Poets of all ages are invited to submit entries for the Yeoval Mulga Bill Bicycle Festival Bush Poetry writing competition, which is a new addition to 2011 Festival events. The Festival celebrates Australian poet Banjo Paterson's childhood spent in Yeoval. Call 0419 141 930 for details or go to www.mulgabillbicyclefestival.com.au and download an entry form from the information page. Competition closes 15 July 2011.
This year 280 entries were received in the Banjo Paterson Writing Awards with 128 Prose or Short Story entries, 76 in the Open Poetry, 44 in the Bush Poetry and 32 in the Children's section. This is a huge increase on the number of entries received in recent years. Orange City Librarian Elizabeth Barry said human relationships featured in many entries as well as Mother Nature, rain, storms and animals across all the sections of the competition.
Ms Barry said the Awards recognise Orange's literary history and further encouraged writers to develop their craft. Ms Barry congratulated all the entrants and was pleased to announce the following winners:
Short Story: 1. The Magpie Lucky Dip by Brian Yatman, Erskineville, NSW (Prize $ 1,000) 2. The Snake by Jane Lawler, Prahran, VIC ($400) 3. Jack and the Jillaroo by Trudi Refshauge, Woodstock, NSW ($200)
Bush Poetry 1. The Ghost of Old Ted by Wendy Enchelmaier Whiteside, QLD ($500) 2. Lorraine Carew by Ellis Campbell, Dubbo, NSW ($200) 3. The Battler by Sandy Thorne, Lightning Ridge, NSW ($100)
Open Poetry 1. Orpheus in the Desert by Jo Mills, Greenmount, WA ($1,000) 2. Three Monologues by Ron Stevens, Dubbo, NSW ($400) 3. Saddle Dreaming by Vanessa Page, Rosewood , QLD ($200)
ABC Central West Radio Children's Writing Awards 1. Poem Black Temper by Adam Weitzer, Caulfield South, Melbourne, VIC ($200) 2. Story Traces of Tomorrow by Jesse Lyon, Orange, NSW ($100) 3. Story Annie and the Shed Mystery by Chloe Petersen, Portland, NSW ($100)
The Yvonne Zola Encouragement Award goes to Bec Hobden, Orange, NSW for her poem Falling to our Knees ...We're Proud Australians.
You have until Friday 15 April to get your entries in for the Banjo Paterson Writing Awards. There are four categories: Short Story (Category 1), Open Poetry (Category 2), Bush Poetry (Category 3) and ABC Radio Central West Children's Writing Awards. Entries in the short story, Open Poetry sections and the Children's Writing Awards do not have to be written in the same style as the work of Banjo Paterson or in 'bush style' as the awards are aimed at promoting all forms of Australian writing and all writers. The only requirement is for Australian content – be it theme or style.
First prize is $1,000, 2nd $400 and 3rd $200 in the Short Story and Open Poetry categories. The Bush Poetry has prizes of $500 for 1st, $200 for 2nd and $100 for third. Entry is $10.
The prizes in the ABC Radio Central Children's Writing Awards are 1st prize $200, 2nd and 3rd $100 each. Entry is $5 for these awards and entries must be the unaided work of the entrant to age 16 years on Friday 15 April 2011.
The competition closes on Friday 15 April 2011 and winners will be contacted by phone on Monday 20 June 2011. The winning short story entry will be published in The Central Western Daily and winning entries will also be published on the Central West Libraries website www.cwl.nsw.gov.au and Central West Writers' Centre website www.wordsoutwest.com.au.
Entry forms are available from Orange City Library, by phoning 6393 8120, email: library@orange.nsw.gov.au.
Banjo Paterson was born on February 17, 1864 and to celebrate his birthday Central West Libraries in conjunction with the Central West Writers' Centre, The Central Western Daily, ABC Central West Radio announce the call for entries to the Banjo Paterson Writing Awards.
There are four categories: Short Story (Category 1) Open Poetry (Category 2) Bush Poetry (Category 3) and ABC Central West Children's Writing Awards. Your entry must have Australian content – be it theme or style. First prize is $1,000, 2nd $400 and 3rd $200 in each of categories 1 and 2. The third category is bush poetry with prizes of $500 for 1st, $200 for 2nd and $100 for third. Entry is $10.
The prizes for the ABC Central West Children's Writing Awards are 1st prize $200, 2nd and 3rd $100 each. Entry is $5 for these awards and entries must be the unaided work of the entrant to age 16 years on Friday 15 April 2011.
The competition closes on Friday 15 April 2011 and winners will be contacted by phone on Monday 20 June 2011. The winning short story entry will be published in The Central Western Daily and winning entries will also be published on the Central West Libraries website. Go to our Reading and Writing Page or the Central West Writers Centre website for an entry form or email library@orange.nsw.gov.au, or call 6393 8120.
Thank you for everyone to entered the 2010 Banjo Paterson Writing Awards. We are pleased to announce the following winners: Prose: Jacqueline Winn, of Possum Brush NSW, for The Dangers of Swimming, Greg McFarland, of Orange NSW, for Roadside Memorial and Kate Rotherham, of Allans Flat VIC, for Shelter.
Open Poetry: Brenda Saunders, of Randwick NSW, for Wonderland. Bush Poetry: Ron Stevens, of Dubbo NSW, for Behind the Flag and Ellis Campbell, of Dubbo NSW, for The Toll and Ellis Campbell, of Dubbo NSW, for A Dynasty's Demise.
Children's Writing Awards supported by ABC Local Radio: Chris Frith, of Baradine NSW for The Downpour, Eleanor Delaney, of Orange NSW for The Last Dee Why Day - A True Story and Chester Fitzhardinge, of Balgowlah NSW, for The Dream Protectors.
The Yvonne Zola Encouragement Award goes to Elise Sinclair, of Orange NSW, for her story, Tommy in Trouble. Congratulations!
Andrew Barton "Banjo" Paterson was born on February 17, 1864 and to celebrate his birthday Orange City Council, Central West Libraries, Central West Writers' Centre supported by The Central Western Daily and ABC Central West Radio announce the call for entries to the Banjo Paterson Writing Awards. It is important to note that entries into the Prose (Short Story), Open Poetry and Children's Writing Awards categories of the competition do not have to be in the style of Banjo's writing. Entry forms are available from Central West Libraries branches, by phoning 6393 8120, email: writing@orange.nsw.gov.au or [download here]. Entry is $10 for adults and $5 for children per entry. The competition closes on Friday 16 April 2010 and winners will be contacted by phone on Monday 21 June 2010. There are cash prizes to be won and the winning Prose (Short Story) entry will be published in the Central Western Daily.
From 24-26 July the community of Yeoval will host the Yeoval 'Country Energy' Mulga Bill Festival, a wonderful three days of festivities with something for everybody and a great time for everyone. The program includes a visit by actor Jack Thompson, Poets Walk, market stalls camp oven cooking, motor bike display, mini golf, bike ride and much more. Entry is $5 with accompanied children under 16 free and ticket valid all weekend. A highlight will be the 2nd Annual Buckinbah Art Show. For more information contact Alf Cantrell, Coordinator: Tel 02 6846 4190 or visit www.mulgabillfestival.com.au for program details.
Congratulations to all the winners in the 2009 Banjo Paterson Writing Awards. The judges had a difficult time with the high standard of entries in all sections this year. The judges' comment for the Prose/Short Story section was that "as a collective they encapsulate the richness and diversity of Australian life, exploring characters as diverse as rodeo cowboys, sponge cake judges and reflecting on timeless themes of love, friendship and betrayal." The Awards recognise Orange's literary history and further encouraged writers to develop their craft. The winners are: Prose/Short Story: Peter W. Bishop, of Scone, NSW for "Lukey"; Panagiotis Papathanasiou, of Hackett, ACT, for "The Lure"; Sarah Michell from Lithgow, NSW for "Going Without".
Open Poetry: Judy Johnson, Cardiff, NSW for "The Bushranger's Bible"; Mark Miller, of Shoalhaven Heads, NSW for "Small-Town Journal"; Jo Mills, of Darlington, WA for "Ledge Beach".
Bush Poetry: Ron Stevens, of Dubbo for "The Shame of Staying Put"; Ellis Campbell, of Dubbo, NSW, for "Eulogy of Crows"; Kristen Martin, of West Beach SA, for "Memories by the Murray".
Children's Writing Awards: Isaac Bath, of Duramana NSW for his poem "Bushfire"; Samuel Bath, of Duramana, NSW for his poem "Ducks of the Wild"; Rebekah Ritchie, of Forest Reefs, NSW for her story "The Climbing Experts".
The Yvonne Zola Encouragement Award goes to Lachlan Fenemor, Orange for his story "Doggie Adventure".
Andrew Barton "Banjo" Paterson was born on February 17, 1864 and to celebrate his birthday Orange City Council, Central West Libraries, Central West Writers' Centre supported by The Central Western Daily and ABC Central West Radio announce the call for entries to the Banjo Paterson Writing Awards. It is important to note that entries into the Prose (Short Story), Open Poetry and Children's Writing Awards categories of the competition do not have to be in the style of Banjo's writing. Entry forms can be downloaded from this website and are available from Orange City Library, by phoning 6393 8120, email: library@orange.nsw.gov.au. Entry fees are $10 for adults and $5 for children per entry. The competition closes on Friday 17 April 2009 and winners will be contacted by phone on Monday 15 June 2009. There are cash prizes to be won and the winning Prose (Short Story) entry will be published in the Central Western Daily.
Join in the Mulga Bill and Buckinbah Art Festival on 26 - 27 July at Yeoval. The annual Mulga Bill Festival celebrates the life of Australian icon, Banjo Paterson. Banjo spent the first seven years of his childhood in Yeoval and to this day the town's folk continue to retell Banjo Paterson tales and anecdotes. The festival is an entertaining weekend for all the family and includes the now famous Cumnock to Yeoval 24km bike ride, along with stalls, sheering, games, antique cars, tractors and engines, food stalls, damper/camp oven cooking competitions, poets in the park and more. There will be poets breakfast on both mornings. Come and paint a Waltzing Matilida tile, see art in action, ice carving, poets in the parlor and more. The inaugural Buckinbah Mulga Bill Art Festival will be launched, celebrating the town, the country, and the people. Free entry. Buses will run from Yeoval to Cumnock. At Yeoval Memorial Hall in Forbes Street. Contact Alf Cantrell on 02 6346 4478 or visit the website www.mulgabillfestival.com.au The event is assisted by grant from the Regional Arts NSW Country Arts Support Program(CASP) and Festivals Australia.
