 Terry was born at Cowra NSW in 1936. By the time he was four years old the family had moved and settled in a little old house overlooking South Curl Curl Beach. Terry often reflects on his simple, happy childhood in the bushland paradise that was Sydney's Northern Beaches at that time. If not running barefoot through the bush they were down at the beach - when it was time to come home for lunch his mother would hang a towel out the window.
At the age of fifteen Terry commenced a five year apprenticeship as a Carpenter and Joiner with the Postmaster General's Department (PMG). While employed by the PMG for forty years Terry was promoted to the position of Chief Technical Officer in the Buildings
and Properties Branch.
In 1962 Terry and Dulcie married at Dorrigo, NSW, where Dulcie was raised on her father's dairy farm. They then moved to Blaxland, in the Lower Blue Mountains where they raised two lovely daughters, Lynda and Jenni.
On the poetry side, Terry's father was a very expressive poet who performed his work for family and friends. It was not until twelve months after his father's death, in 1972, that Terry wrote his first poem. He still believes that he somehow got in touch with 'the old man' that day. He wrote a number of poems until 1975 when he took up pottery as a hobby. He built a gas-fired kiln and for the next twenty years produced wheel-thrown pottery - No more poetry!
Terry retired in 1992. Dulcie followed eighteen months later and they began what they refer to as, 'the best part of their life'. Over the last fifteen years they have travelled all over Australia in their small motorhome - mostly by doing a three month trip each year. It was during one of those trips, in 1995, that they met Milton Taylor at a caravan park in Longreach. As Terry watched Milton performing by the campfire he could feel his interest in poetry beginning to stir. During a talk with Milton he was given the following advice; 'Why don't you join the Australian Bush Poets Association, get your finger out and start writing again?' About six months later Milton shoved Terry up in front of a small poetry group at Summer Hill. Shaking like a leaf he performed the shortest poem he had written - not exactly a pleasant experience, but the dye was cast.
Like many other poets, Terry acknowledges that he owes a lot to Milton who became a friend and mentor. When Milton spoke, Terry listened and this, together with a lot of hard work, has borne fruit. He also considers himself most fortunate to have Ellis Campbell as a friend who he can turn to for advice on writing.
Terry's first competition was in Cloncurry, in 1996, whilst on a trip up to 'The Gulf.' This was followed by winning a competition at Charleville on the way back home. In 1998, Milton recommended Terry to Frank Daniel, who was running the Bush Poets Breakfasts at the Longyard Hotel, and that was the beginning of many happy years performing as one of Frank's team of poets. Terry says it was always a pleasure to work with Frank at the Longyard. It was well run, had an excellent sound system and a wonderful audience.
Over the years Terry has won and been placed in numerous Bush Poetry Performance Competitions. These include, Qld and NSW Male Champion and National Male Champion. He says the competitions are so strongly contested that, no matter how well you perform, there is always an element of luck. He was particularly pleased when his CD, 'Through the Horse's Eyes and Other Poems', was a finalist in the 2008 Australian Bush Laureate Awards.
Terry and Dulcie enjoy being part of the Bush Poetry Family - a strongly competitive, yet very friendly mob. He also tries to give helpful tips to other poets, in the same way that he was helped.
Terry's favourite saying is; 'If I wake-up it's a Good Day! And, if I don't wake-up it's a good way to go, so I am still a winner'.
Terry Regan's poem Seven Miles from Sydney
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