Results of 2022 Cloncurry "Spirit of the Outback" Poetry Prize

[Shelley Hansen]

Greetings All

I've been engaged on other pursuits for the last several weeks - but here I am, back at last! Hope you are all well.

During March the results were announced of the second Cloncurry "Spirit of the Outback" Poetry Prize. You may remember David Campbell won the inaugural prize last year with The Heart and Soul of Australia - a magnificent poem which can be read on the main ABPA Poetry page.

This year Brenda Joy took out the winning place with Where Heroes Abide, and David Judge was placed second with The Spirit of the Outback. Warmest congratulations to both!

The Top 10 placements are as follows:

1st - Brenda Joy - Where Heroes Abide
2nd - David Judge - The Spirit of the Outback

3rd to 10th Place - these are in random order as I have not been advised of the individual rankings -

Helen Harvey - Where the Outback Spirit Lives
Chandra Clements - The Outback Warrior
Grace Vipen - Spirits of the Outback
David Elson - My Travelling Mate
Kelly Dixon - Me and Barefoot Tim
Sally Eberhardt - Dust to Dust
Kaylah Faulkner - Spirit of the Veins (Free Verse)
Emma Southwood - The Returning Disciple (Free Verse)

It is pleasing to see so many traditional rhyming verses featuring in this shortlist.

If you wish to read any of these entries, go to the Cloncurry Shire Council's Facebook page, select Photos, and scroll down. You will see each of them displayed on a decorated background. Here's the link to the photo tab: https://www.facebook.com/cloncurryshire.council/photos

Again, congratulations to all, but especially Brenda Joy, David, and also to Helen Harvey who is well-known to us.

Regards
Shelley

[HelenHarvey]

Hello Shelley. Thanks for the mention, but the big congratulations go to Brenda Joy and David. What wonderful achievements for them both with
such worthy poems. Helen

[Shelley Hansen]

David - Congratulations again on your excellent runner-up.

Helen - as you may be aware, the Cloncurry Shire Council posted the Top 10 poems on Facebook. I read your poem "Where the Outback Spirit Lives" and I thought it was superb!

Cheers
Shelley

[Terry]

Congratulations Brenda

Also David, Helen, and all the other placed poets.

Regards

Terry

[HelenHarvey]

Thank you for your comments Shelley and thanks for your well wishes Terry .. all the best. Helen

[Shelley Hansen]

If anyone would like to read Brenda Joy's winning poem Where Heroes Abide, it has now been posted on the Poetry Page of the main ABPA website. Here's the link:

https://www.abpa.org.au/Files/award-poe ... daJoy.html

Cheers
Shelley