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2005 Victorian Championships Report from Reg Phillips

On March the 12th and 13th, the Snowy Mountains Bush Poetry Club Inc. held the 2005 Victorian Bush Poetry Championships, compared by Reg Phillips, in the Benalla Bowling Club. With a good line up of poets from across Victoria, vying for the spoils, the level of competition was very high.

The venue proved fantastic, the crowd was warm and the poets hot.

Jan Lewis from Cudgewa was the Ladies Champion and Jim Brown from Melbourne, took out the Men’s trophy. Sarah Draper from Maffra won the Junior competition.

It was interesting to note that the Original section consisted of mainly deep and meaningful, serious poems this year, with poems like Col Milligan’s “ China Rose” placing a high demand on Kleenexes.

The poets “Brekkies” were a huge success with Col Milligan at the helm and no one in the audience being immune from his wit and sharp comments, leaving the Bistro knee deep in bulldust each morning.

There was a grand concert on the Saturday night with Col as MC and an audience of around 80 people enjoying the antics of Col Milligan Dennis Carstairs and Reg Phillips along with most of the other poets creating a variety of items of entertainment. Ric Raftis sang several Bush Ballads and Howard Gad and Peter Klien singing some great country folk songs.

The Sunday entertainment finished on a high note with Carol Refold conducting a one minute poem competition with the title “Secret Women’s Business” which was won by Ric Raftis. “But” Sue Gleeson was a favorite with her debut poem and received the traditional standing ovation for a “virgin poet”.

It was a wonderful weekend of fun laughter and tears as the poets took us through a roller coaster ride of emotions with their brilliant performances. Well done every one.

2005 VICTORIAN BUSH POETRY CHAMPIONSHIPS Category Winners

Men's Champion - Jim Brown
Runner Up - Tony Strauss
Highly Commended - Dennis Carstairs

Ladies Champion - Jan Lewis
Runner Up - Annette Roberts
Highly Commended - Betty Walton

CONTEMPORARY SECTIONS

Men's– Ric Raftis with Song Of A Nation by Johnny Johanson
Ladies - Annette Roberts with Not Gone by Janine Haig

TRADITIONAL SECTIONS

Men's – Jim Brown with In The Droving Days by A.B. Paterson
Ladies – Jan Lewis with Women Of The West by George Essex Evans

ORIGINAL SECTIONS

Men's – Jim Brown with The Anzac On The Wall
Ladies – Jan Lewis with Mrs. K

JUNIOR COMPETITION

Winner - Sarah Draper
Runner-up - Christopher Draper

JUDGES ENCOURAGEMENT AWARDS

Sarah Draper
Coleen Conboy
John Peel
Christine Gordon

WRITTEN COMPETITION

Winner – David Campbell with Bridie May
Runner Up – David Campbell with Shadow Boxing
Highly Commended – Des Bennett with A Blokes Shed

JUDGES COMMENDED

Bill Whitham – Only A Penny
Mick Coventry – Last Parade
Jim Brown – The Anzac On The Wall

JUNIOR WRITTEN COMPETITION

Winner Jade Killoran – Mariagh
Runner-up Sarah Draper – My Queensland Holiday

An excellent crowd enjoyed the performances over the two days of the event	Men's Victorian State Champion Jim Brown with his trophy at the presentation.
Ladies Victorian State Champion, Jan Lewis with her trophy at the presentation.	Runners up - Tony Strauss and Annette Roberts.
Men's Highly Commended, Dennis Carstairs at the presentation.	Ladies Highly Commended, Betty Walton at the presentation.
For a bit of fun, Carol Reffold organised a I minute cup. The topic, Secret Women's Business was selected by MC Reg Phillips(on right). The winner of the event was Ric Raftis(on left)	Encouragement awards were provided to a number of relative "newbies" to the scene. It was great to see new people at the championships and we hope they will continue on to be the champions of the future.

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