The Upper Lachlan Bush Poets
WOOLWAGON AWARDS 2009
Crookwell, NSW

Fri, Sat, Sun
27-29th November
Crookwell Services Club
Goulburn Street Crookwell

*NB. Closing dates for entries in all sections is the 13th Nov 09


Entry Forms to Download

Adult Performance Adult Written Junior Written & Performance
Adult Performance (.doc) Adult Written (.doc) Junior Written & Performance (.doc)
Adult Performance (.pdf) Adult Written (.pdf) Junior Written & Performance (.pdf)

Contact

Barry Murphy (02) 4832 1004


Recommended Accommodation
Bed & Breakfasts
Cloverleigh B&B (02) 4832 1075
Spud Murphy's Inn (02) 4832 1004
Hotels
Criterion Hotel (02) 4832 1031
Crookwell Hotel/Motel (02) 4832 1016


(Dame Mary Gilmore)
Born 1865 CottaWalla
(near Crookwell)
Died 1962
(Nellie "The Gypsie" Evans)
Born 1883 - Roslyn
(near Crookwell)
Died 1962


GILMORE, Dame MARY JEAN (1865-1962), writer, was born on 16 August 1865 near Goulburn, New South Wales. At 7 Mary went to school briefly at Brucedale near Wagga Wagga and at 9 to Wagga Wagga Public School. At 16 she passed a formal entrance examination and began as a probationary pupil-teacher at the Superior Public School, Wagga Wagga.

After passing the IIIA teachers' examination, Mary was appointed in October 1887 as temporary assistant at Silverton Public School near Broken Hill. She remained there until December 1889 spending the Christmas vacation of 1888-89 in Sydney with her mother. Mary was transferred to Neutral Bay Public School in January 1890.

Her relationship with Henry Lawson probably began in 1890: in 1923 she recalled that "It was a strange meeting that between young Lawson and me. I had come down permanently to the city from Silverton". There was clearly, however, a close relationship between them in 1890-95.

Her first collection of poems, Marri'd, and other Verses, simple colloquial lyrics, written mainly at Cosme and Casterton, commenting on the joys, hopes, and disappointments of life's daily round, was published in 1910 by George Robertson & Co. Pty Ltd of Melbourne.

Her second volume of poetry, The Passionate Heart (1918), reflected her horrified reaction to World War 1. In 1925 a third volume of verse, The Tilted Cart, appeared; the poems were accompanied by copious notes indicating her keen interest in recording the minutiae of the pioneer past.

Her book of verse, The Wild Swan, had been published in 1930, its radical themes, together with its anguish over the ravaging of the land by white civilization and the destruction of Aboriginal lore, making it her most impressive work to that point. Her twin books of prose reminiscences, Old Days, Old Ways: a Book of Recollections and More Recollections were published in 1934 and 1935. In them she recaptures the spirit and atmosphere of pioneering.

She published a new volume of poems, Battlefields, in 1939. The title referred to her own radical campaigns. In 1954, as she approached her ninetieth year, she published her final volume of poetry, Fourteen Men. She died on 3 December 1962 (Eureka Day)

EVANS, ELLEN ALICE. ‘NELLIE’ (1883-1944)
Amongst Crookwell’s local writers of distinction was Ellen Alice Evans nicknamed (The Gypsy).

“Nellie” was educated at St. Joseph’s convent in North Goulburn. She began writing at an early age and her first verse was published when she was 11 years old. She won many verse competitions. It is believed that some of her early work was published in the “Goulburn Evening Penny Post” & “The Goulburn Herald”.

At an early age she moved to Sydney and became a journalist and wrote for many newspapers magazines & journals. Her early life was not well documented.

Mary Gilmore described her as “a natural lyricist. Her poetry sang and her words were music’. The great bulk of her poems were sent to England for publication and were subsequently lost and it is perhaps for this reason that her splendid verse is not well known in her ‘homeland’.

In her time her work was found in nearly every principal newspaper & magazine in Eastern Australia including papers such as the Bulletin, The Melbourne Age & The Sydney Morning Herald.

Of a shy & retiring nature she was well known in the Bohemian haunts of her contemporary writers and acclaimed by the majority.

“Nellie” Evans died in Sydney in 1944 at the age of 60.

A 47 page collection of Nellie’s works “The remembered valley & other poems” was published in 1947 by John Lynch.


THE CROOKWELL WOOLWAGON AWARDS 2009 The town of Crookwell was officially named in 1860. It was first settled by farmers producing wheat, potatoes sheep & cattle. Today, Crookwell is home to more unusual industries like the first fully commercial grid connected wind farm in Australia that generates power for over 3,500 homes. The area abounds in scenic & historic drives & walks, award winning gardens and a range of boutique art & craft shops.

In November each year the town comes alive to the alluring yarns and verse of the Australian Bush Poets who travel from all over the country to compete in the Crookwell Woolwagon Awards. The competition covers people of all ages from schoolchildren to adults and incorporates written & performed poetry.

Held in the Crookwell Services Club the weekend kicks off with a "Meet & Greet" on the Friday night at the club where patrons & poets alike can 'have a chat' over dinner. This is followed by an "Open Mike" night where anybody can 'have a go' presenting their favourite poem. Read recite, it's all up to you. Enjoy yourself without the 'pressure' of competition or have a go for the first time.

Sat follows on with the announcement of the Junior Written Award Winners and the Junior Performance competition.

The adult competitors the 'hit the stage' (vying for over $3000.00 in cash & prizes) in sections such as the Novice, Traditional, Contemporary & Original sections. The quality of the verse presented is 'second to none' with last years winning roster including Australian & NSW Champions. Humour is always 'at the fore' in terms of the Bush Poetry presented as we all like to have a laugh. Bush Verse incorporates that streak of 'larrikin' irreverence for which the "Aussie" character is well known and this is heartily evident in the 'rib tickling' humour that emanates from such a competition.

A "Monster Raffle" will also be held with major prizes including a Samsung Mobile Phone (valued at $580.00) & 2 x nights accommodation at "Spud Murphy's Inn". A "Silent Auction" will also be held on a range of specialty merchandise.

The weekend is Mc'd by multi-award winning NSW Poet, "The Rhymer from Ryde" Graeme Johnson.

(Click here for a link to Graeme's Website on www.therhymerfromryde.com

Bio

The “Rhymer from Ryde” is one of the most recognizable ‘brands’ in the genre of Australian Bush Poetry. Its owner, Graeme Johnson is justifiably proud of the moniker by which he is more widely known and the respect it has garnered amongst his peers.

The stage is where “The Rhymer” lives and it is on the stage that he is the ‘liveliest’, engaging audience members both young & old with his heartfelt emotion and theatrical style of presentation.

Always ‘good for a laugh’ Graeme’s performances are imbued with that irreverent ‘larrikin’ streak so familiar to ‘Aussie’ storytellers. From the silly to the serious or just spinning a good old fashioned yarn it’s a fair bet that Graeme has something for you in his repertoire.

Winner of this years “Bobby Miller Memorial Trophy” for best comedy performance, 2009 has seen Graeme win a slew of prizes including a “Runner- Up” & “Overall Male Championship Award” amongst others.

Lauded for the quality of his original work, Graeme is a ‘live wire’ entertainer who definitely ‘should not be missed’.

2008 Award Winner Carol Heuchan 2008 Award Wiiner Ellis Campbell 2008 Winners Group Photo


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