Results of Inaugural 2021 Cloncurry Spirit of the Outback Poetry Competition

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Shelley Hansen
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Results of Inaugural 2021 Cloncurry Spirit of the Outback Poetry Competition

Post by Shelley Hansen » Tue Mar 23, 2021 11:36 am

How wonderful to see our very own writer of distinction David Campbell awarded this prestigious inaugural prize! I'm sure we are all delighted to join together in congratulating him. A great result for Aussie Bush Poetry in a competition that was open to all genres.

You can read his winning poem via the link at the bottom of the following media release from Cloncurry Shire Council.
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MEDIA RELEASE

22 March 2021

Cloncurry celebrates the Spirit of the Outback

The next bard of the Australian Outback has been discovered! Cloncurry Shire Council congratulates, Mr David Campbell, winner of the very first ‘Cloncurry Prize Spirit of the Outback’ poetry competition. All prize winners were announced at an official event at Chinaman Creek Dam on Monday evening.

The National competition, launched in December 2020, has a first prize of $10,000. The call was met with over 220 poems from writers all over Australia. Mr Campbell’s ‘The Heart and Soul of Australia' impressed the judges by capturing the essence of the Outback. The deserving winner travelled to Cloncurry from the South Coast of Victoria for the official announcement.

Mr Campbell said he was delighted to take out the prestigious prize in its first year. He said, “This competition is a wonderful initiative by the Cloncurry Shire Council. In providing one of the richest poetry prizes in Australia, the Council is encouraging poets to use their skills to continue the great poetic traditions established a century ago by such well known names as Dame Mary Gilmore, who is buried alongside her husband in the Cloncurry cemetery, Henry Lawson, 'Banjo' Paterson and CJ Dennis. I greatly appreciate the opportunity to be involved and congratulate those instrumental in creating the award - may it provide inspiration to poets in all styles of poetry for many years to come!”

Mayor Greg Campbell said, “The competition was launched to draw attention to the Outback and promote it to the rest of Australia. The concept of the prize was to highlight our wonderful country and ignite our sense of national pride during the COVID 19 lockdown. David’s poem represents the spirit of the outback and pays tribute to services in the bush, which included a reference to the Royal Flying Doctor. The ‘Cloncurry Prize’ is an open competition, and all styles of poetry are encouraged. This year’s winners included a ballad and contemporary poetry."

Other prize winners were announced on the evening, which included runner up, ‘Broken Down' by Jennifer Harison and meritorious mention, ‘A portrait in the Theatre of Desire' by Brian Obiri Asare.

Copies of the poems and future information on the competition is available on the Cloncurry Shire Council website. Start writing for the 2022 'Cloncurry Prize Spirit of the Outback’ for your chance to pocket $10,000. Visit the website www.cloncurry.qld.gov.au/cloncurry-prize.
Shelley Hansen
Lady of Lines
http://www.shelleyhansen.com

"Look fer yer profits in the 'earts o' friends,
fer 'atin' never paid no dividends."
(CJ Dennis "The Mooch o' Life")

Terry
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Re: Results of Inaugural 2021 Cloncurry Spirit of the Outback Poetry Competition

Post by Terry » Fri Apr 02, 2021 6:37 pm

Congratulations David.

The cream certainly rose to the top in this one.

Regards

Terry

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