bronze Swagman Written Bush Poetry Awards 1972 - 2008

The Bronze Swagman Award
A Brief History

The Winton Tourist Promotion Association was formed in October 1967, and because of the connection to Banjo Paterson and Waltzing Matilda, it was a natural concept to look at ways to encourage the writing of Bush Verse, which is so much a part of our Australian heritage.

Bruce Simpson, a recognised Bush Poet and living in Winton at the time, was part of the team instrumental in organising the Tourist Promotion Association's first publication of Bush Verse in 1970, a book called Matilda Matilda, featuring a swagful of poetry from local talent. After the success of this publication, it was decided to introduce a national and worldwide competition for written verse, with the prize to be a Silver Swaggie. Daphne Mayo, a famous Australian sculptor who had completed the famous fibre cast swagman for the Winton Shire in 1959, was approached to create a swagman statuette to be used as a trophy. In 1971, Daphne was given permission to proceed with the swagman, but because of the high cost of silver, the swagman was cast in bronze instead, and a tradition was born.

The Competition has now run continuously since 1972. Now, 37 years on, and over 11,000 original verses written, the Bronze Swagman Award is the most prestigious in this field and attracts hundreds of entries each year.

Winners of the Bronze Swagman Awards - written bush poetry competition

Bronze Swagman Awards National Australian Written Bush Poetry Competition
Year	Author	From	Poem
2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000	V. P. Read Glenny Palmer Graham Fredriksen Veronica Weal Slim Jones Janine Haig Graham Fredriksen Veronica Weal Bob Magor	Bicton WA Kooralbyn Qld Kilcoy Qld Herberton Qld Mackay Qld Eulo Qld Kilcoy Qld Mt. Isa Qld Myponga SA	Brolga Dreaming Waltz... in the Courtroom Ballad of Creamy Eclipse The Chance to Say Goodbye The Scobie Whip Not Gone Repossession Midnight Horses Broome Dreaming
1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990	Carmel Randle Graham Fredriksen Bob Magor Carmel Randle Emmett O'Keefe Sherry Clarke Shirley Pearse Betty Olle Ron Stevens Marilyn Campbell	Preston Qld Kilcoy Qld Myponga SA Preston Qld Killara NSW Forrestfield WA Kingston Tas Kyabram Vic Hornsby NSW Glenorie NSW	Motherhood Battle of St. Quentin Canal The Cooper Coming Down The Darkest Hour Banjo Days Gwyder Ball Our Shearing Mate Something to Share with Jim Cutting Out 1891 to 1991 Lester's Tale
1989 1988 1987 1986 1985 1984 1983 1982 1981 1980	Jack Harris Jenny Hall Veronica Weal John Concannon Betty Owens Alf Wood Joy Collis Pam Harris John Russell Mrs. Dawn Crabb	Long Jetty NSW Armidale NSW Mt. Isa Qld Wavell Heights Qld Gulgong NSW Buderim Qld Yeoval NSW Sydney NSW Roma Qld Scarborough WA	When They Take the Cattle Down The Lady of the Local Murphy's Jersey Bull To any Western Poet who Doubts there are Heroes Today to Match the Greats of Yesteryear In Memory of Micky Adjudicator Green Ginger Nip Floraholica The Year's First Branding Round The Condamine Bell
1979 1978 1977 1976 1975 1974 1973 1972	Bill Glasson Frank McMahon John Griffin W.M. Waugh Bruce Forbes-Simpson Richard R. Davidson Jock Currie Bruce Forbes-Simpson	Camp Hill Qld Ainslie ACT Toorak Gardens SA Brisbane Qld Cloncurry Qld Winton Qld Highett Vic Winton Qld	New Farm Hawthorn Pepper The Squatter's Wife The Rodeo at Bungadoo Vale Rusty Reagon Last Camp When Mulga Joe Went Dry Gold Star

Judges of the Bronze Swagman Awards - written bush poetry competition

Year	Adjudicators	From
2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000	Janine Haig Kelly Dixon - Poet, Author and Songwriter Jeff Close Carmel Randle Colin Munro - Regional Manager, ABC Radio Tim Butler Veronica Weal Helen Avery Jeff Close	Chinchilla Qld Gatton Qld Hampton Qld Preston Qld Sydney NSW Riverton SA Mount Isa Qld Longreach Qld Hampton Qld
1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990	Bill Gleeson, Arts Presenter, ABC Radio Hon. Roger Steele Jeff Close Tim Butler, Regional Manager, ABC Radio Colin Munro, ABC Regional Radio Bruce Dawe Ross Smith, Lecturer in English, JCU Ted Egan Richard Magoffin, Poet Wally Woods, Lecturer in Literary Studies, CQU	Tamworth NSW Darwin NT Hampton Qld Longreach Qld Sydney NSW Toowoomba Qld Townsville Qld Alice Springs NT Charters Towers Qld Rockhampton Qld
1989 1988 1987 1986 1985 1984 1983 1982 1981 1980	Colin Munro, A.B.C. Radio Wally Woods, Literary Studies, CIAE Ross Smith, Lecturer in English, JCU Leon Cantrell, School of the Arts, DDIAE Eddie Hackman Ted Barraclough, Literary Studies, CIAE Ross Smith, Lecturer in English, JCU Martin Duwell, English Department, University of Qld Bill Townley, North Brisbane College of Advanced Education Gordon Hale, President Fellowship of Writers	Sydney NSW Rockhampton Qld Townsville Qld Toowoomba Qld Rockhampton Qld Townsville Qld Brisbane Qld Brisbane Qld Queensland
1979 1978 1977 1976 1975 1974 1973 1972	Vivienne Muller, Merv Welch, Dept. Lit, Kelvin Grove CAE Ross Smith, Lecturer in English, JCU Phillip Neilsen, English Department, University of Qld Leon Cantrell, English Department, University of Qld Ross Smith, Lecturer in English, JCU Bruce Dawe, Institute of Advanced Education John Manifold F Rogers, Sunday Mail and W Scott, Jacaranda Press	Brisbane Qld Townsville Qld Brisbane Qld Brisbane Qld Townsville Qld Toowoomba Qld Wynnum Qld Brisbane Qld

2009 Bronze Swagman Awards

Contemporary Bush Poets
Bobby Miller Bruce Simpson Carmel Wooding Carol Heuchan Charlee Marshall Claude Morris Ellis Campbell Gary Fogarty Glenny Palmer Graham Fredriksen Gregory North Guy McLean Helen Avery Janine Haig	Keith Lethbridge Kerry Lee Mark Kleinschmidt Max Merckenschlager Maxine Ireland Melanie Hall Milton Taylor Neil Hulm Noel Stallard Ron Liekefett Ron Stevens Terry Regan Veronica Weal Zita Horton
Contemporary Poems

Contemporary Bush Poems
A Grave Situation A Round Tooit Chasing Your Dreams Daybreak Over The Bay Dingo Down Memory Lane Good Looker I Said Infidelity Mary Not Gone Retiring Riding with My Children Rocky Creek	Seven Miles from Sydney Small White Crosses The Bachelor The Child & the Horse The English Rose The Horses Slave The Hut The Last Pit Pony The Old Wongoondy Hall The Outback Cattle Drive The Pontiff's Eyes Valour Rode The Range Westerly You'll Win If You Can Grin