Give Bush Poetry A Go At Urban - Win $150

If you’re good with words, then it’s time to test your skill at a true Aussie art form and enter the Urban Country Music Festival’s 2011 bush poetry competition.

First prize in the open category is $150 while the junior category for poets aged 15 and under has a $75 first prize.

Local bush poet and competition organiser Wally “The Bear” Finch said the standard of entries for the annual competition was high, but that shouldn’t deter first timers.

“People think that bush poetry has to be about the bush, but it’s much broader than that,” Mr Finch said.

He suggested drawing inspiration from day-to-day life or big news events and he expected to receive a few entries inspired by the recent flooding.

“When disasters like this strike, people feel the need to get the shock and horror out of their system. Bush poetry lends itself to that,” he said.

But, Mr Finch said humour could also play a major part in creating a top bush poem. For example, last year’s junior bush poetry competition was won with an entry titled Why I didn’t do my homework.

“The important thing to remember is that good bush poetry is defined by its good rhyme and meter,” Mr Finch said.

He advised reading finished poems out loud to judge how well the rhyme and meter were working in a piece.

Mayor Allan Sutherland said the bush poetry competition attracted entries from all over Australia, but he particularly hoped that Moreton Bay Region residents would enter this year.

“It’s open to people of all ages who have a love of Australia and the Australian way of life,” Mayor Sutherland said.

“I’m sure Moreton Bay region is home to more than a few budding bush poets and here’s a chance to win some recognition for your talent.”

Winners of the competition will be asked to read their poems at the Bush Poets Breakfast at the Caboolture Historical Village on Sunday, May 1.

Entries are due by April 15. Entry is free for poets aged 15 and under, or $2.50 per person for Open category entrants. For more information or to find out more about bush poetry activities at the 2011 Urban Country Music Festival, see the festival website at www.urbancountry.com.au

The Urban Country Music Festival, presented by Moreton Bay Regional Council, is supported by major sponsors Caboolture Shire Herald and Grand Prix Mazda.

The festival is benefiting from funding under the Events Queensland Regional Development Program (EQRDP)

The EQRDP is an investment program designed to extend the flow of economic and social benefits of events to regional Queensland.

A state-wide initiative, the program is committed to enhancing existing events in regional Queensland, as well as assisting in the establishment of new events.

Since the EQRDP began in 2001, more than $16.4 million has been invested in 762 regional events, an indicator of the important role these events play in their communities and wider Queensland.