ABPA - Australian Bush Poets Association

I got a copy of the ABPA Magazine to-day.
Something caught my eye. On page 8 there is an ad for a bush poetry session at the Goulburn Brewery.
What got my attention is that the ad had these words in it " calling all poets who are fed up with the competition side of bush poetry "

I don't know, I just wondered; " all poets " , is there a number of bush poets that could be addressed like this ? Is there a mood of being " fed up " ?

I don't know enough about the general scene to know for sure. If it is the case, it seems a startling thing, given the emphasis placed on competitons with the ABPA.

I wondered what others think, who might know more about the trends than me.

Also in his editorial, Neil painted a fairly bleak picture of the "progress" of the bush poetry scene. Is that how it is? He gets around a bit, I suppose he knows.
And if there is a mood of being fed up, is that something to do with what Neil is referring to ?
And importantly, what is to be done ?

Go to the event at the Goulburn Brewery and drown your sorrows A good a place as any to start, after a few beers everything will look better Neville

To each their own Nev, depends on what you want out of your poetry, I'm not much into performance competitions but when I read the results sections it shows some are .

I get my kicks out of the crowd reaction and the mateship that goes with meeting people with a like interest and that's my buzz.

I'm with Maureen go and get on the grog or better till rum !

Cheers Bob

Did I say I had sorrows or that I agreed with the opinion that was published ? ( did I say I didn't agree?)

That's the problems with those fishing trips with the boys, Matt . . . some silly bastard always brings a rod

That wording caught my eye too, Nev. But I wouldn't read too much into it - just making an all-encompassing pitch. I think it's just what it is - an open invite to come along and enjoy some bush poetry free of any constraints or impediments a competitive arena may produce. I see they make a point of encouraging "reciters and readers". I reckon that's great - a lot of excellent poets love sharing their work with an audience but haven't either the time or capacity to memorise it.

I think a read of Brenda Joy's article (A part of the whole) puts it in perspective - a great little positive blurb on the ABPA and its various facets.

Also on the positive I enjoyed Jack Drake's book review and look forward to more "great Aussie reads".

Cheers, Marty

Looks like it's been a pretty effective ad.

Ok, Ok, I was there last year At the old brewery at Goulburn and what a beautiful old building it is with its grandeur of fantastic timber work creating an atmosphere very receptive to good poetry but there was only one thing wrong the weather.
It would have to have been the coldest windiest, dirtiest rainiest night that one could get, all advertising and directing signs had been blown away. But disregarding all that approximately forty to fifty people turned up and enjoyed themselves there was very good acoustics in the hall and it was filmed ( dammed if I know what happened to the film though)Laurie McDonald was a very able MC and I was called to help fill the gaps
I believe that what was printed in the Magazine was there for two purposes one to arouse your curiosity and two to attract your presences for a good night
Bill Williams the old battler

They gave out presents Bill! Wow - getting better all the time Sorry can't help myself sometimes

Maureen, you do try our patients sometimes!

The whey we like it!