The two mayors competed against each other as part of the Australian Poetry Competition at the Hotel Canobolas with their recitals resulting in a draw.

Cr Dickson recited a poem called Dubbo and was joined by his son Andy in an active duet of Banjo Paterson’s The Man from Ironbark.

Cr Davis also roped-in his daughter Cassandra into the competition for one poem but he was on his own for the other.

Poetry competition organiser David Williams said Cr Davis more than held his own against his Dubbo contender.

However, in the open performances, the main prize went to Australian men’s poetry champion Peter Mace from Empire Bay who had audiences laughing with his cheeky poem Size Does Matter about an overweight man’s unfortunate experience with a port-a-loo.

The women’s poetry champion Robyn Sykes of Binalong, NSW came second with Ditzi Mitzi.

“Over 200 people attended and once again there were people from a wide area of central west NSW that were in attendance,” Mr Williams said.

Banjo Paterson Australian Poetry Festival chairman Len Banks won the amateur competition with his poem The Garden Wedding ahead of fellow Orange poets John Rae who came second with Dogs know and Adrian Pride with Quick go the beers.

Kal Maple from Orange won the children’s section with The City Swagman.