Kyabram P-12 College student Chris Cheng captured the annual Betty Ollie poetry competition junior section at the Kyabram Bush Verse group Around the Campfire on October 19.
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The Kyabram and District Bush Verse Group marked its annual Betty Ollie poetry competition, announcing winners during the ‘Around the Campfire’ bush poets gathering on Sunday, October 19.
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Kyabram P-12 College student Chris Cheng captured the Junior section title with his poem Dingo Ballad, taking home $100 and a trophy.
Queensland’s Gabriel Harris of Clarindale earned the runner-up spot in the junior competition with Bush Embers, receiving $50 and a certificate.
“We were lucky enough that the winner of the junior competition was from Kyabram, Chris Cheng, and he came along and actually read out his poem,” Kyabram and District Bush Verse Group president Greg McKenzie said.
The Senior section drew 49 entries, with Brenda Joy from Charters Towers, Queensland, clinching the win for Storytellers Like Jack..., earning $500 and a trophy.
Tom McIlveen, of Port Macquarie in NSW, secured runner-up honours with Captain Thunderbolt, receiving $200 and a certificate.
At the Around the Campfire event, hosted by Kyabram Lions Club, David Judge of Kangaroo Flat claimed the Herb McCrum poetry award, while Melbourne’s Don McQueen took home the Johnny Johnansson yarn-spinning shield.
David Judge (right) receives the Herb McCrum perpetual shield for best performance for poetry at Around the Campfire from Greg McKenzie.
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“They both did a number of yarns on the day and were adjudicated as the winners,” Mr McKenzie said.
“Around the Campfire is about people performing their poems and yarns and the Lions Club provides the judges, who decide who are the best performers on the night.
“We had six or seven performers on the day, not including the young fella, and they had two or three turns each with a separate poem or yarn.”
Don McQueen, of Melbourne, receiving a trophy from David Livsey, Kyabram Lions Club, for winning the Johnny Johansson yarn-spinning award.
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The group will hold its Christmas celebration on Sunday, December 14, featuring a two-course meal prepared by the KyValley Swimming Club committee for $30 per person.
The Christmas festivities will showcase bush poets and yarn spinners from Deniliquin, Echuca, Shepparton and Kyabram.
“We will be having raffles and entertainment, which the Bush poets and yarn spinners will provide from around the general area,” Mr McKenzie said.
“It is up to the individual to what yarn or poem they tell, but they might throw in a Christmas one — you never know.”
If you would like to attend the Kyabram and District Bush Verse Group’s Christmas shindig, as everyone is welcome, let Greg McKenzie know on 0418 599 924.
