Thanks everyone for your comments. Below is what I have written. This section is not open to the public and I don't think many of you are members of the Henry Lawson Memorial and Literary Society so just sharing. I've left the comments off.
Australian Bush Poets’ Association (ABPA) Website
Bringing Bush Poets Together
In the past year I have won three highly commended awards for my poetry, including one at Bundaberg; won the Emerging Poet at Boyup Brook in WA in February this year and have had several poems published in the local newspapers. What an amazing, colourful, fun packed year it has been.
Just over two years ago I had no idea of metre and I’d never heard the term “bush poetry”. I knew that I liked rhyming and rhythmic poetry but I didn’t realise there was a name for it until I was encouraged to look at the Australian Bush Poets’ Association’s (ABPA) website. The rest is history.
Since then my life has been transformed. This year I have been to several bush poetry events and festivals including the Bundaberg Muster and Victorian Bush Poetry Championships and this week I will be jetting off to Morisset on Lake Maquarie for the Hunter Bush Poets’ Festival.
So, how did this transformation take place? Although I have some natural talent with words, I needed some guidance in learning accurate metre and rhyme (and I’m still learning). That came after I was introduced to the Australian Bush Poets’ Association (ABPA), and more particularly that wonderful group of people that use the ABPA website. I visited the website, read the poetry and the friendly banter and I was hooked!
The ABPA website is brimming with poetry writing tips from award winning bush poets such as David Campbell, Ellis Campbell, Noel Stallard and Glenny Palmer; information on bush poetry events; competition information with closing dates and entry forms; competition results; a poets’ forum and more.
However, it’s when you enter the forum that you discover the quirky and little-known world of funny, crazy and witty poets and a wealth of amazing poetry is revealed. I can safely say that everything I have learnt about writing bush poetry has come from the people and information on the ABPA website. Not only that, but I have made some wonderful new friends, been able to share my poetry and most importantly, get valuable feedback on my poetry in a non competitive setting. All of which has helped me to learn and improve my writing. I’ve now met quite of a few people that use the forum, have even stayed at the homes of some of them and would count many of them as my long distance friends.
USING THE FORUM
Australian Bush Poets’ Association website www.abpa.org.au
The website is easy to use and newcomers to the internet should not fear entering the site. It is safe and user friendly. First off you click on the “Forum” tab at the top of the Home Page. A new page shows “Link to Forum”. This will lead you directly into the forum where you can view various pages such as members’ poetry; events; users’ poetry; sections for war poetry and poetry for children; a section for yarns; lost poetry; an audio section and various other pages.
As a visitor to the website you are able to view these pages and all the posts but you cannot make any comments. I recommend that you register on the site. This is simply a matter of registering a user name (this could simply be your first name) and a password and your email address. There is no cost. No one viewing the site can see your email address and your security and privacy is of paramount importance to the site administrator. You do not have to reveal your surname or location to other users unless you wish to.
Once you have registered, you are then able to view and access the General Poetry Discussion and Off Topic Chit Chat sections and you can post your poems and make comments. This is where the fun and learning begins. The poets on the site are very friendly, welcoming, helpful and very passionate about their bush poetry. There is often robust discussion on poetry and poetry related topics but best of all is the encouragement and assistance you will receive if you ask for it (and sometimes when you don’t). The valuable feedback will undoubtedly help you improve your poetry if that is what you are after.
Not everyone that uses the forum is a writer. Some people recite poetry or simply enjoy reading it. Everyone that enjoys bush poetry is welcome.
There is also provision for private messages if you wish to send a message to another forum user and not reveal your private email address.
Bush poets are a rare breed and we are often isolated by distance. Poets in the larger populated centres are lucky enough to have writers’ or poetry groups; not so when you come from the rural areas of many parts of Australia. This is where the ABPA forum becomes invaluable in bringing poets together from all over Australia. Hopefully I will see you there…
