ABPA - Australian Bush Poets Association

HI.TO EVERYBODY..JUST GOT BACK FROM GULGONG'S HENRY LAWSON FESTIVAL...WHAT A WEEKEND THAT WAS !!! MANAGED TO PICK UP 4 AWARDS IN THE EMERGING POETS WRITTEN COMPETITION WITH 4 OF MY POEMS....RECEIVING A THIRD PLACE OVERALL IN EMERGING POET'S SECTION..I WAS VERY HONOURED AND PROUD TO BE IN SUCH ILLUSTRIOUS COMPANY AS ELLIS CAMPBELL,(HE IS A LEGEND).. JENNY MARKWELL (HOW GOOD IS THIS LADY...???) KEN TOUGH...GEOFF SHARP..TERRY REGAN...KEN POTTER..ROBERT MARKWELL..DES KELLY.THE RHYMER FROM RYDE.GRAEME JOHNSON..AND ROD WILLIAMS AND CATHERINE STEWART..ALL PERFORMING IN PERFORMANCE SECTION ..SATURDAY NIGHT..THE STANDARD WAS EXTREMELY HIGH..WORLD CLASS !!!!
WHAT A SHOW,,WE WERE ENTERTAINED TO THE MAX..WHILST BEING WAITED ON HAND AND FOOT WITH ENTREES..GREAT TUCKER AND EVEN DESERT..AND SOME OF THE BEST HOME MADE SOUP I HAVE EVER TASTED !!!
I CALLED INTO THE BREAKFAST MORNING TEA GATHERING OF POETS AT THE 'OPERA HOUSE' LOCAL THEATRE..WHICH HAS BEEN PRESEVED AS IT WAS FROM THE GOLD RUSH DAYS..ABSOLUTELY AWESOME !!.THE WHOLE TOWN IS HERITAGE LISTED AND PRESERVED JUST AS IT WAS WHEN HENRY LAWSON GREW UP IN THE NEARBY SMALL VILLAGE OF EURUNDEREE..ANYWAY..ELLIS CAMPBELL ASKED ME TO DO A PERFORMANCE...WHICH I WASN'T PREPARED FOR..ONLY HAVING COME ALONG TO WATCH..HE ENCOURAGED ME TO GET UP AND HAVE A GO..AND I DID 'SWEENEY' BY HENRY.AND ONE OF MY OWN....WHICH I MANAGED TO DELIVER (WITHOUT TOO MANY UMS AND ARRS AND WITHOUT AN ATTACK OF THE DREADED MEMORY LOSS).. TO A MUCH APPRECIATIVE AUDIENCE..I WAS THEN PRIVILEGED TO GET SOME GEMS OF WISDOM FROM THE MANY LEGENDS THAT WERE THERE; ON HOW TO IMPROVE MY DELIVERY..THIS CAPPED OFF A FANTASTIC WEEKEND..I'D TAKE TAKEN THREE GUESTS WITH ME FOR THE AND WAS WORRIED THEY WOULD BE BORED...BUT THEY LOVED EVERY MINUTE OF IT ..
DON'T MISS IT NEXT YEAR ..IT IS A GREAT WEEKEND !!! I'LL BE BACK !!!! AS ARNOLD ONCE SAID..

TOM MCILVEEN

Sounds like you had a great time Tom. Congratulations on your awards - well done you!

Heather

Well done Tom,
I have just had morning tea with Ken Potter and had his account of the event. It seems this is one of the top events as far as presentations are concerned. I might have to pencil it in for next year. I would go as an observer. My performing skills are not quite up to their standard yet.( I'm working on them).

You sound like you are ready though. It is all a matter of dedication and determination and you give me the impression you have achieved both.

It certainly was a brilliant weekend with some amazing poets at their absolute best. Rod Williams, Terry Regan and Ellis Campbell are fabulous!!
Congratulations to Tom on his awards.
If you haven't been to Gulgong for the Henry Lawson Festival on the June long weekend you are missing out on something special!

Now there is the problem.

I am already committed to the Snowy Montains o Music festival that is on the same weekend.
Two places at once, mm I will have to think about that one.

Gonna like to see that one a split performance or a clone. scarey stuff.

Bob

CONGRATULATIONS Grasshopper. I'm so delighted for you. (Told ya so, eh?)

signed
The Old School Marm