Results finally through (I had the winning poems but not the poets) -- sent them straight to the web but Greg is away at present so, posting here as well together with my report
If you didn't receive the comments re your own poems, please let me know on <
halenda@live.com.au> and I will send them direct to you --
ABPA WA CHAMPIONSHIPS 2015
WRITTEN BUSH POETRY COMPETITION
RESULTS
from Rodger Kohn – Co-ordinator
ABPA WA WRITTEN CHAMPIONSHIPS 2015
OPEN SERIOUS
1st Terry Piggott The Last Frontier
H.C. …Shelley Hansen Qld…………………………Song of the Seasons
H.C. …David Campbell…………………………… A Last Goodbye
COM. …Terry Piggott WA………………………… Along the Canning Track
COM. …Tom McIlveen NSW……………………… Bobby’s Return
COM. …Tom McIlveen NSW…………………… We were Soldiers
OPEN HUMOROUS
1st Terry Piggott WA Droving Grasshoppers
H.C. …Peter Blyth WA……………………………… Basil’s Irish Stew
OVERALL WA CHAMPION POET -- Terry Piggott…………………………………….
NOVICE CATEGORY
1st …Tony Green WA……………………… King of the Colourbond Castle
H.C. …John Dooley Qld…………………………… No Job for a Shearer
COM. …John Dooley Qld………………The Drover, his Mare and the Dingo
COM. …Carolyn Carvalho WA…………………… Jack and Blue
LOCAL – Avon Valley Resident
1st …Carolyn Carvalho WA………………We Shut the Door on City Life
JUDGE’S REPORT
ABPA/WA CHAMPIONSHIP CATEGORIES
CATEGORY 1 Written -- OPEN SERIOUS
The subjects covered ranged from the love of Australia, to war heroes, to the hardships of farming and to inspirational people. The conditions of entry stated that poems should be ‘…an original story with an Australian theme’. This was taken into account in the judging. The standard of the top six entries was high and any one of the top three could well have been given first place.
Many other poems displayed good features but the required skills of accurate rhyme and metre let many down. Also, there was a tendency towards poor editing with avoidable errors creeping through.
CATEGORY 2 Written -- OPEN HUMOROUS
Poems in this section generally demonstrated the Australian ‘have a go’ characteristics. Some good yarns were marred by length. To retain interest, humorous poems need to be sharp, catchy and non-repetitive. Particularly where a poem’s comic element is confined to a punch line ending, brevity is a necessity. Some poems reliant on jokes or social comment could be better suited to performance where the delivery can support/bring out the humour.
NON ABPA/WA CHAMPIONSHIP CATEGORIES
CATEGORY 3 Written NOVICE
This section produced philosophical thoughts based on a man’s shed, a drover’s dangers, a shearer’s joke and a poignant story about a relationship between a man and a boy. Again, a couple of the poems would have benefitted from a reduction in length.
As there were so many difficulties with Rhythm/Metre in this section, I would recommend that more poets take the option of workshopping or consulting with established poets or of receiving a judge’s critique, particularly in the early stages of their development. My aim, as a poet, is always to improve my work and I am ever ready to receive and take into account constructive viewpoints. I have found, through comments received in competitions, that someone fresh to a poem can sometimes spot a minor ‘glitch’ that is preventing that work from fulfilling its potential. In addition, another poet’s objective perspective can often help to rectify a skill or stylistic error that might be hampering a poet across all of his/her works.
CATEGORIES 4 and 5 Written JUNIOR 5-12 and JUNIOR 13-17
We are all aware of the importance of passing on our love of our genre to the next generation. It was therefore very disappointing that there were no entries in either of the Junior categories.
CATEGORY 6 Written LOCAL -- Best poem by a resident of the Avon Valley.
Although there was only one entrant in this category, it was delightful to have someone share their feelings towards this very beautiful part of our country. The Avon Valley certainly is a special place to hold a bush poetry event and it is wonderful to have a written component with open, novice and local dimensions as part of the 2015 ABPA/WA Bush Poetry Championships.
OVERALL
I thank each and every one of you who have entered, for presenting your treasured and often heartfelt works for assessment. It has been my privilege to share this small part of your poetic journey with you.
Brenda Joy – ABPA Written Judge