Carmel Wooding (nee Dunn)

Carmel Wooding (nee Dunn) has been writing & reciting Australian Bush Poetry since she was 12 years old. Her love of Australiana stems from her rural upbringing and the influence of her parents and grandparents who exposed her to events such as the Tamworth Country Music Festival from a young age. Carmel began performing poetry at local community events such as senior citizen and local council functions. Carmel,s flare for the stage combined with a love of verse to ensure she poured her heart and soul into each performance.

In 1995, Carmel met her first bush poet friends at the Gympie Muster and was hooked. Since that time, she has performed at festivals throughout Queensland and New South Wales and has twice represented Australia at the American Cowboy Poetry Gathering in Elko, Nevada. Carmel has gone on to become a primary school teacher and shares her knowledge of our great Aussie art form with children — tomorrow's champions — whenever possible.

Today, Carmel's written work often reflects issues of importance in modern day Australia. Her passion for social justice means her poetry tries to touch the hearts of an audience, making them consider and question topics that affect the lives of those around us. Carmel also enjoys imaginative fiction, creating characters that tell their own stories.

Since her marriage in 2006 and the birth of son James in 2007 Carmel has not been as active on the poetry circuit as she would like. Despite this, her love of Australian Bush Poetry has not waned.

Carmel Wooding's poem Retiring

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