ABLA Winners Announced

[manfredvijars]

Australian Bush Laureate Awards 2015 winners

An emotional appearance by the six-year-old granddaughter of the late Judith Hosier, one of the much loved founders of the Bush Laureate Awards, was a feature of this year’s presentation in Tamworth, Tuesday evening, January 20.

Young Lily presented the Judith Hosier Award for outstanding services to Australian Bush Poetry to veteran poet Milton Taylor from Hartley NSW, who was unable to attend the Awards because of ill health. His award was accepted on his behalf by another Judith Hosier Award winner Trisha Anderson.

Winners at this year's Awards, which started in 1996, were:

• Album of The Year: Bargo Bargo by Manfred Vijars from Brisbane.

• Book of the Year: The Billy That Died With It's Boots On by Stephen Whiteside from Melbourne.

• Single Recorded Performance of the Year: The Auction by Dave Proust from the NSW Central Coast.

• Published Poem of the Year: The Ghost of Long Tan by Tom McIlveen from Port Macquarie, NSW

• Traditional Song Lyric of the Year: He's Droving Once Again by Golden Guitar winner Graham Rodger from Nambour, Queensland.

• Contemporary Song Lyric of the Year: The Lifesaver by rising country music star Amber Lawrence from Sydney.

• The Judith Hosier Award for outstanding achievement in nuturing Australia’s unique heritage of rhymed verse: Milton Taylor from Hartley NSW.

Now in his 80s, Milton is a renowned and highly awarded poet. However it is Milton’s gentlemanly ways and his willingness to help others that has earned him this accolade. He has encouraged and mentored generations of young poets and has unstintingly supported bush poetry events all around Australia for many decades.

Our photo shows (from left): Manfred Vijars, Pixie Jenkins, Trisha Anderson and Gregory North.

[Maureen K Clifford]

Great job everyone - Congratulations to you all

[Terry]

Congratulations Manfred, Stephen, Tom and all the other winners - well done mates

Terry

[william williams]

Bewty mate to all of you

bill the old battler

[Catherine Lee]

Thank you Manfred - and warmest congratulations to you all on these wonderful achievements!

[Ron]

Congratulations to all, well done!

Ron

[Heather]

Well done all and congratulations Manfred!

Heather

[Stephen Whiteside]

Thanks, and congratulations to all!