The future of bush poetry is bright judging by the talent on stage at the Banjo Paterson Australian Poetry Festival competition.
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Primary and high school students as well novices had their chance to give their poetry a workout at the Orange City Bowling Club.
Abigail Kiely, 8 was one of the primary school students taking the stage, finishing third behind fellow Orange Public School students Amy Robinson and Fenella Beer.
She performed her own poem, Nocturnal Whispering.
“I wrote it myself, I really like the thought of nocturnal animals and they inspired me a lot to write a poem about,” Abigail said.
It’s the first time she’s performed on stage, while not keen to repeat the performance she said “I might do more in the future”.
“I do like public speaking and sometimes before I start I get a bit nervous but it just seems natural once I start talking,” she said.
Mullion Creek’s Kaluumn Maple, the competition was a chance to perform poetry with a slightly lighter topic.
The 17-year-old won the high school division and along with a reading of one his poems, played guitar.
“I was trying to come up with something a little less serious, I often write poetry about the Anzacs and homelessness,” he said.
“Poetry is very relaxing, I tried to figure out a way to integrate both of my interests into one performance.”
It’s a way for anything you’re feeling about the world - you can put it into poetry, and it’s a really good way to express yourself.
- Kaluumn Maple
For Kaluumn, poetry is a way to get away, “while I’m writing I’m focusing on characters and it takes your mind away from everyday tasks”.
He encouraged others to pick up a pen and write.
“It’s a way for anything you’re feeling about the world - you can put it into poetry, and it’s a really good way to express yourself,” Kaluumn said.
It was the first time Cathy Hines was on stage performing.
“I write a bit of poetry, but I’ve never stood in front of a crowd,” Ms Hines said.
She wrote a tribute to Orange after being unable to sleep one night.
“I’ve been here 36 years but Orange has always felt like home.”
On Thursday, Rotary will host breakfast and poetry in Robertson Park from 7.30am until 9am. Entry is $5, contact Rob Westcott for information on 0428 626 571.