Join in Poetry in the Caves for a truly unique and memorable afternoon of words and music in the beautiful Jenolan Caves on Sun 19 May.

Poet and novelist, David Brooks hosts this magical event inside Jenolan's magnificent Cathedral Chamber. Performers include one of Ireland's finest poets, Dermot Healy, in the company of renowned Australian poet Bronwyn Lea, acclaimed Indigenous poet, Lionel Fogarty, and award winning singer-songwriter and poet, Kate Fagan. The afternoon begins with music from Kate Fagan and includes a special guest appearance from American poet Devin Johnston. The performance will be followed by wine and refreshment in Caves House. Those travelling by bus will be entertained on the journey by local poets Philip Hammial and Sandy Holmes.

Dermot Healy, a giant of contemporary Irish poetry, brings to his work a vast sea of influences, ranging from Robert Louis Stephenson to Sylvia Plath. He has written five anthologies of poetry and his awards include the Hennessy Award (1974 and 1976); the Tom Gallon Award (1983); the Encore Award (1995). He was the winner of the 2002 America Ireland Literary Award, in recognition of his contribution to Irish letters.

Kate Fagan (photo to right), award winning songwriter, poet and lecturer in literature at UWS, will read from her newest volume of poetry First Light, and will begin the afternoon by playing for the audience as they enter the cavernous space. Bronwyn Lea is an award-winning author. Her books include Flight Animals, The Other Way Out, and The Deep North. Her poems have been widely anthologised, appearing most recently in Thirty Australian Poets, Australian Poetry Since 1788, Sixty Classic Australian Poems, and The Penguin Anthology of Australian Poetry. In 2011 she was appointed the inaugural editor of the Australian Poetry Journal.

Lionel Fogarty, a Murri Man from Cherbourg in Queensland is an unashamedly political poet, motivated both by personal experiences – his brother died in police custody – and general injustices suffered by Indigenous people. His innovative way of using Aboriginal English has led to his work being described as surrealist, but it remains undoubtedly challenging and dynamic.

Devin Johnston from the US, will make a guest appearance. Fellow poet Forrest Gander described Devin, "While his lexicon is rich and particular, Johnston's line is severe, unadorned and keenly cut to measure out the subtle counterpointed music which so strongly marks these poems."

When: Sunday 19 May 3:30-5:30pm Audience need to assemble at the Great Arch at 3:00pm to walk into the Cathedral Chamber. The performance runs from 3:30 -4:30pm. Drinks and book signing in Caves House from 5:00-5:30pm. Cost: $60 event only / $75 including coach transport from Katoomba station return – places limited (no concession). Bookings: through Jenolan Caves ph. 1300 763 311.

Full Program information and Booking details: www.varuna.com.au

Our Cafe Poet Diana Bell Brooks has returned to Cafe Latte located at 173 Summer Street, Orange on Wednesdays from 9.30am – 12 noon.

Here is her most recent observation:

Sunny autumn day, morning frost.... the last flurries of yellow leaves as I walked though Cook park on the way to the Cafe.

Ruby, one of the regulars, has come in with her large Elvis handbag, her white stick and pink woolen beany.

I am noticing the changes since I was last here. We are all just a bit older. Grahame, an ex schoolteacher from the local high school has had his hair shorn, as if he plans to join the army The waitresses are now in sleek black uniform and perhaps by chance, wearing pony tails. The bright autumn sun outside turns their moving figures into shadows. Holly shows me her filigree silver locket when I ask.

Frances, with her long jet black hair says" I sometimes wonder how I am when I think about getting up, but then I remember that I'm just glad to be alive."

There is a hidden aspect to being here. As if we are all in a ship together heading towards the main street. Or perhaps even a submarine. A part of the floating world........

Congratulations to all the entrants of the 2012 Banjo Paterson Writing Awards. We are pleased to announce the winners:

Short Story: 1st Place: Jim Kent, of Port Fairy VIC, for Midwife

2nd Place: Fiona Skepper, of Elwood VIC, for La Primevera

3rd Place: Jessica Hancock, of Maylands WA, for The Hayshed

Bush Poetry

1st Prize: Tom Mc Ilveen Port Macquarie, NSW for – Rainbow Serpent's Progeny

2nd Prize: Debra Dunn, of Orange, for – Monuments of Time

3rd Prize:

Peter Rondel WA for – The Great Flood

Open Poetry

1st Prize: Helen Thurloe, Avalon NSW for Host

2nd Prize: Margaret Bradstock, of Coogee, for Mawson: the Heroic Era

Third Prize:Jo Mills, WA, for Crown of Stars

ABC Local Radio Childrens Award:

1st Prize: Parris Hammond, of Marrickville NSW, for Letter to the Moon

2nd Prize: Charlie Campbell, of Orange, for the poem Just One Day

3rd Prize: Annie Nash, of Coonabarabran, for story Me and a Horse Called Manny.

Yvonne Zola encouragement award to Bella Stoyles, of Orange, for The Sling Shot Sargeant.

The winning entries can be viewed on the Home page - check it out www.wordsoutwest.com.au

[caption id="attachment_2123" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Cafe Poet Diana Bell Brooks returns to Cafe Latte"][/caption]

Poet Diana Bell Brooks will be a regular sight at Orange's Café Latte located at 173 Summer Street on Wednesdays from 9.30am – 12 noon.

Call in to meet a poet and discuss your own writing.

The café poet program aims to raise awareness of poetry and encourage people to try writing their own poetry, talk about poetry and read poetry.

Stay tuned for musings from the Cafe poet on this blog............

Eugowra: Sesquicentenary of the Gold Escort hold up Poetry and Short Story Competition closes tomorrow Thursday 31 May. There is a short story category with sections for all age groups and poetry category for 18 years and under and for locals within a 15km radius of Eugowra. Phone Tony Harvey on 6859 2288 for details. The 150th Gold Escort Hold Up Celebrations will be held at the Eugowra Showground on Saturday 16th June.

Oberon: Burraga Ag Bureau, Friends of Oberon Libray, Oberon Council and Oberon Writers' Workshop present 4th Oberon Writers' Competition. Narrative and poetry sections have the theme "tell me a story", fee $5. Contact Anne Russell via email: annieonthehill@gmail.com for details. Good luck!

Poetry in the Caves will feature David Malouf, Judith Beveridge, Mark Tredinnick, David Brooks, Brenda Saunders and Bronwyn Kirkpatrick on shakuhachi flute.

The association of poetry with the Underworld is profound. The Orphic voice – the cave voice – is a part of poetry everywhere. Orpheus, the ancient Greek poet-of-poets, descended into the Underworld in search of his beloved Eurydice, and ever since he did so such descents have been an integral part of legend and the world's great poetry. Odysseus descends into the Underworld to consult Tiresias and to find his way home, Aeneas descends, Dante descends. Nowadays this is more likely to be figured as a descent into the self. Ted Hughes descends. Sylvia Plath descends. Bruce Beaver descends. Dorothy Hewett descends. In the Jenolan Caves there is one difference ... you'll need to climb to get in and descend to leave. You'll also need to dress warmly! Afterwards join the poets for a drink and ongoing discussion in Caves House. Tickets are $60 per person and available online until 10th May from varuna.com.au

This amazing event is part of the Sydney Writers' Festival and is supported by a Country Arts Support Program (CASP) grant. The Country Arts Support Program is a small grants program delivered on behalf of Arts NSW by Regional Arts NSW and jointly administered by the Regional Arts Boards throughout NSW.

It is with great sadness we inform our writing community that local poet Glenn Couchman has passed away.

Glenn was an enthusiastic participant in many of our events joining in the Poetry Slam held at the Forbes Kalari River Arts Festival, our Café Poet evenings and was a regular at our Drop-in Writers' Days. Glenn is pictured above at the Poetry Slam.

He enjoyed the Arts – particularly poetry and acting, and often read his poems to our writing group and told us about his writing plans.

Glenn's funeral will be held on Wednesday, 11 April 2012 at 11.30am at the Uniting Church, 217 Anson Street, Orange.

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If you need immediate assistance, call Lifeline on 13 11 14. For further information about depression, contact beyondblue on 1300 22 4636 or www.beyondblue.org.au or talk to your GP, local health professional or someone you trust.

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This year marks the 21st anniversary of the Banjo Paterson Writing Awards and to celebrate the occasion adult category winners will receive a limited edition Banjo bust sculpture by local artist Michael Lewis as part of their prize.

Poet, solicitor, journalist, war correspondent and ballad writer Andrew Barton Banjo Paterson (1864-1941) was born on February 17 and to celebrate his birthday Central West Libraries in conjunction with the Central West Writers Centre, The Central Western Daily and ABC Central West Radio announce the call for entries to the Banjo Paterson Writing Awards.

There are four categories: Prose or Short Story (Category 1) Open Poetry (Category 2) Bush Poetry (Category 3) and ABC Central West Radio Childrens Writing Awards.

The judges will also consider Childrens entries for the Yvonne Zola Encouragement Award named in honour of the late Yvonne Zola, who was an inspiring English teacher.

The competition closes on Friday 20 April 2012 and winners will be contacted by phone on Monday 25 June 2012. Entry forms and guidelines are available from Orange City Library, by phoning 6393 8120, email: library@orange.nsw.gov.au or go to the website www.cwl.nsw.gov.au Good Luck!

Co-ordinated by Macquarie Regional Library, the Rolf Boldrewood Literary Awards commemorate the writer and writing of Robbery Under Arms in Dubbo. They are awarded for prose and poetry with an Australian theme. First prize in each section is a bronze Boldrewood bust valued at $100 plus $500. Second prize is $250 and third prize $150. Highly Commended and Commended certificates are awarded at the judges¹ discretion. It is interesting to note that the poetry winner, Kevin Pye, was highly commended last year, and second and third prize winner, Max Merckenschlager, commended. Max was first and second in the poetry in 2009. Poetry Judge was Valerie Pybus adn the winners are:

1st Place ­ Kevin Pye, NSW, Lawson Country; 2nd Place ­ Max Merckenschlager, SA; An Earl¹s Son; 3rd Place ­ Max Merckenschlager, SA, Helping Hands in Crowdy Head. Commended ­Frank Cardiff, NSW, Dreamtime Dreaming.

Prose Judge was Peter Pike and the winners are: 1st Place ­ Joan Owens, NSW, Sunday; 2nd Place ­ Natalie Holmes, NSW; My Mate Reg; 3rd Place ­ Richard Stone, ACT, Father¹s Visit to Kincumber.

Highly Commended ­ Lyn Newberry, NSW, The Scent of a Criminal Highly Commended ­ RE Beattie, NSW, The Jackson Inheritance Highly Commended ­ Judith Turner, NSW, The Gypsy Tap

Commended ­ Edward Fletcher, QLD, Dark Messenger; Commended ­ Harold Mally, NSW; The Original Pommie Bastard; Commended ­WR Widerberg, NSW, Paradox; Commended ­ Ken Windsor, NSW, The Search for Uncle Tom. Congratulations to all the winners! Well Done!

With five themed days of activity, WRITE, BUY, SHARE, LIVE and CELEBRATE Australian poetry, the week aims to raise awareness, appreciation and participation of the Australian community with this engaging, but often overlooked, art form. Share the joy of Australian poetry in all its forms: at work, at home, at play, with friends, in a library, on a blog...

Here is a poem for you by Kandos poet Leanne Wicks:

Lady Capertee

I

Gentle-breasted mountains

blue infused valleys

undulate lovingly,

jewelling over ancient land.

II

Industrial phallusy gangs

at nape of gorge,

thrusting hydraulic maw.

Devouring. Deflowering.

Keen to hack black soul.

Gaia now prostrate and open cut.

Pseudo mounds desecrate,

pouting brothel-best as promises

penned in peripheral portfolios authorise

unscheduled mastectomy.

III

Redeem her! Arise and protect.

Restore the Promised Land.

Cape her tealed vales,

cherish her beauty,

chide her captors.

Lest decades of naked disgrace

change the pace of our

charmed hamlets.

Cafe Poet Leanne Wicks will be hosting a poetry reading at Cafe Louee, 82 Louee Street, Rylstone on Saturday 17 September from 2 - 3pm. Everyone is welcome to come along and you are invited to bring your own work to recite or a favourite poem to share. Cafe Poet is supported by Australian Poetry. Thank you Leanne.