ABPA - Australian Bush Poets Association

Are there any of our site contributors coming to the Timber Festival this Saturday?

Greg North is appearing and the winners of the written poetry comp will be announced.I believe it starts around 10am and there will be stuff on all day. It is on at the Dunn Lewis foundation and is basically a fund raiser.

What are they raising funds for, Zondrae?

Gotta be there if you win no thanks ?


Bob

Stephen,

The fund raiser was for the Dunn-Lewis foundation. The two young men Dunn and Lewis were victims of the Bali bombing and the community have got together to build a recreation centre for the local youth as a memorial. The Southern Shoalhaven Timber Industry have got behind this, as well as most of the community and have build a centre which contains a 10 lane bowling alley. I think a skate board bowl round the back, plus conference space and kitchen facilities. there is still a lot of space where foundations are already in place for more areas under cover. (? buildings) I don't know what the final plans are, whether it will become a PCYC club or a local youth club run by volunteers, but I know the main aim is to keep the kids off the streets and give them something to do.

Even though the perfect weather kept the crowds outside, near the food, auctions, and other activities, stalls etc we had a few dedicated listeners and with poets reciting mainly for poets, we had fun. John Davis was in charge and put me on first. Don't you love being first? mm anyway we had the cream of the crop of the current poets, with Greg North and Robyn Sykes presenting. John Davis had Allan Stone of Kangaroo Valley, lined up to recite 'Clancy Of The Overflow' and followed with John's own poem 'Clancy's Reply'. Greg also had Allan and John assist with a dramatised version of 'The Man From Ironbark' Robyn got caught up in the drama and topped it off with an original poem about telling the truth when asked the question "does my b** look big in this?" - Arch Bishop, well known on the festival scene for his, often cheeky, presentation was also very entertaining and to put the cherry on top, a new face on the scene Craig Luwellin (?spelling) popped in and did a couple. (I'm betting on Craig to be a force to contend with - watch this face!)

Fortunately someone was there to maintain decorum and at the end of the day I was asked to do the final poem. The results of the written competition were announced but as I am not on the committee I can't give them here. I believe John Davis has already advised the ABPA of the results, should be in the next Mag.

I feel like a politician, but I have to say, thank you Stephen for your question and Bob none of the cash prize winners were there to collect. I believe they are dropping this rule for next year and that there were over 80 entries.