AS residents of the Orange region prepare for the annual Banjo Paterson Australian Poetry Festival, so do businesses owners as they prepare to decorate their shop fronts for the special occasion.
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The festival will take place between February 17 and 21 and in the lead-up, stores owners will be doing their best to secure the $1000 prize.
The winner will also receive a Banjo festival trophy.
For Phillip Schwebel at Collins Booksellers however, it's about more than finishing in first place.
"Every year the competition is on we always get involved," he said.
"Here at the bookshop we're very interested in poetry and literature, we want to promote Banjo and the readings of his work and the festival itself.
"It's great that we have that connection with Banjo and luckily, the town get behind it and make it a great event."
This year, the theme of the shop front at Collins Booksellers is the Banjo Paterson poem, Old Man Platypus.
Mr Schwebel and wife Margaret, with the help of students from Canobolas Rural Technology High School, have attempted to portray this legendary poem in their shop front.
“We've got a bush scene at the front of the shop," he said.
"There's a creek, a platypus, gum trees and some birds and other animals and also some information about the poem and the platypus. We also have some art created by students at the Canobolas High School - they always do a very good job, they have a reputation for having good art there.
"We've put a lot of work into it, getting things from all over the place and putting it all together."
Mr Schwebel said the store has already had plenty of foot traffic since the tribute to Banjo Paterson went up.
"We only set up this morning [Wednesday] and we've already had people come in and compliment us on the display."
All participants in the window display competition will receive a certificate of appreciation from the Banjo Paterson Festival Committee.
First prize compliments of the Central Western Daily will be an advertising up-sizing package to the value of $1000 to any business owner who books advertising space up to three months after winning.
bryson.ferreira@fairfaxmedia.com.au