The Tamworth Country Music Festival 2025

NEWS SHEET

What's On, When & Other Juicy Snippets

THE EXCITING NEWS is that......

"The Rhymer's Roundup"

will return to the 53rd TCMF in January 2025

for its 11th (nearly) consecutive year

Well known "Multi-Award Winning" Bush Poet, "The Rhymer from Ryde", will once again present his talented troupe of Bush Poets, Musos & comedians at the Tamworth Country Music Festival 2025.

These shows known as "The Rhymer's Roundup" will highlight the talents of previous Golden Damper Performance Competition Winners and place getters, as well as established Australian & State Performance Champions, both past and present (that’s as far at the poets are concerned).

This year's roster of Poets include:

*Gregory North - 3 times Australian Male Bush Poetry Champion 2008 – 2010

*Robyn Sykes – ‘Living Legend’-Australian Poetry Hall of Fame Inductee 2023. Former Australian Champion, 2 x times Victorian Champion & Golden Damper Award winner

*The Rhymer from Ryde - 1st place Golden Damper Award winner 2011. Prior winner of the Banjo Paterson, Leonard Teale and Bobby Miller Memorial Awards as well!

*Noel Bull – 1st place Golden Damper Award winner 2011

*John Peel – 2015 ‘Runner Up’ Male Australian Champion. 1st place Golden Damper Award winner 2013 & 2008

And we’ve got a couple of Muso’s too!

*Andrew Clermont – Golden Guitar & 3 x times Australian Bluegrass Guitar Champion winner Andrew Clermont is musicianship personified. If it can be played, Andrew knows how and with a talent and verve unmatched by many modern day musos. His skills are lauded around the world and his passion for his art revered around the country. At any one time known to work in up to 6 different bands Andrew also runs Tamworth’s famous ‘Supper Club’ shows showcasing muso’s from around the globe. Andrew Clermont is ‘music’.

But wait…there’s more!

Our Special Guest and “Main Featured Comedian/Muso” is

Who’s doing What, When?

*NB* This daily running order is subject to change without notice (and most probably will!)

The Rhymer from Ryde’s
 Full Tamworth Country Music Festival
Gig Guide for 2025

Corryong’s location makes it the Victorian gateway to the NSW snowfields, including the Thredbo Ski Village and the Snowy Mountains Scheme. Corryong is a way station for many travellers making their way across Australia’s highest mountains. Other tourists come to fish in the rivers and nearby waterways or to partake in horse riding around the mountain areas surrounding the town.

A potted history (in a few sentences) saw the first cattle station established in Walwa (43 klms to the north) in 1839 which was the home to the ‘Murray Grey’ breed. The district was opened for selection around 1867 and by the late 1860’s a township had emerged to cater for the needs of the small landowners. The first school opened in 1872 and the town was first surveyed in 1879. The ‘Corryong Courier’ newspaper first ‘hit the streets’ in 1894 with the railway reaching Cudgewa in 1921.

Modern day Corryong is close to the Burrowa-Pine Mountain National Park and the massive Alpine National Park. The Kosciuszko National Park is located nearby across the state border. Both of these areas were extensively burnt and damaged in the bushfires that raged through the region in January 2003 and in the ‘Black Summer’ bushfires of 2019-2020. (Corryong apparently garners its name from the local indigenous dialect of Jaitmatang and means ‘bandicoot’. Prior to the arrival of Europeans, the area surrounding the town was occupied by the Pallanganmiddang clan).

Whilst recovering from the devastating effects of said bushfires the “Man from Snowy River Bush Festival” (first run in 1963) has still managed to maintain the highest standards required to run one of the nations most prominent heritage events. The Bush Festival proudly celebrated our ‘Aussie’ bush heritage for 4 days in the heart of the ‘high country’ and the showcase event this year was definitely the 29th running of the “MFSR Stockman’s Challenge”. This iconic Man from Snowy River Challenge was once again the main attraction with 80 of the country’s highest calibre of riders coming together to compete for the ultimate accolade.

In addition, the festival also held the “Wrangler Xtreme Broncs Australia Finals” over two exciting nights. 30 of Australia’s best cowboys and wildest bucking horses were matched against each other in an electrifying display of toughness, bravado & skill. Music is always a big feature of the festival too with Danny Phegan, Zara Lindeman, Taylor Moss, Andrew Swift and the Viper Creek Band ‘rocking the house’ from morning until night. Of course, it would be remiss of me not to mention the festivals ‘naming rights’ R.M. Williams without whose support the festival simply would not be held.

And, yep, there was a bit of bush poetry thrown ‘into the mix’ as well!

The Man from Snowy River Bush Festival this year also played host to the Victorian Bush Poetry Championships (that were last held there in 2022). The ‘jewel in the crown’ of State Championships, competitors this year were vying for a slice of the $3500 worth of cash prizes & trophies that were on offer for the various 21 competition sections. ‘Up for grabs’ were the main titles for the “Overall Written Champion” and the “Matilda” & “Clancy’s Choice” (Overall Female & Male Performance Champions). The festival’s Poetry and Bush Music competitions started 29 years ago now (way back in 1995) and are now revered as one of the most prestigious spoken word events in the country.

Kristy Streat took over as the “Overall Events Manager” for the festival in 2024 and “The Rhymer from Ryde” was hired to be her ‘right hand man’ & “Assistant Poetry Event Manager”. The “Rhymer” had a wealth of experience ‘under his belt’ in this regard as he had been Jan Lewis’s assistant for the last decade. The “Rhymer” also doubled up on his responsibilities for the weekend as “Senior Judge” for the Victorian Bush Poetry Championships competition sections. A big job indeed, but he was far from alone.

The “Rhymer” was joined at the judging table by John Peel, Tim Sheed, Christine Middleton, Jenny Markwell, Maurie Foun & Geoffrey.W.Graham. Matthew Hollis also lent a ‘helping hand’ around the Lions Youth Hall and Banjo’s Block where needed (mainly when the “Rhymer” was having ‘stress-meltdowns’ when things didn’t go to plan).

Mick Coventry once again ‘stepped up to the plate’ to take up his position as ‘Head Collator’ for the competition sections and was ably assisted by David Taggart & Tim Sheed in the completion of his duties. Howard James also manned the stopwatch for the competition sections to make sure our excited competitors didn’t ‘overstep the mark’ by going over the 8 min allotted time limits. Howard also helped out at the Thursday night “Meet & Greet-Walk up Session” at the bottom pub by volunteering the use of his P.A. system (which was also used at Friday’s ‘Anzac Remembrance Concert’ in the RSL Club Hall). Good on ya mate!

Kevin McCarthy and Simon Dillon ‘ruled the roost’ around the campfire at Banjo’s Block with their well-attended “Aussie Sing-a Long” sessions (providing traditional music during the dinner breaks) as well as the customary ‘Jam Sessions’ around the fire late at night (till the early hours of the morning too I believe). Christine Middleton lovingly stroked & plucked her magnificent harps (around the traps) adding ‘a touch of class’ to proceedings as well Of course, there’s no better Banjo Paterson ‘tribute’ artist than our own ”Geoffrey. W. Graham” from Eaglehawk who also delivered his slice of Banjo down at the Recreation Reserve.

As per usual ‘all & sundry’ gathered down at “Banjo’s Block” at 8.30 every morning for this year’s run of “Poets Breakfast” sessions. Over the 3 mornings that were entertained by a colourful range of characters including Geoffrey.W.Graham, Phil McManus, Howard James, Jenny Markwell, Martin Mulholland, Bruce Chandler, Don & Christa Dwyer, Colin Carrington, David Stanley, Liz Dorsett, Mick Coventry, Maurie Foun, Kevin McCarthy, Simon Dillon, John Peel, The Rhymer from Ryde, Colin O’Keefe & Jacqui, Judy Boyd, Jim Lamb, Chris Smith, Campbell the Swaggie, Lorraine McCrimmon, John Watkins, Seamus Foley, Peter Hartigan, Emma Coburn, Andrew Hull, Snowy Clarke, Kristy Kemp, Johnny Clancy & Matt Gardener. These “Poets Breakfast” sessions were presided over once again by “The Rhymer from Ryde” and his willing ‘sidekick’ Matthew Hollis.

Special thanks to go to Bruce “Bushranger” Hill and his team of hardy volunteers who came on board at the last moment to supply meals to the crowds at ‘Banjo’s Block’ after the ‘Food Van’ that had been booked was cancelled at the last minute. Bruce (who had helped with food preparation at previous festivals) took on the job with very little notice (even buying the food required out of his own pocket before he even knew whether he’s be recompensed or not).  Top Marks mate! A very big thank you from all the contented and satisfied stomachs @ ‘Banjo’s Block’. Hope to see you ‘on-board’ as the preferred caterer for 2025.

Of course a huge volume of thanks must also go to our dedicated team of poetry volunteers who kept the wheels greased and rolling over the course of the weekend. Lead by Lisa Walsh (from the MFSR committee) and ably assisted by Jan Lewis & Linton Vogel our wonderful volunteers this year included the following dedicated souls, Bruce Clark, Chris Wilson, Bruce Chandler, Colin Carrington, David Stanley, Howard James, Jeff Kearney, Jenelle Jurcic, Jenny Stephens, Jo Edwards, Kathrin Wales, Kaylene Kearney, Kerri Robinson, Laurie Webb, Linda Hughes, Mick Coventry, Mon Galvin, Phil McManus, Renee Kostiuk, Stacey Leigh Kidston, Sue Spence & Vlado Jurcic. (Apologies to anyone that I may have missed!) Thanks folks! Oh, by the way, special thanks go to Malcolm Batty who was the “Rhymer’s” ‘go-to man’ in the Lions Youth Hall (manning the front desk at the Lions Youth Hall and answering all the multitude of questions from the public and contestants alike). What a top bloke!

(Oops, I nearly forgot. A big “Thank you” goes out to David Stanley, Matthew Hollis & Malcolm Davies as well for their various photos contained within this report. “The Rhymer from Ryde” also contributed in this regard. Good on ya fellas!!! We couldn’t tell the weekend’s story as well without the visual images).

(Oops Part 2-The first 8 photos at the beginning of this report cover Matt Hollis’s visit to the Rhymer’s place (on their way down to Corryong) and their stopover at the Jindabyne Big 4 Holiday Park on that same journey).

Banjo’s Man from Snowy River Recitation
1st: Phil McManus
2nd^: Martin Mulholland

Matilda Award-Best Overall Female
1st: Lynne Frederick
2nd^: Jenny Markwell

Clancy’s Choice-Best Overall Male
1st: Seamus Foley
2nd^: David Stanley

As we all know folks the Tamworth Country Music Festival is the event that just ‘keeps on giving’. In recognition of that fact, how wonderful it was then to see the festival recognised at the NSW Tourism Awards in November 2023 taking out “Gold” in the “Major Events & Festival” category. Congratulations Tamworth and all those who sail in her!

Now in its 52nd year this festival is a remarkable celebration of country music, rural culture & community, that brings together friends & family for an exciting 10 days of music & entertainment. I can assure you loyal readers there is no better place for music fans, in particular country music fans to be, come those very special 10 days in January each year.

Tamworth and country music have long been synonymous with each other. In 1969 Tamworth was proclaimed “Australia’s Country Music Capital” and some four short years later the Tamworth Country Music Festival evolved.

The Rhymer’s Roundup Wrap-up 2024 (The real truth and nothing but the truth)

What happened where and when @ the North Tamworth Bowling Club

2024 was the 10th anniversary year of the “Rhymer’s Roundup” series of concerts to be held at the North Tamworth ‘Bowlo. The “Rhymer” being justifiably proud of what he and his talented troupe of artists has achieved over that period of time.

Diatribes on the dangers of Coal Seam ‘fracking’ were discussed at length by “Frackin’ Phillip Fricker” appropriately attired in Fluoro safety gear and dusty work boots. “Court Thought” analysed what actually happens to the victims of a “Carpet Court”. “In the Bush” touched on the ‘touchy’ subject of not being able to find a ‘Port-A-Loo’ in the outback (and what you should do about it). “Reach Out” warned us of the distasteful aspects of some medical professions whilst “Goddess” let us in on the trial and tribulations of a love-sick Parking I nspector.

Tell ya what folks Mr Gregory North has some weird sense of humour, I can certainly vouch for that.

The “Rhymer from Ryde” has been at the helm of this ‘motley crew’ over the last decade or so and this year his troupe of vagabond performers were well and truly on fire. The “Rhymer” himself was in fine form as he spieled out a fine collection of traditional, modern and original verse to keep the audiences ‘on their toes’ through every set, from start to finish! Favourites like “Clancy of the Overpass” (by David Stanley), “O H & S Gone Mad” (by Sandy Holmes), “The Walkaholics Dawn Patrol” (by Noel Stallard), “Folding Fitted Sheets” (by Bev Stewart) & “The Luddites Revenge” (by Isabelle Robin) were added to a sterling spread of originals like “Appendicitis Blues”, “Caught Short” & “Faces on the Wall” to keep the crowd baying for more.

And more was exactly what they got when John Peel hit the stage. An Engineer by trade John has spent the last few years working for the Forestry Commission, being involved with forest conservation, fighting bushfires & clearing fire trails etc. etc. Tough & demanding work that’s for sure but John’s a very civic minded fellow and loves to do his public duty. John enthralled the punters with tales such as the “Batlow Vandal” (about a mysterious local identity), “The Ballad of Shazza & Fred” (a westy love story), “Des & his Rugby Ballet” (strange goings on at the Tumut Rugby Club), “The Tale of the Big Black Spider” (creepy crawlies in the bedroom) and the “Fence Off” trilogy (how to win an Olympic gold without really trying).

But back to good old Paddy. Paddy’s an interesting chap. One minute he can have the audience in stitches with his yarn about the antics of “Mickey Felute” (and his band of feral offspring), the next, have them in tears with his haunting ballad of lost love “I kissed her Cheek”. Other comedy classics such as “The Hippie” & “Billy Salkeld’s Wallaby Drive” ‘rolled off his tongue’ with ease. I reckon he was having a ‘bloody good time’. It certainly looked that way!

I tell you what Folks, I can’t wait for the next 365 days to pass so I can come back to Tamworth and do it all again!

Oops, hang on moment, I almost forgot to thank Graeme’s wife Narelle for volunteering on ‘Door Duty’ at the “Bowlo” for 3 or 4 days. Apparently she doesn’t hear enough of her husband’s poetry when they’re at home so she had to follow him to Tamworth so she could hear some more. Yeah right! I don’t think so. Anyway, thanks Narelle from all the “Rhymer’s” crew!

A big thank you too, to Chris Clarke and all his happy crew/staff at the North Tamworth “Bowlo”. It really is our ‘home away from home’!

Well, as they say, “That’s all folks”!

For 27 years now, tucked away in the shadow of the Snowy Mountains, The Man from Snowy River Festival has brought people together from all over the country to celebrate our Australian bush heritage, culture and mateship. Uniquely Australian the festival has worked to incorporate the essence of our bush heritage into a weekend of entertainment that showcases the best horsemanship, craft, art, poetry, music, food and more.

This year’s festival boasted an exciting programme of events, featuring the newly redesigned 28th “Man from Snowy River Challenge”.72 of Australia’s best riders came together (over 4 days, 6 preliminary & 2 finals events) to see who would be crowned the next “Man from Snowy River”. Also featured was the show stopping re-enactment, a spectacular “LIVE” recreation of the event where the sound of thundering hooves and live music bring Banjo’s poem to life.

Of course, Banjo’s poem was based on the exploits of local Victorian Stockman Jack Riley. Legend has it that in the mid 1880’s Riley joined a party of mountain stockman who were attempting to recapture a thoroughbred stallion that had escaped and was running with a mob of wild brumbies near Mt. Leatherhead. A stockyard was built on a creek at the foot of Mt. Leatherhead and the mob was located, just a Riley had predicted, nearby atop a towering and rocky ridge. A report on the incident relates that “when the riders closed in on the mob, the stallion broke away and galloped down a fearsome slope with Riley alone in close pursuit. The mountainside was pitted with wombat holes, strewn with loose shale and covered with low scrub. The stallion and Riley’s pony literally tobogganed down to the bottom where the stallion blundered into the waiting stockyard. Riley, with the slip rails up and stallion secured was waiting for the other riders when they arrived.”

What a story! Ok, time to return now to more modern times! This year’s modern cowboys featured is a dazzling array of horsemanship themed events including the “Feature Open Campdraft”, ”The Cut-Out”, the “Wrangler Xtreme Rodeo” and the “Striplings Challenge” (where riders 10-14 years compete in the Cattleman’s Jump, Whipcracking, Bareback & Packhorse events).

There was also a number of stunning horsemanship demonstrations such as Richard Webb’s “Cutting” school, Tom Curtains dazzling featured shows combining music, working dogs and horses and various equine education courses by Peter Horobin, Megan Ford, Liz McDonnell, Dan Moloney & Flinders Greentree.

With a jam-packed programme featuring some of Australia’s best performers The Man from Snowy River Festival surely delivered on its promise -non-stop action from “Go to Whoa” Whether you enjoyed the Art & Photography exhibition, Bullock teams, Working Cattle Dog demonstrations, Markets, Rodeos or the popular Street parade there’s was something for everyone at Corryong in April 2023.

“Music is the food of life” as they say and the talent performing on the main stage at this year’s event was indeed ‘second to none’. Sara Storer, Travis Collins, The Pigs, Jayne Denham, Paul Costa, Rory Phillips, Pete Denahy, Danny Phegan & Kevin Sullivan to name a few!

Hey, and don’t forget the Bush Poetry. Don’t worry, I won’t.

The Man from Snowy River Bush Poetry and Music competitions started way back in 1995 and are now revered as one of the most prestigious spoken word events in the country. After 25 years at the helm of the Bush Poetry section of the festival (Poetry Director-Jan Lewis) retired from her post after the 2022 event. Her legacy is an iconic competition event that will now be carried into the future by a new generation of poetry devotees. Maureen Thomas took over as the “Overall Events Manager” in 2023 and “The Rhymer from Ryde” was hired to be her ‘right hand man’ & “Assistant Poetry Event Manager”. The “Rhymer” had a wealth of experience ‘under his belt’ in this regard as he had been Jan’s assistant for the last 10 years anyway. The “Rhymer” also doubled up on his responsibilities for the weekend as “Senior Judge” for the Man from Snowy River Recitation and Jack Riley competition sections.

The “Rhymer” was joined at the judging table by Greg North, Tim Sheed & Christine Middleton. Lending a ‘helping hand’ around the Lions Youth Hall and Banjo’s Block where Matthew Hollis and Noel Bull. Kevin McCarthy and Simon Dillon ‘ruled the roost’ around the campfire at Banjo’s Block with their well-attended “Aussie Sing-a Long” & ‘Jam’ sessions till the early hours of the morning (oh, and by the way for anyone who was there, Matthew Hollis did find his mobile phone-but that’s another story!) Christine Middleton added a little bit of ‘Class’ to proceedings with her delightful sessions on the harp and Gregory North (our “Main Featured Poet”) wowed the crowds with his own ’solo’ spots and historical Banjo Paterson presentations. Of course, there’s no better Banjo Paterson ‘tribute’ artist than our own ”Geoffrey. W. Graham” from Eaglehawk who also delivered his slice of Banjo down at the Recreation Reserve.

It might have been a little bit chilly down at “Banjo’s Block” at 8.30 every morning but poetry lovers are a hardy bunch and once they had their coffee and sausage sandwiches on board they were ‘ready to go’ for this year’s run of “Poets Breakfast” sessions. Over the 3 mornings that were entertained by a colourful range of characters including Paul Connelly, Ian Hayne, John Rushton, David Stanley, Greg North, Rhonda Tallnash, Don Dwyer, Christa Dwyer, Noel Bull, James Thomas, Margaret Ryan, Seamus Foley, Jan Lewis, Howard James, Val Kirley, Phil ‘In’ McManus, Jim Lamb, Lisa Ride, Campbell the Swaggie, Kevin McCarthy, Bill Gordon, Lloyd McClymont, John Peel & Maurie Foun (amongst others). These “Poets Breakfast” sessions were presided over once again by “The Rhymer from Ryde” and his willing ‘sidekick’ Matthew Hollis. Thanks guys!

Oops, I nearly forgot. A big “Thank you” goes out to David Stanley for his photos of the Awards Ceremony and the ‘random bush poets’ in the street. Good on Ya mate!!!

Bush Poetry Competition Results 2023

Man From Snowy River Recitation
1st: Seamus Foley
2nd: Rhonda Tallnash
3rd: James Tomas

Jack Riley Heritage Award
1st: Rhonda Tallnash
2nd: Lynne Frederick
3rd: Val Kirley

Carol Reffold Memorial One Minute Poem
1st: David Stanley
2nd: Bill Gordon

Lawrie Sheridan Encouragement Award
Meg Gordon

Seniors Encouragement Award
Bill Gordon

Jan Lewis Encouragement Award
Hilary Monck

After the delayed 50th Anniversary Tamworth Festival in April 2022, January 2023’s event was just the start we needed to propel country music artists and fans into the next half-century. Long may it reign! You know, I’d love to say that I’d be around to celebrate the 100th anniversary in 2072 but as I’ll be 112 years old by then, maybe I’ll leave that to the younger generations of music devotees. (Mind you Chad Morgan will probably still be there, but that’s another story!)

As the largest music festival in Australia, the largest country music festival in the southern hemisphere and one of the top 10 festivals in the world, this event has supported and celebrated the Australian Country Music industry for more than 5 decades now. The festival is a key economic driver for the region with the tens of thousands who attend each year supporting a wide range of businesses to keep the local economy thriving.

For 51 years Tamworth has been the traditional gathering place for musos and fans whose passionate pilgrimage from all corners of the country is the stuff of legend. They all yearn to begin the New Year in a positive way-seeing old friends and reaping the rewards of their talents. From tiny tots to professional artists, they’re all here for the same reason- the love of Tamworth, oh, and the occasional beer (even if it sometimes means having one for breakfast, so they tell me!)

No matter what your musical tastes the Toyota Country Music Festival offers something for everyone, one of the major showcases still being the free entertainment in Toyota Park. Nightly you’ll hear an eclectic mix of Americana, Blues, Roots, Alternate, Bluegrass, Honky-Tonk and much much more.

A huge part of the success of the festival must undoubtedly be attributed to the many opportunities offered annually. From Macca’s ‘Golden Gig’ to the CCMA National Talent Quest, through to the Toyota Starmaker (with its amazing major prize package worth over $100,000) and the highly coveted Golden Guitars, artists of all ages and abilities can come to Tamworth to ply their trade, develop their skills and dream of future glory! The allure & possibility of hitting the big time after a start busking on Peel Street, progressing through these various events and ending up on stage with that glowing gold statuette in your hands. It could just happen to you! You just never know!

See it’s all about choices when you come to Tamworth. You can choose to see a multitude of free shows (thanks to the generosity of local publicans and Club CEO’s) whose 20 or so combined premises shell out big money employing bands, duos, solo artists and the like to provide the crowds with the unique & vibrant atmosphere we all appreciate and love. Or, as all the major big name acts in the country converge on Tamworth, you can choose where you’ll spend you hard earned cash seeing the many excellent paid shows scattered around the town.

Or alternatively you can just sit around the campfire enjoying the company of friends and family at one of the various campgrounds or Caravan parks in town. Maybe you’ll join in a ‘jam-session’ to whittle away the time. Maybe you’ll be enthralled by your neighbour (in the motor home next door) spinning hilarious yarns about their outback travels as you ‘throw another ‘shrimp on the barbie’. Who knows what will happen, that’s the magic of Tamworth each and every single year! No matter what you take with you to Tamworth, you’ll always leave with more!

The Rhymer’s Roundup Wrap-up 2023 (The real truth and nothing but the truth)

What happened where and when @ the North Tamworth Bowling Club

2023 was the 9th (almost consecutive) year of the “Rhymer’s Roundup” series of concerts to be held at the ‘Bowlo’ and Bush Poetry addicts turned up in their droves on a daily basis to what sort of versifying nonsense the “Roundup” troupe would get up to this year around. Having been absent from the stage for almost 3 years due to the Covid cancellations of 2021 & 2022 the “Rhymer’s Roundup” troupe was ‘champing at the bit’ to let loose all that ‘pent up’ energy they’d been accumulating over the last little period of time. Oh, and to see how many poems they could remember after 1095 days without an audience to perform to.

Regular troupe members Gregory North, John Peel, Noel Bull and Rhonda Tallnash were joined by the “Rhymer” himself as a brand-new group member also ‘came on board’ in the shape of the new “Main Featured Muso”, the muti-talented Andrew Clermont. Andrew is a musician ‘par excellence’ on any instrument he cares to pick up and the crowds sat enthralled as he played everything in sight (on a daily basis) plus a few more things he had ‘up his sleeve’.

Chris Clarke (the ‘Bowlo’ Manager) and his friendly staff were caught ‘between a rock and a hard place’ as they had to choose between attending to their customers at the same time as watching the bedlam unfolding on the Auditorium stage (which by the way, they couldn’t take their eyes off). Luckily, by the time that the shows finished they were able to man the counter at the very busy bistro as the famished morning crowds sought some lunchtime sustenance before the 2.00 pm afternoon musical programme began.

Anyway, back to the “Roundup”. Well, for anyone that was counting, with 5 poets a day doing the equivalent of 6 x 15-minute sets of verse at approximately 4 poems per set the “Roundup” troupe delivered something like 24 poems a day (multiplied by 10 days) which amounts to the massive total of a touch under 250 different poems being performed over 1,200 minutes. That’s a lot of Bush Poetry!

Gregory North, the troupes “Main Featured Poet” commanded the stage for 2 x 15 min spots per day always finishing off each day’s shows with his famous “Man of Many Hats” interpretation of “The Man from Snowy River” by A.B. ‘Banjo Paterson’. It doesn’t matter how many times I’ve seen and heard this recitation it still makes me laugh. Greg has many opportunities to polish and practise his craft whilst working at the North Gregory Hotel (I kid you not, Gregory North appears at the North Gregory Hotel in Winton daily at 4.30 pm from the 14th May until the 3rd September annually). That’s 114 afternoons for you folks! What a mighty effort on Greg’s part. Oh, by the way, he also performs for the same 114 days at the Winton Roadhouse Cabins & Caravan Park at 7.00 pm. That’s a massive 228 shows in 114 days. What a man!

The “Rhymer from Ryde” once again took control of proceedings at the “Bowlo” Mc’ing his way through the whole 10 days like he does it for a living. Whipping the troupe into shape…almost literally…and watching his fob-watch like a demon to ensure that each and every poet didn’t exceed their allotted 15 mins of fame. “The Rhymer” delved deep into his extensive repertoire of modern, traditional & original bush verse to run through his chosen favourites from over the last 20 years as well as giving some new pieces an airing as well.

Highlight of each day was his recitation called “Caught Short” inspired by the recent Covid induced toilet paper shortage. Newly learnt poems such as the “The Bank Job” by David Stanley and “The National Uprising” & “To-Morrow” by Keith McKenry as well as “Clancy’s gone a Pruning” by Sydney based muso Tony Williams also turned out to be crowd favourites.

Noel “Raging” Bull took time out from the family farm in Musk VIC (where he attends to his potatoes & Angus Cattle as well as having a go at some seed propagation for Multi-National Horticultural Company Rijk Zwaan) to travel up the highway to Tamworth for the 2-week period so as to once again ‘wow’ the crowds with this poetic ‘know-how’ and shenanigans (including a worrying bout of cross-dressing). By day a shy retiring wallflower Noel really ‘hits his straps’ once he hits the stage and the Rhymer had a ‘devils own time’ of dragging him off the stage at the end of every set. Well, it wasn’t his fault, the audiences were screaming for more at the time!

John Peel from Tumut NSW is also an integral part of the Rhymer’s troupe and has been performing with same from almost the start of the “Rhymer’s Roundup” franchise nearly a decade ago. John writes a swag of original material (both comedic & serious) and has no qualms about sharing it with the audience (and with great ‘gusto’ I must admit) on a daily basis. I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone enjoy performing as much as John Peel does. You know the show wouldn’t be the same without him!

Rhonda Tallnash also graced the stage in swathe of purple themed outfits and her legendary stage ‘Ug’ Boots (that she wears whenever she performs). There sort of her trademark if you weren’t aware. Being the only female if the troupe Rhonda’s constantly battling against the ‘blokeiness’ of it all with a continued effort to bring some class and decorum to proceedings. Her wonderfully woven tales are always engaging and she is definitely a ‘crowd favourite’ from year to year.

In amongst all this jocularity our “Main Featured Muso”, Mr. Andrew Clermont provided the musical highlights that absolutely enthralled and surprised the audiences who were unaware that he was going to materialise from behind the sound-desk to grace the stage with his presence. It’s not just that Andrew enjoys playing music. He is music! The pure joy on his face when he picks up an instrument, any instrument, is almost contagious and it wasn’t long before Andrew had the audience (and the poets) tapping their toes and humming along to the bevvy of interesting tunes and songs he produced from his ‘bag of tricks’. A real musical ‘chameleon’. A really nice ‘fella’ too!

“The Roundup” stage was also graced (on Fri the 20th) by “The Kimberley Guitar Man” Country Music star “Ginger” Cox (who was accompanied by his good mate ‘Sammy’). Andrew Clermont was unavailable on this day so Ginger was invited to join “The Roundup” (the first Bush Balladeer to grace the “Roundup” since John Smith in 2018) to entertain the crowds with his Barry Thornton style of guitar playing on his favourite Gibson 335 guitar (the same model that his hero Barry played). Ginger has released 4 Cd’s over the years and first appeared at the Tamworth Country Music Festival in 2006. He has won the Gidgee Coal Award as well as the Stan Coster New Talent Award and had his hands immortalised in Tamworth’s “Hands of Fame’ display.

And that’s about it my friends. I reckon ‘that’s a wrap’. See you all next year and we’ll do it all again!

Oops, hang on moment, I almost forgot to thank David Kitchen (and Graeme’s wife Narelle) for volunteering on ‘Door Duty’ at the “Bowlo” for the run of 2023 shows. Narelle first dropped in to check things out in 2020 and decided she’d better return for a few more days in 2023 just to make sure what she saw in 2020 wasn’t a weird sort of dream. Much to her delight Narelle discovered that she had a much higher tolerance of bush verse than she may have imagined by sitting through 3 mornings of the “Roundup”. Either that or she just enjoyed listening to someone other than the “Rhymer’s” dulcet tones for a change!

Well, as they say, “That’s all folks”!

Oops Part 2: Just by word of explanation. There’s a bunch (15) of photos at the start of this report and (7) photos at the end of the report. They chronicle the annual process of packing the car and hitting the road and show the procession of towns that I pass through on the way to and from Tamworth. I’ve always wanted to do that as a tribute to said ‘little towns’. (You know, the ones that you never get to stop in ‘cause you’re in a hurry to get where you’re going).

(Just before we get to the festival report proper, just thought that I’d explain the first 18 photos that appear in same. See every year Matt Hollis and the "Rhymer" do their famous/infamous “Round Trip-Road Trip”-(all 1400klms of it) from Sydney to Corryong return. This year Matt actually stayed over in Sydney for some much needed ‘R & R’ (with the "Rhymer" & Narelle) before they set off. (Hence the casual clothes and rec room photos). Following these are some “Road Trip” shots from Cooma, Jindabyne, Khancoban & ‘The Alpine Way’). Then we get to the festival report, Ok?

Also, through the body of the report there are 18 photos of the "Rhymer" with his poetry ‘buddies’. He thought it was about time that he kept a historical record of his best mates & poetic characters that make the Man from Snowy River Festival what it is!

Corryong is undoubtedly the jewelled centre piece of the magnificent region known as the Upper Murray. Located just 11klms from the Murray River and in the foothills of the Australian Alps, Corryong and its surrounding districts have something for everyone.

There is an abundance of local natural attractions such as the Burrowa Pine Mountain National Park. This awesome granite monolith is 1.5 times larger than Uluru and has breathtaking views from its summit should you chose to walk there. Cudgewa Bluff Falls is also within this National Park and is one of the area’s best kept secrets.

Take a drive to Embrey’s Lookout on top of Mt. Mittamatite and take in the view of Corryong with the Australian Alps as your backdrop. My. Lawson State Park is only a short drive away. Visit Avondale Gardens and whilst in the area explore the various trestle bridges. Why not give white water rafting a try with our local accredited operators? So much to see and do!

Visit historic Tintaldra, Walwa and Jingellic along the river. Stop for the many photographic opportunities at the viewing points along the way. Tour Cudgewa, Nariel & Thowgla and the picturesque Biggara Valley. Why not explore the sites of the Snowy River Scheme by paying a visit to the Snowy Hydro Visitor Centre and learn about the upcoming 2.0 project whilst you’re at it? It’s all there to be explored.

Ok, ok, I know it’s a beautiful region, that’s enough of the travel brochure stuff. Tell us about the Festival already! Alright I will!

After a tough year of bushfires and Corona virus lockdowns that caused the cancellation of the 2022 festival, Australians had been struggling to get back to our normal way of life. There is no doubt that these sort of trials have proved extremely trying for those living on the land and with that in mind the Man from Snowy River Festival Committee (led by Chairman Cameron Jackson) put their ‘best foot forward’ to ensure that the 26th edition of this marvellous event was going to give back to the local community a sense of purpose and pride in the magnitude of the festival that they could all enjoy together.

From Thursday lunchtime until late Sunday night there was a virtual plethora of things to do in and around the Corryong CBD, Showground & surrounding areas!

Those with a hankering for horsemanship had plenty to keep them occupied almost 24 hours a day. As part of the “Man from Snowy River Challenge” onlookers were greeted by a swag of events including “Harrisons Packhorse”, “Banjo’s Bareback”, “Jimmy Scammell Horseshoeing”, “Snowy River Stockhandling”, “Clancy’s Whipcrack” & “Mountain Horse Cross-Country” culminating in the thrilling ‘rough & tumble’ of the “Brumby Catch” & the “Stocksaddle Buckjump”.

There was also the “Man from Snowy River Re-enactment” at Thowgla featuring “Rooftop Express”. All aspects of country/farm life were covered as the “Cattle Dog Championships” joined the “Brad Arnold” Roping displays and the ever popular “Campdrafting” in the Rodeo Arena to enthrall punters of all ages.

For those with shopping in mind there were the “High Country Bush Markets” in the Recreation Reserve & Attree Park where the ‘eagle -eyed’ crowds could browse and take advantage of the huge array of product available from Jewellery to saddles, art to farming equipment.

A new and outstanding feature of the Corryong landscape this year was the “Corryong History Narrative Mural” (commemorating the stockmen who mustered the mountain bush horses for sale as Remounts & Walers for the Army used by the Light Horse in the First World War of 1914) by renowned artist Simon White located opposite the RSL Hall. Check it out next time you’re in town.

Entertainment in the form of some of the Country’s most notable entertainers was also a prevalent feature of the Man from Snowy River festival this year. An eclectic mix of “50’s Rock ’N’ Roll” (delivered with great gusto by Wilbur Wilde & Frankie J Holden) took the stage alongside 2020 Toyota ‘Star Maker’ winner Sammy White, 2019 ‘Star Maker’ winner Blake O’Connnor, Jade Gibson, The “Bonza Blokes Bush Band”, Peter Denahy, Rory Phillips, Alex Weybury, Danny Phegan, Ben Gunn and the Viper Street Band ‘pumping out’ the volume until the wee hours of the morning down in the Recreation Reserve. Buskers also plied their trade in every available ‘nook & cranny’ of the town vying for the title of the “Aussie Bush Idol Talent Search Winner”.
 

Around the traps you could also find the “High Country Ute Muster”, Historic Machinery Displays, the “Hot Rod Show ‘N’ Shine” and the annual Street Parade.

And of course, as if all this wasn’t enough purveyors of the “Spoken Word” were also entertained with a smorgasboard of the best reciters in the land as they participated in the Victorian Bush Poetry Championships. Performance sections included Traditional, Modern, Original Serious & Original Humorous as well as Novice, Yarnspinning and the Man from Snowy River Recital competitions.  Esteemed Judges included “The Rhymer from Ryde”-(Senior judge for the last 10 years) and Melanie Hall and Susan Carcary (Featured entertainers who had travelled all the way from Lightning Ridge NSW where they run the “Hidden Gem Bush Theatre”). They were ably assisted by Assistant Judges Jenny Markwell, Colin Carrington, Noel Bull, Tim Sheed (ABPA President) & Christine Middleton.  Making the sure the scores were correctly assembled and logged was long time Head Collator Mick Coventry ably assisted by newcomer to the Bush Poetry scene David Taggart. Howard James from SA timed the contestants to the second to unsure that there were no rules being broken this time around.

Joining their ranks and shouldering the majority of the competitions Mc’ing was none other that Banjo Paterson tribute artist Geoffrey. W. Graham. Geoffrey’s career took off in 1995 when his self-devised ‘one man show’ “The Man from Ironbark” hit Winton in QLD. This weekend Geoffrey linked everything together with wit & grace to make sure everyone knew what was happening with the competition at all times.

“Banjo’s Block” on the corner of Strzelecki Way (and the Lions Youth Hall) formed the epicentre of all thing’s poetry over the course of this very full weekend. Each morning started off with a ‘Walk-up’ Poets Breakfast (where the eager novice or budding junior could join the more seasoned adults up onstage) hosted by "The Rhymer from Ryde" and his ‘buddy’ Matthew Hollis. Performing in the Breakfast’s this year were luminaries such as Lorraine McCrimmon, Jenny Markwell, Stoney Broke, Phil In, Don Dwyer, Ian Hayne, David Stanley, David Melville, Howard James, James Thomas, Colin Carrington, Noel Bull, Margaret Ryan, Peter Mace, Kevin McCarthy, Simon Dillon, Christa Dwyer, Bruce Chandler, Jan Lewis, Ken Potter, Val Kirley, Andrew Pulsford, Mick Coventry, Jim Lamb, Tom O’Connor, Cameron Ritchard, Seamus Foley, Annette Roberts, Susan Carcary, Melanie Hall & Maurie Hanrahan amongst others.

Up the road in the RSL Hall a special “Anzac Tribute Concert” was also held where Anzacs were honoured with poems and song in gratitude to those men & women who fought so that we could have the privileged life we enjoy today.

Tribute was also paid to the Festival’s “Poetry Co-ordinator”, Jan Lewis, who, after a quarter of a century at the helm of her beloved Bush Poetry ship decided to sail off into the sunset (with partner Linton Vogel) to further fulfil her life in other areas of interest. The importance of the magnitude of the service that Jan offered to her poetic cohorts over those 25 years cannot be underestimated. Without her untiring efforts Bush Poetry (and its standing in the arts genre/community) in Victoria may well have been a shadow of what it is today.  Many poets (who have gone onto claim State & National Title status) have been able to do so because of the nurture, care & opportunity offered to them under Jan Lewis’s tutelage and support. As her assistant for the last 10 years "The Rhymer from Ryde" himself was one of those ever thankful for the guidance and friendship, camaraderie and advice that Jan Lewis provided him. The entire Bush Poetry community would like to thank Jan for her monumental effort over the decades and wishes her well in her future endeavours!

And as a hardy bunch of revellers sat on the balcony of the Corryong Sporting Club (enjoying a few cold ales) the sun set slowly in the west taking with it the important memories of another year in paradise! See ya in 2023!

2022 MFSR Victorian Bush Poetry Championships Results

Written Serious Poem
1st: David Judge
2nd: Peter O’Shaughnessy
3rd: David Judge
HC: Brenda Joy
HC: David Judge
Highest Scoring Novice: David Judge

Written Humorous Poem
1st: John Roberts
2nd: Tom McIlveen
3rd: David Judge
HC: David Campbell
HC: Peter O’Shaughnessy
Highest Scoring Novice: David Judge

Written Champion Poet
David Judge

Banjo’s MFSR Performance Recitation
1st: Andrew Pulsford
2nd: James Thomas
3rd: Phil McManus

Man from Snowy River Festival 2021

 Thu 8th - Sun 11th April

 Bush Poetry Competition

Report & Results

--------------

Before we start on this year’s report let’s hark back to 2020 and the year that was. A ‘lead-in’ of sorts before we get to the business end of reporting on 2021’s festival. 2020, a year devoid of Bush Poetry and the performing thereof. The year of the double whammy. History will most likely judge 2020 as the year Australia and the rest of the world would rather forget. Virtually every human being on the planet had been affected by the Covid-19 pandemic and its onset. This was certainly the case in Corryong VIC (home of the iconic Man from Snowy River Festival) where for the second time in three decades the Bush Festival was cancelled only 3 weeks from its starting date in 2020. (The first instance being the Equine Flu epidemic in 2007).

The Man from Snowy River Festival is a major annual event for the Upper Murray when Corryong normally welcomes over 27,000 visitors. The loss of revenue in 2020 impacted the town hard, yet the townspeople rallied through the following months as the harsh lockdowns virtually decimated any tourism related business for the region.

Locals will never forget the start of 2020 (before Covid struck) when much of Eastern Australia was on fire. Millions of hectares were burned, homes destroyed, people died, livestock & native animals perished. The Corryong region came under threat from multiple fires burning in National Parks and forests that burnt more than 11 surrounding communities.

Looking at the placid paddocks now, it’s hard to envisage the furnace-like winds under a hellish red sky. For nearly 2 days almost no-one slept, straining to catch the first indications of spot-fires. The regions fire fighters battled what they could while sleep deprived neighbours and friends joined together fighting fire activity before it could gain a footing in dry vegetation. Still with the steely resolve not uncommon amongst ‘country folk’ residents of the Upper Murray took it in their stride, rolled their sleeves up and got on with life.

Just a month or so later the Corona virus delivered the second devastating blow. Yet despite all of this, the small communities weathered what mother nature threw at them and came through it all with a smile on their faces to welcome the revitalised Man from Snowy River Festival back to Corryong in April 2021.

Yep, the Bush Festival was B A C K and firing on all cylinders! As a matter of fact, the Man from Snowy River Festival celebrated its 25th Anniversary in 2021 highlighting many aspects of our ‘Aussie’ Bush heritage with 4 days of festivities in the heart of the ‘High Country’. The popular “Man from Snowy River Challenge” was once again one of the main attractions where more than 60 of the country’s most proficient stockmen/women competing for the ultimate accolade of “Overall Champion”. As well as the ‘dust busting’ action of the Rodeo programme at the Showgrounds there was also a Ute Muster, Kids Party, Bush markets, the “Aussie Bush Idol” & ‘Whip-Cracking’ competitions and working cattle dog Championships.

The action continued with Guy McLean (Australia’s first Stock Horse Ambassador) a comprehensive programme of Camp drafting as well as the Timberhills Bullock team, Flipping Disc Dogz and the annual Art & Photography exhibition to boot.

As per usual the Man from Snowy River Festival showcased some well-known and Award-Winning musical talent at the Main Stage Arena. Headlining the concert on the Friday was Country Music legend Troy Cassar-Daly (ably supported by Fanny Lumsden and Blake O’Connor).  Danny Phegan also graced Centre Stage as did Kevin Sullivan, Rory Phillips & Zac & Eliza Spalding and the “Bonza Blokes Bush Band” belted out a few well know ballads as well.

Lovers of the ‘Spoken Word’ were also well catered for at ‘Banjo’s Block’ and the Lions Youth Hall for this years ‘reduced format’ Bush Poetry Performance Competition 2021. Festival Poetry Director Jan Lewis now alternates (on consecutive years) the festival programme to accommodate both the VIC Bush Poetry Championships and a more ‘laid back’ weekend with fewer competition sections and a larger emphasis on more concerts and less stress for those wanting to share their favourite Bush Verse.

As with the horsemanship component of the overall programme the Bush Poetry (showcased over the 4 days of the event) was also celebrating its 25th year of operation. All 25 years of which (by the way) have been presided over and organised by Jan Lewis and her hardworking committee. Go Girl! What a champion!

The main highlight of the poetry programme was a series of “Anniversary Tribute” concerts that honoured the legendary Poets who helped get Bush Poetry started at the Man from Snowy River Festival all those years ago. Poets whose stature and fame had grown to ‘iconic’ status as the years passed. Male & female poets who forged the way so that other eager participants could follow in their footsteps to take to the stage in the present day.

Some of the poets who were honoured in these “Tribute Concerts” included Frank Daniel, Milton Taylor, Johnny Johansen, Carol Reffold, Don Anderson, Neil Hulm, Reg Phillips, Lance Parker, Ellis Campbell, Terry Regan, Jim Angel, Ed Walker, Col Milligan, Neil McArthur, ‘Blue the Shearer’ amongst others.

Featured Poets Musos (& Yarnspinners) such as Jan Lewis, “The Rhymer from Ryde” (Senior Judge), Geoffrey. W. Graham, Trevor Best, Peter Klein, Rhonda Tallnash, Gregory North and Jenny Markwell were joined by fellow entertainers such as Mick Coventry, Matthew Hollis, Annette Roberts, Rob Christmas, Tom O’Connor, ‘Campbell the Swaggie’ & Christine Middleton to honour the achievements of the beforementioned crew in establishing the Man from Snowy River Festival as one of the bastions of Bush Verse in Australia. Thanks to one and all for their efforts in this regard!

Of course, we shouldn’t forget one of the ‘mainstays’ of the Bush Poetry programme which of course is the daily ‘Poets Breakfast’ held @ ‘Banjo’s Block’. Hosted by “The Rhymer from Ryde” and his ‘sidekick’ (more on that later) Matthew ‘I’m more than a bus driver’ Hollis literally dozens of eager poets from all over the country ‘grabbed that mike’ & ‘had a spruik’ with concerts that sometimes stretched to 3 hours in length. Brother, that’s a hell of a lot of “Bush Poetry” by anyone’s standards!

Participating in the Poet’s Breakfasts were (in no particular order) Heather Casey, Bruce Chandler, Jai Thoolan, Don Dwyer, Christa Dwyer, Phil McManus, Jim Lamb, Val Kirley, David Stanley, ‘Stoney’ Broke, Seamus Foley, Elma Findlay, Margaret Ryan, Emma Coburn, Colin Carrington, Julie Morris, Lisa Ride, Rob Christmas, Annette Roberts, Maurire Foun, Simon Dillon, Ian Hayne, Tim Sheed, James Thomas, Peter Sheehan and the occasional bloke & sheila whose names I’ve no doubt forgotten. (Sorry about that!)

As mentioned previously there was a ‘reduced’ number of Performance Bush Poetry competitions this year around. However, the nucleus of the competitions were retained and once again drew the crowds to the stage. Those competitions being the “Man form Snowy River Recitation” event and the Jack Riley Heritage Award competitions.  These were presided over by Senior Judge “The Rhymer from Ryde” ably assisted by Gregory North, & Christine Middleton. Mick Coventry was once again the Head Collator and was assisted in his duties by Malcolm Davies.

A new segment of the Bush Poetry programme also emerged on the Friday of the event. Patrons of ‘Banjo’s Block’ were entertained by a one-hour show called “Yarns & Reminiscences” starring “The Rhymer from Ryde” & his ‘sidekick’ (more on that later-no, I better explain myself now) Matthew Hollis. This likely pair of reprobates had the punters ‘rolling in the aisles’ with some fairly spicy, bawdy and somewhat bizarre stories about their ‘after hours’ activities at the Man from Snowy River Festival over the last 20 years or so. It had to be seen to be believed, and even then some punters still didn’t believe what they were hearing. Good on ya boys! Oh, the ‘sidekick’ thing. Well, you see the official Man from Snowy River programme neglected to mention Matthew Hollis’s ‘official’ status at the event, instead simply giving him a ‘by-line’ as the “Rhymer from Ryde’s ‘sidekick’. Matthew was slightly ‘miffed’ by this blunder and proceeded to ‘take the piss’ of “The Rhymer from Ryde” at every available opportunity thereafter. Much hilarity ensued over the course of the weekend as the old mates went ‘tit for tat’ assaulting one other’s pride and talents in front of the amused onlookers.

As well as this there was also the annual “Anzac Tribute” concert (held in the Youth Hall) and the Thursday night “Meet Great & Eat” session at the ‘Bottom Pub’ to occupy the crowd’s attention. Ah, the results. Yes I’d forgotten about that. Here they are then.

The Rhymer’s Back!!! (posted 01/10/20)

at

Central Coast Council’s “Under the Wave” Festival 2020

Thursday 12th November (3.00 to 4.00 pm)

(Tickets are $10 per person and are only available by contacting the “Rhymer” through his e-mail address mailto:TheRhymerfromRyde@bigpond.com )

Yes Bush Poetry lovers everywhere the “Rhymer from Ryde” is back and proud to announce the end of his Covid-19 enforced ‘Performance Blackout’ period by announcing that his first ‘gig’ for a very long time will be held at the inaugural “Under the Wave” Festival to be held by the Central Coast Council between the 6-15^th November 2020 at scenic “Memorial Park” located in the beautiful coastal suburb of The Entrance, NSW (46 Marine Parade to be exact).

The “Rhymer” will be presenting “1 SHOW ONLY” during the course of this event’s programme and it is limited to 80 tickets only as per the current Covid-19 restrictions. This ‘not to be missed’ return ‘gig’ happens on Thursday the 12^th November between 3.00-4.00 pm.

Tickets are $10 per person and are only available by contacting the “Rhymer” through his e-mail address TheRhymerfromRyde@bigpond.com

*NB* Be warned! No tickets will be available on the day! Tickets are only available by contacting the “Rhymer” through his e-mail address above. Don’t miss out…order early to avoid disappointment!

The “Rhymer’s” 60-minute set will contain as many of his ‘Greatest Hits & favourites’ as he can possibly fit in as well as a few new ‘lockdown’ inspired beauties that he’s worked up over the last 6 months. The “Rhymer” has certainly missed your company as of late and is looking forward to catching up with you on the day. ‘Be there or be square’ as they say!

“Under the Wave” refers to a ‘Pop-up’ stage that will be erected smack bang in the middle of Memorial Park to celebrate the Coast’s stunning and diverse waterside setting. The stage will play host to an eclectic array of entertainers over the course of the 10-day programme (listed below) including Bands (both large & small), Solo artists, Theatrical Performances, Magicians, Dance Groups and much much more.

Tickets for each artists’ individual show can be found by following the relevant prompts beneath the artists details on the Central Coast Council’s Website.

The Tamworth Country Music Festival 2021

TAMWORTH 2021 Cancelled due to COVID-19

(September 8th, 2020)

The 2021 Tamworth Country Music Festival has been officially cancelled after the Tamworth Regional Council unanimously voted to suspend the event due to Covid-19.

“Tamworth regional Councillors tonight voted to suspend all Tamworth Regional Council run events for the 2021 Toyota Country Music Festival Tamworth” event organisers wrote in a statement.

“With the current public health orders in place, which include the prohibition of music festivals and mass gatherings, coupled with travel restrictions and venue capacity challenges, Councillors could not in good conscience vote to proceed with the event.”

Festival Manager Barry Harley said, “Today is a sad day. Not only for Tamworth, but for the artists and the Country Music industry. We had remained as optimistic as we could and had continued with our planning in the hope that conditions would ease. Unfortunately, like so many others in our situation, we have had to surrender to the challenges Covid-19 has placed on us and make the difficult decision to suspend the TCMF 2021.”

In making the final decision Tamworth Region Mayor Col Murray said, “Tamworth Regional Councillors faced a difficult decision tonight, one that had the health and safety of our community, our fans, the artists, volunteers, local businesses, staff and the wider country music industry at the front of their minds. It is hard to believe that we have had to make this decision and it most certainly has not been an easy decision to make. Still the impacts of possibly introducing Covid-19 into our community far outweighs the impacts cancelling the festival would have on our community.”

Mr. Harley added, “We appreciate all the support shown to us to date, and we encourage everyone to support your favourite country music artists in any way you can in the coming months as we look forward to a bigger and better Festival in 2022.”

Sadly folks this cancellation notice also means (unfortunately) that the 9th “Rhymer’s Roundup” series of proposed Bush Poetry Shows (scheduled to be presented over 10 days in January 2021 @ the North Tamworth Bowling Club) has now also been cancelled.

The “Rhymer” apologises profusely for this cancellation and both he and his troupe of merry reprobates promise that they will return ‘with bells on’ in January 2022 to do it all again for you, our loyal fans.

The Tamworth Country Music Festival 2020

Friday 17th - Sun 26th January

What happened where and when @ Tamworth this January

In years gone by touring artists such as Buddy Williams, Stan Coster, Slim Dusty, Joy McKean, Rick & Thel Carey and many others made it their business to start the year off in Tamworth. It was the one place they could all come together and have a good catch-up, as touring life took all of them in different directions during the course of the year. All these years later, it’s still the best place to catch up with your favourite artists and your favourite people who you only ever see (once a year) in Tamworth.

 This past year had been tougher than most, particularly with the relentless drought, widespread bushfires, water restrictions and tragedies of all description. (Ironically the first big gathering of country fans was a huge concert at the Tamworth Town Hall to assist Tasmania’s bushfire victims in June 1966). It was so successful they staged another on the January Long Weekend in 1967, drawing artists and fans from far & wide.

 Due to the factors mentioned above the general consensus of opinion amongst Moteliers, Publicans and business owners (around town) was that crowds were down about 10-20% on the averages that they were used to at this time of year. So, although crowd numbers were a little bit ‘thinner on the ground’ than usual punters still trekked from all corners of this ‘wide brown land’ to ‘do it all again’ again in Tamworth in the last few weeks of January 2020.

 Unfortunately, ‘tough times’ & coping with adversity are a fact of Australian life these days. But then again so is the indomitable Australian spirit. It was evident back in the ‘good old days’ and it’s even more so today. When people are suffering the natural urge is to help your neighbour, or in a lot of cases, complete strangers. One of the largest supporters of charitable causes associated with this mighty festival this year was Toyota (who has donated more than half a million dollars in recent years through its Toyota hat sales). For the past 2 years Rural Aid has been the main beneficiary and last year Toyota directed $32,465 to this Australian charity from its hat sales. (It’s funny you know that no matter where you travel for the rest of the year you will inevitably come across someone wearing one of these sturdy and serviceable head coverings).

 Yes, times are tough but our “Aussie” spirit is tougher. That’s why at this really hard time in our country’s history we desperately needed those spirits lifted and what better way than with Country Music? To that end there were 10 nights of free concerts in Toyota Park (this year) offering a range of musical styles as well as 120 different venues offering 2,800 events and some 700 performers to this year’s eager fans. Once again venues all over the city opened their doors to welcome this year’s influx of happy visitors with open arms.

 The 2020 Festival remained ‘true to its roots’ showcasing everything from Country to Blues, Roots, Bluegrass, Honky Tonk, Jazz, Line-dancing & of course Bush Poetry. Highlights included the Toyota Star Maker Grand Final, ‘Americana in the Park’, ‘Live & Loud’, ‘Concert for Rural Australia’ and the ‘Best of the Buskers’ concerts to name a few. Throw in the ‘Festival Family Zone’, the ‘Fan Zone’ and then newly instituted ‘Fringe’ stage for street performers as well and there was plenty to thank the Tamworth Regional Council for as you made you way around town.

 Thankfully the oppressive heat that dominated the nature of the 2019 event was held at bay somewhat this year, with temperatures only rising to the late 30’s later in the week. This was mediated with thunderstorms nearly every 2nd night which helped moderate the overall weather patterns somewhat. These factors made conditions generally more acceptable for everyone concerned.

 The Rhymer’s Roundup Wrap-up 2020 (The real truth and nothing but the truth)

 What happened where and when @ the North Tamworth Bowling Club

 The 8th year of the “Rhymer’s Roundup” series of concerts (and the third consecutive year of its 10-day format) commenced at the North Tamworth Bowling Club on the morning of Friday the 17^th January at around 10.30 am. However, crowds had been building from the early hours of Friday morning apparently as by the time the “Rhymer” himself turned up at the venue the queue to get in stretched half way around the block and around the nearby roundabout and off into the distance. (Well, that’s a slight exaggeration-we do get carried away with that usual ‘adrenaline rush’ that greets you on the first day back on stage and are prone to telling ‘half-truths’ as they say).

Never mind. Main thing was that the “Rhymer’s Roundup” troupe was back, and in full force this year with the return to the fold of multi-award winner Rhonda Tallnash (who was absent from proceedings in 2019 due to illness). Rhonda was joined by Gregory North, John Peel, Noel Bull and the “Rhymer from Ryde” himself. Musical accompaniment was provided by Golden Guitar winning Steve Passfield. (More on that a little later).

It was very much a case of ‘one big happy family’ at the ‘Bowlo’ this year as the crowds (who have been attending the shows with great regularity in the past) settled in once again within the comfortable confines of the Club and the intimate stage environment. The audience took their favourite seats at the beginning of each day’s performances and greeted the entertainers like ‘long lost friends’ as they prepared to share another 2 hours’ worth of ‘hi-jinx, hilarity & mayhem’. Decorum was dispensed with as these verbose versifiers strode the stage and trolled the audience in search of laughs & willing participants to their colourful charades and personified pantomimes.

Chris Clarke (the ‘Bowlo’ Manager) and his friendly staff were hard pressed to keep the drinks up to the thirsty crowds as their continued laughter had caused a fair degree of sore throats and aching ribs from having their ‘funny bones’ tickled so much. Luckily there was a luncheon break at 1.00 pm every day that allowed our loyal followers to partake of the ‘Fine Food Fair’ offered by the Club’s Bistro counter. Some punters were even seen sneaking off to ‘have a flutter’ on the ponies & pokies in the Club’s Lounge Bar before the 2.00 pm musical programme continued the day’s entertainment.

As you remember the “Rhymer” was still a little bit sore & sorry for himself during the 2019 show season due to a recent appendix operation. I’m happy to report that the “Rhymer” was back to his best in 2020 and hit the stage each day with great ‘gusto’ (or was that a ‘fat guts’ so?) Either way the “Rhymer” was ‘on fire’ with a raft of new poems like his original piece “Bushfires get Stuffed” (inspired by a friend’s comment to him after he had lost everything in the bushfire crisis in the Hunter Valley of NSW). Other new poems included “The Walkaholics Dawn Patrol” (by Noel Stallard-a ditty about the perils of too much ‘early morning exercise’). “Clancy of the Overpass” (by David Stanley-an ode to a friend who had fallen upon hard times). “OH & S Gone Mad” (by Sandy Holmes-a tale of ‘Political Correctness’ gone haywire) and “Jesus and his Yoga” (by Stephen Whiteside-self-explanatory if you think about it).

Other than that, the “Rhymer” worked his way through his usual repertoire including much loved classics such as “Role Reversal”, “Appendicitis Blues” & “That’s Australia”.

Greg “Man of many Hats” North once again ‘ruled the roost’ during the course of his daily appearances trotting out a collection of his award-winning poems yarns and limericks. Try “Young People” on for size where the unsightly clothing, smutty talk and self-obsessive behaviour of our younger generations (that is 50 & 60 year olds) are mused over by the octogenarian granny narrating this tome. Confused by the overwhelming changes to technology that constantly befuddle us? Have a listen to Greg’s “Call Centre”. Ever been worried by not being able to find real words in the latest dictionaries. Greg gives his own personal update to the Collins catalogue. As a matter of fact, there isn’t much that Greg doesn’t have an opinion on and that what we love about him isn’t it? A true master of his craft that’s for sure!

Rhonda Tallnash returned to the “Roundup” in 2020 ‘locked & loaded’ and ‘rarin’ to go’ after missing the 2019 event due to sickness. She wasted no time making up for ‘lost time’ by ‘laying the audience in the aisles’ every chance that she got. Traditional classics like C.J.Dennis’s “Wheat” and “The Spotted Heifers” got a run as well as some modern classics like Bobby Miller’s “The Will” and Bill Kearns’s “Swingers” had the crowds in fits of laughter. Rhonda also topped that off with a wide range of original material such as “The Shirt’ ( a moving poems about PTSD and the horrors of war), “The 3 am Demise” (concerning the concerning fact that a noticeably high percentage of our elderly population apparently leave ‘this mortal coil’ at exactly that time of the morning), “Trailer Troubles” (left turns it to the right, right turns it left sort of thing. You know the drill) & “Fair Dinkum Ned”.

Noel Bull (from Musk in Victoria) took time off from his cows and farming pursuits to travel up the highway to NSW and also found himself with a daily spot on the “Rhymer’s Roster”. Noel is an effusive and energetic entertainer who leaves ‘no stone unturned’ in his efforts to please the audience. Not one for standing still Noel prowls every square inch of the stage (and most of the auditorium as well) as he literally breathes life into his powerhouse performances. Noels not adverse to involving the crowds in his shows as well as many an audience member is invited on stage to act out or participate in one of Noel’s poetic extravaganzas.

Some of Noel’s standout pieces this year were “Mistaken Identity” (things are not always what they seem), “Ann” (a bold move on Noel’s part describing how much his wife has changed since they first met), “Rhindicella” (a spoonerism that plays of the Cinderella fairy story), “Fifty Shades of Grey” (by British Poet John Summers-not for the faint hearted this one with some ‘kinky’ ‘going-on’ between members of the Seniors set) and “Pearl of them All” (by William Ogilvie-a traditional poem of a man’s love of his horse).

Gentleman John Peel from Tumut NSW has also been a long-term member of the “Rhymer’s Roundup” troupe and appeared again in the 2020 bracket of shows. A quite unassuming sort of chap John leaves his quiter side at home when he comes to Tamworth and blossoms into a fully fledged Bush Poet with plenty to say and a definite flair for doing so. John enthralled the punters with tales such as “The Batlow Vandal” (about a mysterious local identity), “The ballad of Shazza & Fred” (a ‘Westy’ love story), “Des & his Rugby Ballet” (strange ‘goings-on’ at the Tumut Rugby Club) & “The tale of the Big Black Spider” (‘creepy crawlies’ in the bedroom).

Mind you the melodius tones of our Bush Poets wasn’t the only sound emanating from the Bowling Club stage. We’ve found over the last few years that the audiences enjoy a ‘sing-a-long’ or two as well (over the course of the shows). Who could we invite that could fill the following criteria? (1) Must be a true “Aussie” character (2) Must have a substantial catalogue of top quality “Australiana” songs and (3) Must have won at least 1 “Golden Guitar”. I reckon that sounds a lot like Steve Passfield don’t you. Yep, honestly, you couldn’t find a nicer bloke than Steve. This bloke really knows how to bond with his audience. No bullshit. No pretence. Just Steve doing it ‘his way’. Steve regaled us with ditties such as “Angels in Orange” (a tribute to the ‘Fireys’), “Hillbilly Redneck Town” (whoever could he be talking about?), “Going it Alone” and some old-time classics like “I’ve been everywhere Man” & “Waltzing Matilda”. Steve’s presence added a real ‘gravitas’ to proceedings that’s for sure.

Well I’ve just about run out of steam…and things to say…well, for the moment anyway. Oh, no I haven’t. I forgot to tell you about the photo montage that’s just about to pop-up on your screen. One very special feature of the Tamworth landscape in 2020 was the arrival of a first-time visitor to the Festival, Narelle Walker (Graeme’s wife). She had taken a couple of days off work to pop-in to the North Tamworth Bowling Club and see just what it was that her husband got up to for 10 days some 350 klms from home. She even turned up as our “Door -Girl” managing the front desk for a couple of shows. Thanks Nell!

(Oops I forgot Anne Bull & David Kitchen also helped out on door duties! Thanks folks!) As well as that there is a few shots of the Peel River and the new Tamworth Regional Skate Park & Viaduct Park Youth Hub. There’s also some snaps of some of my favourite performers Kylie Castle, the Hillbilly Goats, Finn McCool and the Bushwackers. There’s even a few more pics on the drinking holes of Tamworth (what again?).

“The Rhymer Returns”

 Royal Brisbane Show

 The “Ekka”

 Bush Poetry Competition 2019

The Royal Queensland Show (the Ekka) presented by the RACQ is all about celebrating and championing agriculture and the critical role it plays in our everyday lives. Last year 415,000 people attended the “Ekka” with many showing support for our farmers who continue to battle the devastating drought.

 The RNA is committed to helping our farming families (many of whom have exhibited at the “Ekka” for countless generations), since the first show way back in 1876. To ensure Queenslanders could once again show their support (for the people who feed and clothe us every day) the Show committee decided to freeze the price of all tickets this year for the first time in 11 years.

The competitions run by the RNA are the heart and soul of the “Ekka” and with more than 21,000 entries received this year visitors were encouraged to look at what the various exhibitors were contributing to the local economy, whether it was beef or dairy cattle, wool or vegetables. The RNA is also continuing to invest in competition facilities ensuring the next generation of exhibitors can enjoy a better and more comfortable competition experience as well.

 The new Alexandria Park (which is part of the $2.9 billion Brisbane Showgrounds Regeneration Project) was home to this year’s Championship Canine Competition presented by Black Hawk. The park added 0.8 ha of additional green & event space to the “Ekka” site. 2019 also marked the first time that all four storeys of the Arrow Energy Pavillion were used to house animals as varied as Goats, Sheep Poultry, Alpacas, Beef & Dairy Cattle at the “Ekka” site.

 The 2019 “Ekka-Nites” show programme (sponsored by RACQ Life-Flight Rescue) featured a spectacular tribute to the nation’s farmers, the theme of the fireworks presentation this year being “A Celebration of the Human Spirit”, recognising the remarkable resilience and determination of our primary producers. The highlight of the show being the finale where a 70-metre-high pyrotechnic love heart erupted from the main arena floor in a display of gratitude to the country’s farmers, the heartbeat of our nation.

Entertainment aplenty abounded across the site with the XXXX Stockman’s Bar & Grill hosting an epic line up of musical acts as well as hosting the brand new “Ekka” ‘Pinball Arcade’ a bit hit with the young and the ‘young at heart’. The “Brisbane Pinball Masters” competition was held here during the course of the show. There was also a “Multicultural Music Stage”, a ‘Super Seniors Day’ and ‘Dora the Explorer’ for the kids.

Of course, a day at the show is never complete without filling your belly with those once a year greasy treats such as ‘12-inch-Long Bratwurst Sausages’, ‘Double Decker Cheeseburger Pies’, ‘Foot long Mega-Thick Chips’ and the ever-popular crowd favourite the ‘Dagwood Dog’.

Of course, other then eating and drinking his way around the “Ekka” the ‘Rhymer’ was actually at the Royal Queensland show for a purpose (believe it or not?). Well a couple of purposes actually. Firstly to join in with Trisha Anderson’s “Bush Poetry Troupe” for a couple of days of performing ‘in-situ’ (his 19^th consecutive appearance at the “Ekka”) and having another crack at the Show’s annual Bush Poetry Performance Competition (once again sponsored by the ‘Consultancy Bureau’ & the ‘Australian Stockman’s Hall of Fame’).

2 competition sections are held on the first Saturday of the show, they being the “Original” & “Established” sections. The results of this year’s competition putting a very wide grin of the face of the “Rhymer” as he picked up a second place in both of the competition sections.

In the Original section Graeme’s ditty “Appendicitis Blues” was a true story of an acute appendicitis attack (suffered on New Years Eve 2019) that nearly prevented him from running his popular “Rhymer’s Roundup” shows at the annual Tamworth Country Music Festival in January this year. Turns out that Graeme suspected that his darling wife Narelle had tried to poison him with all the insecticides that she’d been spraying on their backyard ‘vegie’ patch. Mmmm!

In the Established section Graeme trotted out a brand-new piece (on debut) written by a chap from Canberra called David Stanley. The poem was entitled “Clancy of the Overpass” the theme of which concerned a friend of David’s who had fallen upon hard times. A powerful and moving piece and one that obviously impressed the judges on the day. Graeme thanks David for the use of his poem!

Competition Results:

National Folk Festival 2019

Thurs 18^th-Mon 21^st April

Report & Results

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The word ‘Canberra’ is popularly claimed to derive from the word ‘Kamberra’ or ‘Canberry’ which is claimed to mean ‘meeting place’ in Ngunnawal (one of the indigenous languages spoken in the district before European settlement arrived).

 Canberra is, of course, the Capital City of Australia. It was founded following the ‘Federation of the Colonies of Australia’ as the seat of Government of the new nation. It is Australia’s largest inland city and the eight largest Australian city overall. The city is located at the northern end of the Australian Capital Territory 280 klms south west of Sydney and 660 klms north east of Melbourne.

 It is unusual among Australian cities in that it is an entirely ‘planned city’ similar to Washington DC & Brasilia in Brazil. Following an international contest for the city’s design a blueprint by American architects Walter Burley Griffin & Marion Mahoney Griffin was selected and construction commenced in 1913. The Griffin’s plan featured geometric motifs such as circles, hexagons & triangles and was centred on axes aligned with significant topographical landmarks in the ACT.

 Which means in essence folks that all roads lead to this years National Folk Festival. So now the history lessons over let’s talk about the Festival.

 The focus of this year’s Festival was very much to showcase the diversity of the ‘Folk’ genre and its relevance in contemporary societies. Folk is always best when it is current and reflects the traditions, cultures & communities that have spawned it. Folk is a broad palette encompassing many genres and styles. Like an artist dipping into a paint pot, sometimes folk traditions are experienced in their purest form and sometimes they mix and absorb characteristics from elsewhere. And, like the artist putting paint on canvas, folk lies close to its source. It connects and engages in unique and interesting ways. And so it did for anyone who experienced the breadth of artistry displayed at this year’s National Folk Festival.

 Just take a look at some of the features of this year’s event for e.g.

 There was a celebration of Australia’s first peoples with artists from both Australia & Canada performing traditional dance and song as well as contemporary singers like Gawurra. There was two dozen or more themed concerts covering such topics as ‘Bluegrass Radio’, ‘Instrument Maker’s Concerts’, a fully acoustic version of Gilbert & Sullivan’s ‘Trial by Jury’ (from the good folk of Loosely Woven), ‘Sailors fate’ (Sea Shanty’s & dark tales from the worlds’ oceans), a tutorial on Copyright (from Shortis & Simpson) and a range of parodies from the ‘Verandah Band’ to name a few.

 But we all know what the punters come to see don’t we? The Poetry in all its myriad forms. Bush verse, Free verse, Open verse, doggerel verse. Call it what you will. Those wanting to be challenged, laugh with or become emotionally engaged with their fellow human beings sought refuge from the dramas of the outside world in one of many Poetry venues scattered around the site.

 Poet’s Breakfast at the ‘Flute’N’Fiddle’, Featured artists concerts upstairs in the ‘Terrace’ & on the ‘Carnival Stage’, Poetry Slams in the ‘Majestic’, Themed concerts in the ‘Trocadero’, Open Mike sessions in ‘Central Park’, Yarnspinning in the ‘Stockcamp’, the ‘World Poetry Debate’ in the ‘Budawang’ and Workshops aplenty in the ‘Billy Moran’ Session tent. How’s that for a line-up?

 The Bush Poetry Fraternity were represented by Geoffrey.W.Graham, Jason Roweth, Megan Roweth, The Rhymer from Ryde, Stephen Whiteside & Maggie Somerville whilst the ‘City Poets’ or those aficionados of ‘Free Verse’ were staffed by luminaries such as “Irish” Joe Lynch, Andrew Galan, David Hallet, & Sandra Renew & friends.

 Hardy ‘early morning’ types were seen queuing outside the ‘Flute’N’Fiddle’ near Central Park to (a) make sure they got a seat & (b) make sure they got a spot on a very full Poet’s Breakfast performers run sheet each day. With only 3 days’ worth of Breakfasts to vie for the ‘National Reciters’ Award & the newly instituted “Blue the Shearer’ Award for best “Original Poem” there were only 3 opportunities for any of the poets to ‘hit their straps’ & ‘strut their stuff’ for the assembled masses & of course the most important person in the Marquee, the judge, who this year just happened to be Bush Poet John Peel from Tumut, NSW.

 John was often observed scratching & scribbling on his note pad (or anything else he could find) as he contemplated the overwhelming task of how he was going to judge over 90 separate recitations over a number of highly varying styles. (More on that in a minute).

 As well as all the familiar faces & ‘old hands’ one would expect to see gracing the ‘Flute’N’Fiddle’ stage there were also a swag of newcomers trying their hand at this ‘versifying’ business. Some, but by no means all of those fresh new faces were, Mona Finley, Roger Holmes, Anne Hayes, Phil Inn, David Stanley, Yvonne Glewis, Trevor Tisdall, Stuart Walkerden, Rowan McKewon & Bob Ross. A more eclectic bunch you would be hard to find.

 One of the interesting facets of the “Poet’s Breakfasts” at the National is that (far away from the conservative nature of a “Poets Breakfast” that you would normally experience at a purely Bush Poets event) the Breakfasts at the ‘Flute’N’Fiddle’ were bursting with calamity, controversy & a liberal amount of very ‘Free Speech’. Nothing wrong with that at all of course. Nurturing people to express themselves is one of the things that the Poets Breakfast is all about. Some of the mornings input was very challenging & topical and aroused extremely strong reactions from the assembled throngs.

 Back to the judging. Mr John Peel put on his thinking cap and after a number of sleepless nights finally stepped to the microphone to deliver, well, his deliberations on the poetic spectacle that he had witnessed over the last 3 mornings. And the winner is …as they say.

 “Reciter of the Year”-David Hallet

“Blue the Shearer Award for Best Original Poem”-“Irish” Joe Lynch

 And with that pronouncement the curtain was drawn on another National Folk Festival.

 Oh, by the way it would be remiss of me not to mention the departure of Laurie McDonald (from his position as Poetry Director for the National Folk Festival). Laurie has been assisting the main Committee for something like 7 years now, organising all the poetry venues & sourcing poets from all over Australia to entertain the National crowds. A big thank you Laurie from all your poetic brethren.

Man from Snowy River Festival 2019

Thurs 4^th-Sun 7^th April

(incorporating) Victorian Bush Poetry Championships 

Bush Poetry Competition

 Report & Results

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Corryong is supported by a variety of service clubs, a hospital & schools. It has a Catholic Primary & Corryong College P-12 school. The college has approx. 500 students. Corryong is also home to the Australian Institute of Flexible Learning which offers 100% online education to all of Australia.

  Corryong’s location makes it the Victorian gateway to the NSW snowfields, including the Thredbo Ski Village and the Snowy Mountains Hydro-Electric scheme. It is a way station for many travellers, particularly those on motorcycles, travelling across Australia’s highest mountains.

Corryong is close to the Burrowa Pine Mountain National Park and the massive Alpine National Park. The Kosciusko National Park is located nearby across the State border. Both of these areas were extensively burnt in the bushfires that raged through the region in January 2003.

This year the spectators enjoyed some pre-re-enactment entertainment by way of Bush Music provided by special guests Pete Denahy & Danny Phegan and some whip cracking from Emiliqua East. They also viewed the Larne Draught horses and an exceptional display of horsemanship from the “Double Dans”.

Then the stirring theme song from the “Man from Snowy River” feature films rings out across the valley as the re-enactment of Banjo’s poem reaches its crescendo and culmination as a mob of wild brumbies thunder down the valley’s slopes being eagerly pursued by a mob of hardy bushmen and their steeds. The re-enactment proceeds along the lines of Banjo’s poem until the wayward horse is finally corralled. Crowds go wild at this spectacle and young and old alike are enthralled by all this fast-paced action.

 Meanwhile back in town the ‘Live’ entertainment kept a similar frantic pace with Gretta Ziller, Travis Collins, Jetty Road, Pete Denahy, Danny Phegan & the Longreach Band & Jasmine Rae keeping the Showground Stage (and most of the town no doubt) rockin’ till the wee hours every morning. Joining these luminaries in the Entertainment Marquee were the wonderful Fanny Lumsden, Zac & Eliza Spalding, Greg Champion & Geoffrey.W.Graham & his long-lost brother Ralph.

 “True Culture” the Indigenous cultural group blended traditional sounds with a modern contemporary vibe and had the punters tapping their toes at locations all around the town as well.

 Add to this the excitement of the “Stockman’s Challenge”, the “Aussie Bush Idol” Talent Quest, the “High Country Bush Markets” and the “Art & Photography Exhibition” and it’s easy to see how most people filled in their weekends.

 Oops, nearly forgot the Bush Poetry. That would have been a ‘faux-pas’ of epic proportions.

 This year the “Man from Snowy River Festival” also encompassed the staging of the Victorian Bush Poetry Championships once again run by the “Bush Poetry Co-ordinator” Jan Lewis and her wonderful sub-committee of hard-working volunteers. The performance and written sections of said competition were once again presided over by the ‘Senior Judge’ “The Rhymer from Ryde” (whose residency at this post stretches back some 8 years to 2012). In this time “The Rhymer” has watched over 2 x Australian, 4 x Victorian & 2 x standard Man from Snowy River competitions and has been Jan’s ‘right hand man’ with regards to all thing’s competition wise.

The “Rhymer” was joined on the Judging panel this year by Tom McIlveen & Brenda Joy (2 of Australia’s best performers & writers of Bush Verse) as well as Howard James (from SA) Lorraine McCrimmon, Honor Auchinleck & Noel Bull (from Musk, VIC).

(Unfortunately (due to ill-health) fellow judge Carol Reffold was not able to attend the event this year. Carol has been one the mainstays of the Man from Snowy River event since its inception and her presence and warmth of character were sadly missed by all present. Best wishes & prayers go out to Carol in this difficult time).

 Head Collator Mick Coventry was ably assisted by Hal Pritchard & Malcolm Davies. Timekeeping duties were completed by Malcolm Batty, Malcolm Davies, Tony Lambides-Turner, Howard James & Val Kirley. Mc’ing duties were confidently handled (across all the competition sections) by Brenda Joy, Trevor Best, Geoffrey.W.Graham, Ralph Graham & Noel Bull.

 The major performance competition sections (they being the Modern, Traditional, Original Serious & Original Humorous) were hotly contested and barely a breath was taken as these marvellous orators captivated the hearts and minds of the attentive audiences with their skilful recitations of Australian classics.

 In addition to these Overall Championship sections there was also a separate Yarnspinning and Novice sections as well as the very popular “Man from Snowy River” Recitation Competition and “Poet’s Brawl”-1-minute competition.

 The aptly named “Banjo’s Block” and the nearby Lions Youth Hall hosted the Championship sections again this year and were (at times) full to overflowing with curious onlookers and poetry devotees crammed into every seat that the building and lawns could accommodate.

Every morning come 8.00 am “Banjo’s Block” also resounded to the crackling sizzle of the open log fire and the chattering voices of the early morning poetry set as the “Poet’s Breakfasts” swung into action. Eager to warm up before the day’s competition sections hordes of poets (both professional & practised -as well as a school of exceptionally keen novices and first timers) stepped ‘up to the plate’ to exhibit their wares. Holding sway over this seething mass were the ‘Breakfast’ Mc’s “The Rhymer from Ryde” and his burly sidekick Matthew Hollis (who had missed last years event due to work commitments). Matthew had returned to Corryong in fine form with his collection of yarns jokes and general ‘bullshit’ that only a man of his stature could get away with. Good to have you back, big fella!

 Bush Poetry also spread its wings into other venues ‘around the traps’ over the weekend including the Corryong RSL Hall (host to the annual “Anzac Remembrance Concert) and the “Bottom Pub” who once again held the “Poet’s Meet & Greet Session” in the Beer Garden marquee. Thanks for the support guys!

In conclusion an enormous debt of gratitude was expressed by everyone concerned with all the previously mentioned Bush Poetry events to the Bush Poetry Convenor Jan Lewis. To say that she ‘lives and breathes’ this festival and that ‘it’s in her blood’ would be an understatement. Jan Lewis is this Festival and it simply wouldn’t be the same without her. Thanks Jan from ‘one & all’. GJ.

Victorian Bush Poetry Championships Performance Competition Results

Victorian Bush Poetry Championships Written Competition Results

Victorian Bush Poetry Championships Junior Written Competition Results

Victorian Bush Poetry Championships Junior Performance Competition Results

Dunedoo Bush Poetry Festival 2019

Fri 1st - Sun 3rd March

Report & Results

 “Echoes of the Past”

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Dunedoo largely functions as a service centre to the surrounding district which focuses on the production of wheat, cattle, mixed farming, timber, fat lambs & wool. As with many wheat growing centres in western NSW the village’s skyline is dominated by a large silo. Dunedoo also features a small hospital, two schools, 1 Hotel, a small commercial area, a small freight railway station as well as sporting and special event facilities.

It was also the locale for the 20^th Annual Dunedoo Bush Poetry Festival held between the 1st-3rd March 2019.

Lloyd Graham (President of the Dunedoo & District Development Group Inc.) presided over the organisation of the event and was once again assisted by the Festival Co-ordinator Kylie Brougham. In only her 2nd year on the job Kylie kept things running smoothly and managed to keep a smile on her face all weekend (whilst doing so)!

It was the “Rhymers” 12th consecutive journey to Dunedoo and his 2nd appearance at the Festival’s new venue, the Dunedoo Jubilee Hall. (which he absolutely loves performing in).

A little bit short of new serious material the “Rhymer” trawled through his ‘back catalogue’ of verse to find one that hadn’t been aired at the Dunedoo Festival before. “Have you seen my Dad” is a touching emotional piece written whilst his dad was in the Intensive Care Unit @ Liverpool Hospital (after a serious car accident some years ago). It was written to give to his father (when he recovered) but sadly that was not to be. The “Rhymer” said, “It’s not a piece that I perform often, however occasionally the ‘time feels right’ for a bit of reminiscing”. And powerful reminiscing it was too as the “Rhymer” picked up a 3rd place in the Original Serious Section with said poem. The result brought both a tear to his eye and a smile to his face.

Greg also judged the event along with fellow adjudicators Sandra Nicholson, Des Kelly, Alan Walker, Norma Gallagher & Tony Yeo. Jason & Chloe Roweth provided the entertainment at the Saturday Night Concert and the weekend finished up with a riotous “Poet’s Brawl” back in the Jubilee Hall.

Classical Male 1st: Ken Tough 2nd: Bob ‘Pa’ Kettle 3rd: Andrew Pulsford	Classical Female 1st: Heather Searles 2nd: Rhonda Tallnash 3rd: Claire Reynolds
Contemporary Male 1st: Ken Tough 2nd: Paddy O’Brien 3rd: Bob ‘Pa’ Kettle	Contemporary Female 1st: Rhonda Tallnash 2nd: Heather Searles 3rd: Jacqui Warnock
Original Serious Male 1st: Ken Tough 2nd: Bob ‘Pa’ Kettle 3rd: Graeme Johnson	Original Serious Female 1st: Heather Searles 2nd: Claire Reynolds 3rd: Rhonda Tallnash
Original Humorous Male 1st: Ken Tough 2nd: Andrew Pulsford 3rd: Max Pringle	Original Humorous Female 1st: Heather Searles 2nd: Rhonda Tallnash 3rd: Jacqui Warnock
Yarnspinning Section 1st: Rhonda Tallnash	Original Serious Male 3rd: Graeme Johnson with Eric Beer
Intermediate Section 1st: David Melville 2nd: Carolyn Maxfiled 3rd: Marion Dreyer

The Tamworth Country Music Festival 2019

This year marked the 47^th year of the Festival which for decades has featured Australia’s top Country performers as well as newcomers eager to break into the Tamworth scene. The Festival has a proud history supporting rural & regional Australia and is the largest Country Music Festival in the Southern Hemisphere (as well as Australia’s largest Music Festival of any kind).

During the course or the event some of the industry’s biggest names were inducted into the “Hall of Fame”, the ABCRA National Finals Rodeo rocked and rumbled AELEC (the Australian Equine & Livestock Event Centre) & the Toyota Starmaker competition turned 40.

In addition to this there were Coca-Cola showcases at the Tamworth Town Hall, the Aristocrat Country Entertainer of the year @ Wests Diggers, the Mount Franklin Junior Talent Quest @ Wests and the new TSA Talent Quest at the City Bowling Club. Need I say more?

This year Tamworthians rolled out the ‘red carpet’ for a huge throng of visitors, numbered they say easily in the tens of thousands and I’d believe it to. Just saunter through the Carter Street Campgrounds on a sunny afternoon and you could see an assortment of tents, vans & caravans stretching out before you as far as the eye could see. A veritable blanket of humanity spread over the sporting fields beside the rambling Peel River.

And did the weather come to the party or what? In one of the hottest years on record the mercury broke the 40-degree mark on 5 consecutive days with the daytime temperature over the next 5 days never falling below 35 degrees. A real sauna. Definitely not for the fainthearted. Still that’s what we love about Tamworth in January isn’t it?

The Rhymer’s Roundup Wrap-up 2019 (Prelim)

Well one of major pieces of news to come out of the Festival this year was the fact that the “Rhymers Roundup” nearly didn’t happen at all. Take a look at the photo below and then I’ll tell you the full story.

It’s a sad & sorry sight isn’t it folks? Here’s what happened.

It’s New Years Eve morning about 2.00 am and the “Rhymers” thrashing round in bed feeling like someone’s stuck a knife in his guts. A short while later he presents to Ryde Hospitals Emergency Department to be told that he’s having a major Appendicitis attack. After a bit of prodding & probing by the Doctors & Nurses and a few X-Rays later it’s decided that they have to come out straight away.

So it’s a couple of days in hospital followed by a very lengthy recovery period (no driving for a week and no heavy lifting for a month at least). Trouble is a week or so later Graeme’s meant to be up in Tamworth organising his advertising responsibilities like erecting massive vinyl banners and handing out 1000’s of A5 flyers as well as plastering Peel Street with A3 full colour posters. Heck, he can’t even bend over to tie his own shoes…what’s to do? So it’s loving wife Narelle to the rescue who has to take a few days off to drive ‘hubby’ to Tamworth and do most of the hard ‘yakka’ herself under Graeme’s guidance. What a girl!

As for feeling like performing…ahhh…nuhhh was the answer. But as they say “The Show must go on” and another week later Graeme drives himself to Tamworth and with the help of his “Rhymer’s Roundup” cohorts makes it through a pretty uncomfortable 10 days ‘on the job’. Embarrassing though was the fact that to make it ‘on stage’ Graeme had to buy a new wardrobe of pants & shirts to accommodate his enlarged girth (a result of swelling caused by the operation). Well, ‘you’ll laugh about it later’ as they say. And he did! Worst thing was he didn’t have a drink for a month (following his hospitalisation). That hurts!

The Rhymer’s Roundup Wrap-up 2019 (The real truth and nothing but the truth)

 The 7th year of the “Rhymer’s Roundup” series of concerts (and the second consecutive year of a 10-day format) was welcomed with open arms by poetry devotees from every corner of the land as they parked out the corner of Bligh & Piper streets with every form of transportation imaginable. Even the odd ‘horse & cart’. Well you know what they say about Bush Poets ‘only half the lies they tell are the truth’.

Crowds kept the staff at the North Tamworth Bowling Club on their toes as they indulged in all the facilities that the Club has to offer. Early morning ‘heart starters’ from the bar, fine food from the bistro and a flutter on the pokies and ponies were all squeezed around a day at the ‘Bowlo’ and a fine selection of “Aussie” Bush Verse.

 There was one major disappointment for the crowds though and that was that one of Graeme’s “Featured Artists” Rhonda Tallnash was unable to attend the shows as she had her own little health scare a few days before the Festival as well. (Visiting poet Noel Stallard from QLD stood in for Rhonda one day though and laid the crowds in the aisle so to speak. More on that later).

So it was up to the blokes (from the troupe) to be a bit more feminine in their presentations just to soften the fact that there was no female presence at the shows (unless that is, you count Gregory North dressed as an old lady, and I wouldn’t!). Get well soon Rhonda. We need you back.

As you are now aware the “Rhymer” was still a little bit sore & sorry for himself by the time Fri the 18th rolled around. Unable to perform with his usually flare & theatrics (cause basically every time he moved something hurt) Graeme was more or less tied to the microphone stand in a fairly formal stance. Not one to let the side down though Graeme simply had to do more with his voice and hunkered down to doing his best for the remaining 9 days. His new poem “Appendicitis Blues” elicited gales of laughter from the sympathetic crowds on a daily basis as Graeme used the poem to elaborate on his apparent lack of movement. There’s one in every crowd isn’t there? Other than that, the “Rhymer” worked his way through his usual repertoire including some of his award-winning serious pieces like “Poles & Wires” (a tribute to the “Light Horse Interchange sculpture in Sydney’s west) & “The Voyage” (chronicling the hardships of convict transportation). Signature comedy poems such as “Chatterbox”, “Barangaroo & the Pontiff too” “If its FREE I want it”, Barbie Town” & “Bob the Beagle” were given a fair airing too!

Greg “Man of many Hats” North was once again the featured attraction of this three ringed circus with his usual hilarious hi-jinx cranked up to a maximum crowd-pleasing level. Not only was he entertaining the crowds with his poems on gastronomic delights “Tofu” (and the perils of eating same) & “Cake” (and what not to make it with) but also delved into his considerable ‘back catalogue’ to revisit some yarn spinning gems like “Corryong” (and anything that rhymes with it) and “Killer” (about a highly shady character who ‘exterminises’ anything that moves). Other bad taste classics like “Our Touch Football Day” (were explosive fart gasses ignite the club barbeque causing an ensuing riot) & “Slabs, TAB’s, Cabs & Kebabs’ (about regurgitating one’s evening meal onto the back seat of a taxi) also got a look in despite Graeme’s best efforts to ‘cut them off at the pass’. Thanks Greg, another mighty effort.

Gentleman John Peel was again another mainstay of the “Rhymer’s Roundup” troupe as he has been for many years. He brought forth a fourth poem in his fencing saga called “Know a fence”, explained the finer details of the political process in “The Candidates Speech”. He also enlightened us about his penchance for cross-dressing in “My Rocky Horror Nightmare” & continuing the underwear theme gave us “Stuck in a Lingerie Store”. Ned Kelly’s shoot out at the Glenrowan Inn was explained as an AFL game gone awry in “The true story of the Kelly Gang” and true love for the older set came into bloom in “The Ballad of Joan & Jack”.

Last but not least was the inimitable Noel ‘Raging’ Bull from Musk in VIC. Noel works for a Multinational Seed Propagation Company and has large portions of his farm dedicated to housing huge greenhouses full of funny looking plants…hmmm???. Need we say more?

Noel Stallard..oops I nearly forgot about him. Noel became the 14th honorary member of the “Rhymers” troupe when he appeared on Thurs 24^th January (in place of Rhonda Tallnash). Noel spent 35 years teaching in both Primary & Secondary schools before retiring to become a full-time Bush Poet. Noel has the rare distinction of being 1 of only 2 people to win both sections of Tamworth’s “Golden Damper” performance competition in the same year.

Poetry, poetry, poetry…was that all there was? Well yes really. No, only kidding. The members of the “Roundup” troupe did have the privilege sharing our stage with two of Australian Country Music’s favourite sons Pat Drummond & Steve Passfield over the course of the shows 10-day cycle.

The usual daily format was to have 15 minutes or so of poetry followed by a couple of songs just to break things up a bit. This is where Pat & Steve came to the fore.

Everybody loves a good ‘sing-a-long’ and “Uncle Pat” (as he is affectionately known) has a mile of these ‘feel-good’ ditties up his sleeve. Crowds were seen ‘fist-pumping’ the air as they sang along to “If I Die before Keith Richard”, flapping their arms above their heads as they learnt about the dangers of the “Magpie Swat” and replicating the 1812 Overture as part of Pat’s song “Alfred Bremmer’s Organ” (about a fairground attraction formerly located at the Entrance NSW).

“The Sao Song” is another crowd favourite as Pat literally crams Sao biscuits into his mouth whilst continuing to sing. Yep, it’s hard to shut Pat up! As it was the Country Music Festival Pat also produce his classic tune “The Toilet Paper Line Dance” (about an unfortunate line dancer and a trail of toilet paper). It was Pats 31^st year at the Tamworth Country Music Festival.

Steve “Golden Guitar Winner” Passfield also joined the fun filling in for three days when Pat Drummond was available. Steve is a truly rare talent. An easy-going laconic sort of bloke with a devilish ‘larrikin’ streak Steve took to the stage in the mornings as a bit of a practise for his 3 hour sets later in the day at Joe Maguires. Steve was a real ‘natural’ with the crowds, engaging them with his yarns & anecdotes, jokes, limericks and sometimes ’naughty’ stories. Songs like “Timberman”, “Old Friends”, “Five Silver Stars” & “Beneath the Southern Cross” showcased the variety & depth of Steve’s repertoire.

So there you have it folks. Another hot & sweaty Tamworth Festival bites the dust. Only 365 days to go. I can’t wait! Oh, by the way there’s a few photos to be found below. Since you’ve already seen a swag of photo’s from previous years showing members of the “Roundup” troupe in performance mode Graeme has chosen to go in a different direction with this year’s photography with some more scenic shots of the Tamworth locale and a bevvy of shots with some of his Tamworth “muso" mates like Andrew Clermont, The Hillbilly Goats, Mic Conway et al. along with some friends who stopped in to see his shows like relative Catherine Briggs and former poetic colleague Gary Cullen. Enjoy! (Oh yeah, there’s some personal shots of him with other “Rhymer’s Roundup’ members as well-just to complete the picture).

Bryce & Mahney from Hillbilly Goats	Mic Conway
Catherine Briggs	Garry Cullen
	Fred Smith
Steve's Impromptu Citizenship Ceremony	Steve's Impromptu Citizenship Ceremony Part 2
Raiding Greg's Hat Box	Raiding Greg's Hat Box

STOP PRESS!!! STOP PRESS!!!

 Knowing that the “Rhymer” enjoys the occasional beer or three he has decided to print (in picture form below for your edification and intoxication) the drinker’s guide to venues in Tamworth. Happy boozing!

Tamworth Services Club	Diggers
Albert Hotel	Courthouse Hotel
Central Hotel	CH Boutique Hotel
Joe Maguires	Good Companions
The Welders Dog	The Welders Dog
Nomad Brewing - Imperial Hotel	Red Door Lounge Bar - Imperial Hotel
Tamworth Hotel	Post Office Hotel
Hopscotch	Tudor Hotel
Pig & Tinder Box	Pig & Tinder Box
Southgate Inn	Family Hotel
Longyard Hotel	Wests Leagues

The Gulgong Henry Lawson Literary Awards are held on the June Long Weekend every year in conjunction with the Leonard Teale Memorial Performance Awards in the quaint little town of Gulgong NSW.

 Graeme Johnson, “The Rhymer from Ryde” has been fortunate enough to win both of these awards in his time and his 2 x bronze Henry Lawson statuettes sit in pride of place in his living room in suburban Sydney. Henry casts a wry eye over Graeme as he passes by every day, chiding him for not putting ‘pen to paper’ more often. Graeme always acknowledges with a knowing nod. Henry knows best.

 Back to this year’s Literary Awards.

 For the first time this year the written Poetry Judge was instructed to break the written poems received into four categories with prizes for 1st, 2nd, 3rd & HC, then to select the overall main prizes based on these 4 section results. Those 4 categories were:

Anzac Poems, Human Interest Poems, Outback Poems & Humorous Poems.

Graeme’s poem “Plywood Crosses” was inspired by the Anzac Centenary celebrations being commemorated by the Australian War Memorial in Canberra. Two of these projects, the “Roll of Honour Soundscape” & the “Commemorative Crosses” formed the inspiration for Graeme’s poem.

“Johnson’s a real ‘Chatterbox’”

 Royal Brisbane Show

 The “Ekka”

 Bush Poetry Competition 2018

For 143 years the Royal National Agricultural & Industrial Association of Queensland has been dedicated to celebrating & championing agriculture and the critical role it plays in the everyday lives of Queenslanders. The Royal Brisbane Show or “Ekka” (as it is more commonly known) is the associations way of sharing this passion with the constituents of the State. Is it popular? Well, with an average attendance through the turnstiles of approx. 400,000 people annually that statement seems to be well supported.

 Bowen Park (as it was then named) was chosen as the site for the first ever Royal Queensland Show way back in January 1876. The Park covered 6.8 hectares bordered by Bowen Bridge Road. Gregory Terrace and a creek ran through the middle of what is now the Main Arena.

The Intercolonial Exhibition of 1876 was declared a Public Holiday and on opening day 17,000 people attended. Not bad considering Brisbane’s population at the time was only 22,000. Men attended in their suits and ladies in their finest garments. Food was served on long tables and the first Showbag (a bag of coal by the way) was free for all visitors.

The first “Royal” Show was held in 1921 when the association was granted the prefix under warrant from His Majesty King George V. Since then the shortened name ‘Ekka’ has replaced ‘Exhibition’ in the Queensland vernacular-indicating locals’ affection for the show. The ‘Ekka’ has been held every year since with only two exceptions-in 1919 due to the Spanish Flu epidemic and in 1942 when the ground was used for a WW2 staging depot.

Of major importance to this event (in the modern era) is the wide range of competitions that are offered to participants. As a matter of fact, some of the “Ekka’s” competitions were even recognised at the 2017 International Association of Fairs & Expositions which represents more than 1,100 fairs around the world.

The RNA received a total of 19 International awards for excellence, 6 of those for competitions such as the Woodchop & Sawing, Paddock to Plate & Pisciculture.

 Talking of competitions as we are, we might as well have a bit of a chat about why the “Rhymer” was at the ‘Ekka’ anyway. You guessed it, a Bush Poetry Competition. This year’s Bush Poetry Performance competition was sponsored by ‘The Consultancy Bureau’ & the ‘Australian Stockmen’s Hall of Fame’ and was once again held on the first Saturday of the show in the grounds of the rustic “Museum” precinct.

 2 adult sections are held as part of the competition. The “Original” & the “Established” sections. Males compete against the females and all ages recite in the same section.

 “The Rhymer from Ryde” once again featured prominently in the ‘winner’s circle’ taking to the dais on 2 occasions with a Win in the “Original” section and a 2^nd place in the “Established” section.

 His poem in the “Original” section was entitled “Chatterbox”. Chatterbox” was inspired by a rail journey Graeme and his wife took a couple of years ago up to Armidale to see a music concert called “A Day on the Green” starring John Farnham. It tells of the incessant chatting of the two old ladies that sat behind them all the way from Central Station to Armidale and then (believe it or not) sat behind them again on the return journey back to Sydney many days later. Adding ‘fuel to the fire’ was the fact that the two old ladies in question also stayed in the same Motel as them. True story! The denouement was that they also sat beside Graeme and his wife at the RSL Club dining room the next night and sidled up beside them later on that evening whilst Graeme and his wife were playing the poker machines. With such exposure to these two ‘windbags’ Graeme had a wealth of material to draw from in the writing of this poem. It’s a ‘cracker’. Thanks ladies!

 The poem that Graeme performed in the “Established” section was another piece by one of Graeme’s favourite authors, Rita Diplock (from QLD) called “Gone”. Without giving to much away “Gone” is an involving story of family heartbreak & loss. Sad I know, but written with such compassion as to endear itself to the listener Thank Rita! Well done again. (Graeme came third in this section last year with another of Rita’s poems called “The Grey”).

Original 1st: Graeme Johnson 2nd: Mal Beveridge 3rd: Geraldine King	Established 1st: Peter Marrion 2nd: Graeme Johnson 3rd: Mal Beveridge

Graeme’s other major participation at the “Ekka” is spending a couple of days working with Trisha Anderson and her merry troupe of Poets. Trisha has been organising Bush Poetry performances at the “Ekka” now for 22 years. That’s a pretty superb effort. In so doing not only does she showcase the very diverse talents of this motley crew but at the same time also highlights to the public the importance that the ‘spoken word’ has had in shaping Australia’s artistic landscape.

 The Showgrounds ‘Urban modification’ programme continues blending the old with the new as it re-invigorates the entire site. This year the new ‘Bowen Hill’ precinct ‘sprung into life’ with one of the old showground pavilions given new life as a Boutique Tavern/restaurant. As well as showcasing a fine range of QLD brews the décor/theme of the tavern reflects memorabilia & photographs from the show’s past. Informative & inspiring!

 Next to this (separated by an open air ‘al-fresco’ dining area) is the new ‘Beerhaus’ which boast an impressive selection of 40 tap beers. Need we say more?

 The old “Woodchop Arena” had also been replaced by a Multi Storey Carpark and was temporarily housed (for this year at least) in a huge new ‘state of the art’ marquee beside the Showbag Pavillion.

 As per usual the culinary delights of the Show lured you into a smorgasboard of fast food delights like “Pizza in a Cone”, “Curly chips on a Stick”, “Chocolate covered Apples” and the ‘piece ‘d’ resistance’ a “Hamburger Pie” no less? What were they thinking?

 Well we only do it to ourselves once a year don’t we? See ya in 2019!

Man from Snowy River Festival - Thu 5th - Sun 8th April 2018

Bush Poetry Competition

Report & Results

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“…there was movement at the station for the word had passed around…”

Jack Riley was born in Ireland in 1841 and buried in Corryong in 1914. There are many great horseman and pioneers who are worthy of recognition who are buried in the cemeteries of the Upper Murray & Snowy Mountain areas, but Jack Riley’s grave draws special attention. It is marked with a circular tablet of unpolished local grey granite and bears the inscription ‘In memory of the Man from Snowy River-Jack Riley-buried here-16^th July 1914’

Legend has it that in the mid 1880’s Riley joined a party of mountain stockmen who were attempting to capture a thoroughbred stallion that had escaped and was running with a mob of wild horses near Mount Leatherhead. A stockyard was built on a creek at the foot of Leatherhead and the mob was located, as Riley had predicted, on a high ridge. A report of the incident relates ‘when the riders closed in on the mob, the stallion broke away and galloped down a fearsome slope with Riley alone in pursuit. The mountainside was pitted with wombat holes, strewn with loose shale and covered with low scrub. The stallion and Riley’s pony literally tobogganed down to the bottom, where the stallion blundered into the stockyard and Riley, with the slip rails up and stallion secured, was waiting when the rest of the riders, having taken an easier route down, arrived’.

Early in 1890, Walter Mitchell of Bringenbrong Station took his friend, Banjo Paterson, on a ride through the high country where they visited Jack Riley @ Tom Groggin. He guided them to the top of Mt. Kosciuszko, then south along the great divide to the South Ram’s Head, through to the head of the Cascade country to the Tin mines and on to the Pilot and back down to Groggin. Banjo gleaned many stories from the mountain stockmen, including the recapture of the stallion. It was this trip and these tales which gave Banjo the inspiration to write the poem which has become known and loved by so many. ‘The Man from Snowy River’ was first published in the bulletin in April 1890.

In July 1914 word reached the town that the old stockman was in very poor health and Senior Constable Moore gave instructions that a group of cattlemen should set out and bring Jack back into the Corryong hospital. The extreme cold and high rivers made this a huge task and so it was that (via Harrington’s Track) on the 14^th of July that the men sought to bring Jack to town. They made it over Hermit Mountain and on to Carters Hut. But darkness had closed in and so they had to make camp there for the night. It is there that Jack drew his final breath.

From this history & legend ‘The Man from Snowy River’ Festival was born. Now in its 22^nd year the Festival attracts horsemen and audiences from all over Australia eager to participate in and be part of that marvellous history. The Festival now encompasses events as diverse as Bush Poetry, Trainers Challenges, Camp drafting, Cutting horses, Draught horses, Striplings Challenge, Rodeo & Cattle Dogs, Whip cracking and a showcase of ‘Live’ entertainment including performances by Brad Cox, Fanny Lumsden, Adam Harvey & Beccy Cole, Travis Sinclair & Danny Phegan & the Longreach Band. These superstars were ably supported by Geoffrey. W. Graham, Johnny Huckle, Greg Champion & Jake Sinclair.

Corryong during Festival time is indeed a wonderous place. There’s nothing like rising to a cold misty morning to take in an early morning walk through the town and down to the showground with the heights of Mt. Mittamatite looming over the horizon.

The smells, the sights, the sounds of the Australian bush come to life with the ringing of the anvils, the smoke of a thousand campfires, the neighing and whinnying of the horses intermingled with the yap of the working dogs as they go about their business. Through the shadows come the shrouded forms of the mountain cattlemen and riders, cloaked in their ‘DrizaBones’, reins and saddles slung over their shoulders as they go to mount their trusty steeds. If you want to know that being Australian is all about, this is the part of it that you need to see and experience firsthand.

Wander up from the Showgrounds towards the town proper and you are greeted by a smaller communal campfire at a location they call ‘Banjo’s Block’. This is the haunt of those strange creatures known as Bush Poets who will assail you at any time of the day with stories yarns and poems on this great country of ours. Step up and have a go yourself or settle into the background and be transported back in time as these talented versifiers immerse you in their rhyming magic.

This year’s Bush Poetry programme was slightly paired back to that of previous years as Jan Lewis (the Poetry Co-ordinator) and her team of willing volunteers had decided to lighten their workload and take things a little bit easier this year-round and actually have time to enjoy the bush poetry presentations themselves. So, whilst the usual features of the weekend like the Poet’s Breakfasts, the Campfire Sessions, One Minute poems, Workshops & Bush music continued as per normal, the actual Competition Sections of the weekend were reduced somewhat. Funnily enough, even though there were less poetry events on the Festival calendar, crowds at all events were way up on the previous year regardless of the time of day. Whilst there wasn’t so many of the ‘high profile’ poets that the audiences may be accustomed to seeing, a raft of new ‘fresh faces’ took to the stage with such enthusiasm that we could barely fit them all in. A very satisfying result for Jan and her crew!

Still the thrill of competition got the adrenaline pumping as it always does and once such a challenge is extended there is never a shortage of people willing to ‘have a go’ and take it on.

Friday evening saw the running of the annual “Man from Snowy River Recitation” competition held under the sparkling stars at ‘Banjo’s Block’ & Saturday saw the heats of the “Jack Riley Heritage Award” (expanded this year to include poets, muso’s & yarnspinners) being pitted against one another in a ‘winner takes all’ environment. A very difficult task for the resident judges indeed!

Speaking of Judges, “The Rhymer from Ryde” once again led the adjudication panel as ‘Senior Judge’ in residence (a position that he has held since 2012, presiding over 2 x Australian, 3 x Victorian and 2 x standard “Man from Snowy River” events during that time). Graeme was accompanied on the judging panel this year by newly accredited ABPA judge, Noel Bull (from Musk in VIC), Carol Reffold & Brenda Joy. Former ABPA President Hal Pritchard took the reins as ‘Head Collator for the competition sections. Thanks Hal!

As we come to the close of this year’s report it would be remiss of me not to mention, once again, the ceaseless and untiring work of the event’s Poetry Co-ordinator Jan Lewis. Over her many years at the helm of the Bush Poetry contingent of the show, she has put in an effort way beyond her call of duty, often working through great personal losses to ensure that the ‘show must go on’. Her support through these often-testing times has been her long-time partner Linton Vogel. A better pair you’ll never find!

Man from Snowy River Bush Poetry Competition Results 2018

Dunedoo Bush Poetry Festival 2018-Report & Results

“The Past and the Present”.

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The ‘past and the present’ proved to be a very successful formula for the “Rhymer from Ryde” during his 11^th consecutive visit to the Dunedoo Bush Poetry Festival 2018. The 19^th annual staging of this event (not being held in 2017 due to the severe bushfires in the region) took place from Thurs 1^st -Sun 4^th March this year.

For the first time in many years the competition venue had changed location from the Dunedoo Central School Hall to the Dunedoo Jubilee Hall (which over the last 2 years had undergone extensive renovations).

Brought to you be the hardworking committee members of the Dunedoo & District Development Group Inc. (“Where people make the difference”) this years President Lloyd Graham was more than happy with the way things panned out over the course of the weekend. Ably assisted by new Co-ordinator Kylie Brougham Bush Poets from all over the land were enticed to travel thousands of kilometres to perform in the friendly little hamlet

found in the Warrumbungle Shire in the Central Western Region of New South Wales. Located 399 metres above sea level on the southern bank of the Talbragar River, Dunedoo is situated at the intersection of the Golden & Castlereagh Highways.

But back to the ‘past and the present’ mentioned above.

Yes, the “Rhymer from Ryde” returned to his winning ways with a 1^st place in the Modern Section reciting a beautiful poem by Rita Diplock from QLD entitled “The Grey” (that’s the present part of the title above). He was also placed 3^rd in the Traditional section with a poem from 1915 by Thomas Brennan called “Our Nameless Dead”. (that being the past). Thomas Brennan was a clerk working in Brisbane when he enlisted in WW1.

He served as a stretcher bearer for the Australian Light Horse Brigade Field Ambulance in Gallipoli. Returned to Queensland for mental convalescence he fell to his death from the balcony of his inner city boarding house in Brisbane’s CBD. He was 35 years old. “Our Nameless Dead” was his most widely published work. The “Rhymer” was humbled and very proud to bring Mr. Brennan’s work back into the public eye.

Comperes Lloyd Graham, Gregory North & Chris Sullivan kept proceedings rolling along and Judges Sandra Nicholson, Gregory North, Des Kelly, Norma Gallagher, Tony Yeo & Kevin Pye flexed their considerable acumen and implementation of the various rules to full effect to deliver verdicts on all performance sections that seemed to please everybody concerned.

The Tamworth Country Music Festival 2018

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(But first, a little bit of History)

You know folks, it all started for me way back in 2002 when Len Knight (Motelier, Muso & Bush Poet from Cessnock in the Hunter Valley) invited me up to Tamworth to perform in some shows he’d organised at Joe Maguire’s Pub at the end of Peel Street.  “What, hang around to perform 1 or 2 poems a day in some dilapidated shanty, or worse still, in the full blazing sun of some mangy backyard beer garden to a couple of boozy shearers and their camp dogs. No thanks mate! And the heat. Nah, I don’t do the heat thing mate. Specially over 10 days. Thanks, but no thanks!”

"But Graeme, I’ll look after you, we’ll put you up in Joe Maguires so you won’t have to pay for accommodation and you’ll get a small performance fee and a free beer or two after every show. Then I’ll take you around and introduce to all important people on the Tamworth scene and show you around the town so you can ‘find your feet’ and become a part of it all”.

Well, it was the offer of free beer that got me. My apprenticeship to the Tamworth Country Music Festival had begun. In 2002 I also managed to pick up some shows at the City Bowling Club (run by Carol Reffold) so I was ‘on a roll’ so to speak. Len’s shows (at Joe Maguires) carried on till about 2004 I reckon.

2003 saw Carol Reffold run a series of performances at the Tamworth Showgrounds (of which I was a part) and by 2004 I’d started working at the Oasis Hotel as well.

In 2005 new opportunities arose when given ‘Guest Spots’ at the City Bowling Club as part of Sam Smyth’s extravaganza’s. These spots continued for another 4 years and concluded in 2009. 2005 also saw the start of “Next Generation Comedy” at the Tamworth Campgrounds (Riverside Park-which ran for 1 year only) and I also started making the odd appearance with the Australian Bush Balladeers as part of their “Members Showcase Concerts” which I have continued doing until the present day (14 years).

2005 also marked my first ‘gig’ with Neil McArthur at the famous “Longyard Hotel”. (Which I repeated in 2009). I also ‘trod the boards’ at the Longyard in 2008-2010 as part of Pat Drummond’s “Shoestring Records Showcase” Concert series.

In 2006 Gary Cullen took over the poetic activities at the Oasis Hotel and I worked with him and his troupe for 4 years until 2009. 2006 was also the year that I ‘hooked up’ with ‘Lefty’ Fahey and his lovely wife Loris doing shows at the Cricket Club Stage in Carter Street. This collaboration lasted for 9 years until ill health forced “Lefty” to give up his post. Wayne Holly took over the running of this stage and I continue to entertain the campers @ Carter Street to this very day. (13 years all up!)

In 2007 the Australian Bush Poets Association started some “Members Showcase” concerts at St Edwards Hall which I participated in until 2010. (4 years).

New horizons beckoned in 2010 with a change of venues when Paul Robert-Burton employed me as an Mc/Bush Poet to help run his new venture at the Atrium Shopping Centre Stage. This ‘gig’ ran for me for 3 years and concluded in 2012.

So, by the time 2013 rolled around (my 12^th consecutive year slaving away at the coalface of the Country Music Festival) I’d worked for nearly every venue in Tamworth that had produced Bush Poetry shows in any way shape or form. Time for a change I thought. Why not have a go at running your own shows? Why not indeed?

And in 2013 “The Rhymer’s Roundup” concept was born and went into its first year of concerts. For the first 5 years we ran for the first 6 days of the Tamworth event and in 2018 (our 6^th year) we ran for the full 10 days of Tamworth for the very first time. Exciting times indeed!

2013 also happened to be the year that we tried a new style of show at the Balladeers Homestead on the Goonoo Goonoo Road. Called “The Bard & the Balladeer” these gatherings consisted of a rotating roster of Bush Balladeer notables accompanied every day by “The Rhymer from Ryde”. A bit of verse and a bit of music to ease into the day. These shows ran for 4 years until 2016.

So, as far as history goes, that’s it ‘in a nutshell’! 17 years of fun, beer, music & tears. Tamworth’s certainly ‘had it all’!

What happened where and when @ Tamworth 2018 (Really).

The 46^th Annual Tamworth Country Music Festival kicked off on Friday the 19^th January this year with performances all around the New England Region. From Manilla & Barraba through to Nundle and the famous ‘Peel Inn’, townships big & small reverberated to the sounds of Country, Bluegrass, Jazz, Rock ‘N’ Roll, Honky Tonk, Gospel and much much more. Throw in a bit of “Bush Poetry” & Line dancing and the entertainment picture becomes pretty complete. Tamworth 2018 was certainly all about ‘choices’, and plenty of them!

Those punters making a return visit to Tamworth would have noticed a revitalised CBD district with a re-vamp of Fitzroy Street where it connects where it connects ‘Fanzone’ to Toyota Park.

Over 700 performers hosted 2800 events across 10 days with an estimated 50-60,000 visitors making Tamworth their temporary home over that time.

Free Concerts in the park where a major highlight in 2018 showcasing the talents of the best Country Music Superstars Australia has to offer. Artists of the calibre of Travis Collins, Amber Lawrence, Darren Coggan, Graham Rodger, Keith Jamieson & Adam Brand lit up the stage on a nightly basis with a series of themed shows to keep the expectant audiences ‘on their toes’.

Pubs, Clubs, Cafes, Restaurants and every conceivable space where a human being could fit with a guitar and an amp were utilised to the fullest to keep the entertainment going seemingly 24 hours a day.

Throw in the “Golden Guitars”, “Toyota Starmaker”, The “Country Music Cavalcade” and the ‘Boulevarde of Dreams” and your Tamworth experience 2018 was pretty much complete.

“The Rhymer’s Roundup Wrap-up” (finally)

What happened where and when

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That being said the ‘hidden gem’ of the Festival surely had to be found on the corner of Bligh & Piper Streets North Tamworth in the shape of the North Tamworth Bowling Club. Apart from hosting Andrew Clermont’s ‘world famous’ “Supper Club” theatre shows the ‘Bowlo’ also hosted (for the 6^th consecutive year) another instalment of the highly successful & popular “Rhymer’s Roundup” concerts.

As I just mentioned we ran for the full 10 days of Tamworth in 2018 for the very first time. A big challenge but the “Rhymer” and his merry hoard of followers were more than up to the task.