Welcome to the Australian Bush Poets Association
WELCOME. Membership of the Australian Bush Poets Association (ABPA) is comprised of writers, performers
and individuals who are interested in bush poetry and enjoy written and live stories in rhyme and metre. If
you have an interest in this piece of Australian culture called bush poetry, you have come to the right place.
Aims
The objectives of the Australian Bush Poets Association are to foster and encourage the growth of bush poetry
in Australia. By definition, Australian bush poetry is metred and rhymed poetry about Australia, Australians
and/or the Australian way of life.
Membership
To join the Australian Bush Poets Association and receive our bi-monthly magazine, go to our Membership page.
The ABPA keeps in touch with its members through this website (and forum) and our bi-monthly
magazine of bush poetry news, events, results of written and performance competitions as well as samples of contemporary
bush poetry. Many members have books, CDs and other products. These can be advertised in the magazine. For rates,
click here. The deadline for ads and other content for the magazine is the 22nd
of the month preceding publication. Magazines are published at the beginning of February, April, June, August, October and
December.
Check out our
Facebook page.
Hervey Bay Bush Poets Blossoming
The Bay Bush Poets have hit the ground running with lots of fantastic poetry, yarn spinning and words from our own resident
Banjo Paterson expert. He even has an original, hand written open verse poem by Banjo, A B Paterson, of his own!
The morning was even more exciting with Bill and Meg Gordon from WA sharing their own and other writers work.
Jan Facey was fabulous as she always is. Jan stayed on to share writing and performing tips with new, inexperienced Poets
as well as sharing her own rivetting, sometimes hilarious poems. After some considerable persuasion Jan shared the fact that
she had won the “Bronze swagman” poetry competition and many other bush poetry milestones. Even with her health issues Jan was
keen to help as well as perform. She said that she was very impressed by the group and the fact that so many write their own poetry.
One of the attendees is a ridgey-didge retired stockman who spent most of his life working out West of Bourke as a ringer. His
stories are fabulous. Another of the group is a horsewoman who tutors riders and writes heartfelt poetry about this and other
experiences.
The group is very fortunate to have 5 poetry lovers that want to attend so that they can hear the poetry but not perform it.
This is beaut because many groups are caught up in performing bush poetry exclusively to bush poets.
There was a certain inexplicable feeling of “I’ve found my tribe” which was expressed by almost all of those who attended.
It seems that the Bay Bush Poets are bound for success and that they are yet another new group in Queensland. Bush poetry is
far from dead – it is alive and thriving! The group will meet again at the Hervey Bay library on the 22nd of June, 9.15 am,
all are welcome. For more information please call Mick Martin 042 15 14 555 or email
.
Boondooma Bush Poetry Competition
On the 26 April 2024, the Spirit of the Bush – Balladeers & Heritage Muster festival was held at Boondooma, Queensland. This
event consisted of 6 days of country music and bush poetry. As part of the event a Bush Poetry competition was held for novice
and intermediate poets. The competition was kindly sponsored by the Bundaberg Poets society and organised and run by Brian and
Lesley Weier with the aim of encouraging new and aspiring Bush Poets to grow their talent. Entrants shared in the $1800 prize
money donated by the Bundaberg Poets Society.
The event was divided into two sections: Novice and Intermediate (poets who have not won a competition before). There were 3 classes for each section: Traditional, Modern and Original.
It was great to see the strength and enthusiasm of new and emerging Bush Poets and how they were welcomed onboard by the more seasoned poets who performed on the main stage over the 6 days.
Results here.
Regards,
Peter Frazer, Queensland Rep.
Past Magazines now online
The historic magazines of the ABPA from its inception in 1994 are now available here. See how we used to look!
See previously featured poets.
See previously featured achievers.
Anthology On Sale
Anthology of ABPA poets past and present is now on sale $28
posted (within Australia).
A who’s who of modern bush poetry.
62 poets, 192 pages.
More information here (pdf).
On This Site
Membership Information
Forms and direct deposit information.
Forum
Take part in our online forum.
Multimedia
See and hear some of our modern Bush Poets.
Yarn Spinning
Poets often tell yarns too.
Read some great Aussie yarns.
Regular Events
You’ll find regular poetry gatherings around the country.
Featured Poets
Meet a poet or two.
Member Achievements
Read about what some of our members have achieved.
Roll of Honour
Australian Bush Poetry Champions and ABPA executive members.
Past Magazines
Past issues of the ABPA Magazine since 1994.
Magazine Advertising Rates
Disclaimer
Privacy Policy
2024 ABPA Committee
- ABPA Committee Executive
President — Tim Sheed
Vice President — David Stanley
Secretary — Meg Gordon
Treasurer — Christine Middleton - Committee Members
Tom McILveen
Manfred Vijars
Ray Essery - ABPA State Delegates
NSW — Bill Kearns
Victoria — Jan Lewis
Queensland — Peter Frazer
WA — Irene Conner - Magazine Editor — Neil McArthur
Public Officer — Gregory North
Facebook Editor — Jan Lewis
Webmaster — Gregory North
President’s Report June - July ’24
The Australian Bush Poets Association membership currently stands at 138 with people
still paying for their subscriptions. A member of the association submitted a notice of
motion to the the AGM advocating a number of changes to the organization that were
discussed but not adopted at the meeting as members believed that a number of the
options had been previously explored and found to be unwieldy and impractical to
implement. The committee is still evaluating these ideas and are pleased that members
are thinking of ways to improve how we promote bush poetry as an art form.
The committee are currently evaluating a series of rubrics for judges to use in scoring
contestants in bush poetry competitions for both performance poetry and written
competitions. It is hoped that this set of criteria will be valuable in providing
better feedback for participants to allow them to improve performance.
The ABPA awarded a life membership to Marion Fitzgerald at the Oracles of the Bush
Festival in Tenterfield, see report elsewhere. The festival was tinged with sadness
as that was the last time it will be held.
The Man From Snowy River Festival was held in Corryong in April and was again a
success with the overall winners being Seamus Foley and Lyn Frederick. Particular
thanks to The Rhymer From Ryde (Graeme Johnson) for organising the Bush Poetry
Competition, a mighty task and a huge thanks to the many volunteers.
Later in the year Western Australia are holding State Championships and the
Victorian Bush Poets and Musicians will be holding a Muster in Tolmie with
Greg Champion as special guest for the Saturday Night Concert. Stay up to
date on the VBPMA facebook page.
Please use the ABPA website to remain informed of upcoming events and results of
past events.
Timothy Sheed
President.