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.

The Central West Writers' Centre Words Out West Newsletter is now available on the Words Out West website. It has all the latest news on upcoming events including our Drop-in Day this Friday with special Guest John Darin from Community Radio who will be talking about a special opportunity for writers as well as Rosamund Bartlett, author of Tolstoy: A Russian Life and Christine M Knight author of In and Out of Step. There is also lots of opportunities and writing competitions, writing group details and an inspirational quote to keep you going. To subscribe, head to the Words Out West Home page.

The Central West Writers' Centre Winter Newsletter is now available with details about the upcoming Lachlan Macquarie Talks, Poetry Slam and the Mudgee Readers' Festival and of course literary mags to submit to and competitions to enter. To update your email or to subscribe to the newsletter, please enter your details on the Words Out West home page - it is all there for you: www.wordsoutwest.com.au You can also subscribe to this blog too (enter your email on this page, look on the right).

If you regularly read this blog then you would know I can't help writing about the weather and I have tried to hold off doing this recently. No mention of our beautiful autumn leaf colours, no waxing lyrical about crisp sunny days etc etc etc. But today's extraordinary events mean I can put it off no longer. I'm sitting here in my coat and scarf (thank you Brown Sugar) - yes indoors. Today in Orange we are experiencing unprecedented cold weather. It is the coldest April day - ever! It has to be. This morning when I arrived it was 2 degrees, by lunchtime it was four (well 3.6 so I'm claiming the extra points) and we are expecting a top, that we will come nowhere near, of 7. Yes, it's cold and there is sleet falling and then bouncing off the hard ground (read frozen rain) and yes there is snow on Mt Canobolas. Anyone for hot chocolate?

Happy New Year to you. I've just returned from Perth and somehow I think have managed to come back to Orange, New South Wales with the West Australian climate. We experienced temperatures of 42 degrees on Christmas Day and 44 on Boxing Day - so it was scorching hot and there were no problems heating up the BBQ. Opening the door to the outside world was like standing in front of a blast furnace. And while Orange has been baking in heat of around 30 degrees or so Perth temperatures are down to a respectable 21 degrees. So I feel like sending the heat back in return for a cool change. Anyway, here's to a great year ahead and a return to our usual weather patterns.

If you want to hear your radio play on the airwaves then drop it into the Central West Writers' Centre at Orange City Library or call 6393 8125. Orange Community Broadcasters FM 107.5 are getting ready to produce some fantastic local plays as part of The Other Side of the Line Project and there is room for one or two more. So be quick if you want your masterpiece to come to life.

In the words of Banjo Paterson "Twas Mulga Bill from Eaglehawk, that caught the cycling craze" and to celebrate this famous poet and poem Yeoval is holding the first annual Mulga Bill Festival on Thursday 26 July, Saturday 28 July and Sunday 29 July.

Banjo is one of Australia's favourite literary sons and was born near Orange at Narambla but spent his early childhood at Yeoval.

Enjoy a Family Concert at Yeoval Memorial Hall on Thursday evening at 7.30pm with a performance by bush poet Geoffrey Graham. Cost is $10 per family, $5 adults and $3 children. The event is sponsored by the Country Arts Support Program of Regional Arts NSW and funded by the NSW Government through the Ministry of Arts, Arts OutWest.

A highlight of the festival is a 24 km bicycle ride from Cumnock to Yeoval on Sunday. There will be heaps happening during the weekend including Poet in the Pub, Golf Day, displays of Vintage Cars, historic walks, old mine site tours, market stalls, Poets in the Hall, Social Bowls and more. For details go to http://www.yeoval.com/Mulga%20Bill%20Festival.htm

Orange author Michael Caulfield has written a new book titled The Vietnam Years From the Jungle to the Australian Suburbs. It is a powerful account of the war ranging from a poignant story of the Battle of Long Tan to the effects of war where a man could come off a patrol in the morning - and be back in Sydney that evening, discharged from the army, and drunk in the Bourbon and Beefsteak.

An evening with Michael Caulfield will be held at Highland Heritage Estate, Mitchell Highway, Orange on Saturday 4 August at 7pm. Tickets are $70 per person and include a drink and canapes on arrival followed by a delicious two course dinner at this award winning restaurant. Tickets are available from Boomers Bookshop and ABC Centre (ph: 6361 8399) in association with Wicked Fairy Events, Central West Libraries and The Central West Writers' Centre.

The Bathurst Writers' Group August meeting has moved to the end of July to allow for a self publishing talk on Saturday, 28 July, 2pm, at Bathurst Library. Judy Walker has put out her book Warts and All aimed at children with a learning disability. Martha Gelin is publishing her second edition sex education book for parents/professionals, titled The Sex Explanation Handbook. A new member, Steaphen Pirie, has three or so books already out including Maya Sends Her Love. He writes about the interface between quantum physics, consciousness and spirituality.

The three authors have used different methods for getting their books out; have spent differing amounts of money; and are handling promotion and distribution of their books in different ways. You'll get to hear from three authors about real life experiences, and it should be interesting to anyone who's thinking about following this same route. Everyone is welcome to attend. Call Martha on 6331 8382 if you require more details.

The forecast is in for the weekend, a temperate range of 2 to 6 degrees "possible snow for higher ground" and that means Mt Canobolas. It is one of the most outstanding landmarks in the Central West offering 360 degree views of the countryside on a clear day or a freeeeezing wind chill factor in winter (check: right now). I love weather phrases, the best one is "fine elsewhere" which a local band has taken up as their monicker (very clever). So for indoor pursuits put pen to paper (fingers to keyboard) and start writing a winter story or two. Need inspiration? Just think about winter and how it makes you feel. What winter memories do you recall from childhood days? What do you love about winter? Or what do you dislike? For us at the Library it means anticipating the use of our fabulous toboggans that are currently hidden away upstairs awaiting a downhill snow adventure (maybe soon!).