Gippsland Bush Poets Club Championships 2009 Results

Gippsland Bush Poets 2009 Club Championships were held on November 22 at the Rosedale Hotel. Those who attended enjoyed a convivial atmosphere.
Our 2009 judge was Jim Brown, known both for his part in the television series ‘Healthy, Wealthy and Wise’ and for twice winning the Victorian Bush Poetry Championships including 2009. Jim introduced himself and gave us ‘The Overlander’ by Will Ogilvie, a presentation to aspire to.

Readings and recitations came from our esteemed judge, club members and guests and the first round was light-hearted fun. On the arrival of our president however the competition took on a more serious note.

All were treated to the best efforts of Margaret Adams who selected a humorous piece ‘Mary Anne Fulton’s Christmas Cake’ by Gabby Colquhoun assisted by appropriate
props. Colin Rowse followed with last year’s winning written entry a beautiful descriptive work called ‘Outback Morning’ by Catherine Clarke. Claire Van Baalen followed with her own work, ‘Aw Miss’.

Des Bennett gave a rendition of his entry in the writer’s competition ‘Black Saturday’ written as a tribute to the fire fighters and as a source of inspiration and hope. Jim Brown remarked on the metre and scan and the quality of this written entry by Des Bennett.
‘The Dogs Are on the Road’ was Susan Clark’s contribution about a situation readily understood by dog owners. Russell Heathcote gave the smoothest and most believable rendition of his terrific work recalling the radio transmission of Lionel Rose’s  Championship fight against Fighting Harada called ‘The Champ from Jackson’s Track’.
Laurie Shields read a traditional Henry Lawson poem called ‘Do They Know’. Alan Shiels offered a very well written piece called ‘The Drover’s Cook’. His delivery was beautiful, but it pays to record the author of the poem. ‘Thomas John Quilty’ is the author of the slim volume written to raise funds for the Royal Flying Doctor Service.  
Des Bennett took out the Male Performance Club Championship and Margaret Adams the Female Performance Section.

Steve Postlethwaite of Sale may be the winner of the written section with a poem “Pastor for Dinner’ which tells a story, and scans beautifully. There is some question over the current status of Steve’s membership however!  A great afternoon was had by all! Congratulations to all who competed and well deserved to Marg. Adams and Des Bennett.
Cvb for Gbp