Words Out West - Banjo

2010 Banjo Paterson Writing Award Winners

Fri, 25 Jun 2010 14:12:00 +1000

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!

Call for Entries in Banjo Paterson Writing Awards

Wed, 17 Feb 2010 00:30:00 +1000

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.

Yeoval Country Energy Mulga Bill Festival & Art Show

Wed, 22 Jul 2009 13:10:00 +1000

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.

2009 Banjo Paterson Writing Award winners

Mon, 15 Jun 2009 19:04:00 +1000

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".

Banjo Paterson Writing Awards Now Open

Tue, 17 Feb 2009 11:02:00 +1000

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.

Mulga Bill & the Buckinbah Art Festival

Fri, 18 Jul 2008 14:05:00 +1000

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.

Banjo Writing Award short story in CWD

Fri, 20 Jun 2008 14:07:00 +1000

The winning short story in the 2008 Banjo Paterson Writing Awards "Exposure" by Margaret Betts of VIC, has been published in today's Central Western Daily (CWD) on page 9 and you can also read it, along with other winning entries, on the Central West Libraries website Reading and Writing page. This story stayed with the judges for a long time afterwards - its evocation of a boy running away to sea and the tragic death of the boy's father following his return. This story is beautifully written, building up the atmosphere of the piece with a skilled control of language and metaphor. The descriptions of the natural world are original and enchanting, emotionally charging the landscape with a sense of dread and foreboding. From details of seaweed, clouds, damaged crabs and wind, to the domestic descriptions of a bed stripped bare exposing its naked base an 'iron black skeleton' this is first class writing. Catch up with the winners of the Children's Writing Section featured in the CWD today too on page 5: http://orange.yourguide.com.au/news/local/news/general/banjo-would-notice-stories-made-of-the-write-stuff/793522.aspx

2008 Banjo Paterson Writing Award Winners

Mon, 16 Jun 2008 17:29:00 +1000

The 2008 Banjo Paterson Writing Award Winners were announced today. A rural theme emerged across all sections which is not surprising as the awards honour Banjo Paterson and foster writing with Australian content. Winning entries will be published on the Central West Libraries website and the winning prose/short story entry in the Central Western Daily. Thank you to all the participants for your writing efforts and taking part in the competition. The winners are: Prose: Margaret Betts from VIC for Exposure, Greg McFarland of Orange for The Tractor, Neridah McMullin from VIC for Bart and the Underground Water Supply. Open Poetry: Jo Mills from WA for Walyunga, Jillian Pattinson from VIC for E H Holden and Pamela Sherpa from Jindabyne for Drought. Bush Poetry: Ron Stevens of Dubbo for Distant Dialogue. Children's Writing Awards: Thomas Whitehead, of Orange, for his poem My Favourite Holiday, Eleanor Delaney, of Orange, for her poem Winter and Holly Frederickson, of Orange, for her short story Bushed. The Yvonne Zola Encouragement Award goes to Sarah Stackman of Lewis Ponds, for her poetry.

Banjo Writing Awards reminder

Thu, 10 Apr 2008 13:51:00 +1000

There is still time and this weekend to get your entries in for the 2008 Banjo Paterson Writing Awards. Entries close on Friday 18 April, 2008. The Awards aim to honour Banjo Paterson, a great Australian writer and favourite son of Orange, with a competition promoting all forms of writing with Australian content. There are four categories: Prose; Open Poetry; Bush Poetry and Childrens' Writing Awards. Entry is $10 and $5 for Childrens' Writing Awards entries. The winning prose entry will be published in The Central Western Daily. Click on our events link for an entry form and conditions or phone (02) 6393 8120.

Banjo Paterson Writing Awards

Sun, 17 Feb 2008 11:29:00 +1000

Andrew Barton "Banjo" Paterson, most famous for penning Waltzing Matilda and The Man From Snowy River was born on February 17, 1864 near Orange. To celebrate his birthday Orange City Council, Central West Libraries, Central West Writers' Centre and The Central Western Daily announce the call for entries to the Banjo Paterson Writing Awards. It is important to note that entries into the Prose, 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 and also from The Central Western Daily at 132 Kite Street, Orange. The competition closes on Friday 18 April 2008 and winners will be contacted by phone on Monday 16 June 2008. Read more about in today's Central Western Daily: http://www.orange.yourguide.com.au/news/local/general/writers-asked-to-find-their-inner-banjo/1184621.html

Mulga Bill Festival at Yeoval

Wed, 18 Jul 2007 11:10:00 +1000

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