I grew up listening to my Dad reciting bush poetry - we had no TV in those days, and our evening entertainment was either listening to Slim Dusty, or listening to Dad recite. He had an amazing repertoire of poems that he recited, and had a great way of delivering them (though I didn't realise how good it was back then!!)
I wrote my first poem for anyone to read after taking part in a leg of the Outback Heritage Horse Ride in 2000. It had been such a welcome break at a less than great time in my life that I went home and wrote the poem, then forwarded it on to the team who were still riding. Co-incidentally, it arrived at a time when they had hit a bit of a down spot also, and gave a boost to their enthusiasm. I received some great feedback from it, but still didn't get interested in writing in a serious manner until April 2006 when I found and joined the Bushverse site, where I found heaps of support and encouragement from several established poets. At their encouragement, I entered my first written competition in January 2007, and was lucky enough to be awarded Commended certificates for both poems I entered. That gave me the confidence to keep going with my poetry, and I have since added a few other certificates to the initial two. I have enjoyed being part of the bush poetry community ever since.
While written poetry is what I was initially interested in, I have, in recent years, challenged myself to start reciting, and, though I still find myself out of my comfort zone standing up in front of a crowd, I am getting much more used to it now, having participated in quite a number of poetry events in the last couple of years. The old nerves still get the better of me though!!
Work and other committments have prevented me from writing much, or entering competitions in the the last 12 - 18mths, but I am hoping to participate more in the coming year, and look forward to getting the creative juices going again! I am expecting my first grandchild early next year, and this has started me thinking that I would love to have a go at some children's poetry. (Any advice welcome!!
)As a member of WA Bush Poets & Yarnspinners, and WA representative for ABPA - I am also keen to help raise the profile of bush poetry in Western Australia, and to increase the opportunity for both established and upcoming local poets to participate in both written and performance poetry. I currently organise both the Cervantes written competition, which is held in conjunction with their Arts Festival, and the Boyup Brook written competition - held in conjunction with their country music festival. We are looking at incorporating an open state performance competition at the next Boyup Brook festival to be held in February - which will be the first state open championships for several years. (A state novice competition was held over two monthly musters - in Nov 09 and Feb 10). I have also been asked to organise another written competition to be held in conjunction with the Jurien Bay Easter Festival in 2011.
I was been lucky enough to have met a number of members of the bush poetry community in Tamworth in 2009, and in Bundaberg in 2010, but have also found the forums on this site, and the bushverse site to be a wonderful way of 'meeting' other poets, and receiving some good constructive criticism. Long may these sites continue!!
Catchya
IRene
