ACHIEVEMENTS

MERV PERFORMANCES

CHRIS PERFORMANCES

MERV WRITTEN

CHRIS WRITTEN

MERV - BUSH POETRY PERFORMANCE COMPETITIONS

*Finalist original verse, Bundy Mob's Bush Poets Muster 1996.
*3rd traditional and original verse, Poets on the Downs, 1996.
*Winner, Ernie Setterfield trophy for performance poetry, Mapleton Yarn Festival, 1996.

*2nd original verse at Jondaryan Country Music Rush, 1997.
*Finalist  Australian Bush Poetry Championships at Winton, 1997.
*Runner up one minute poet's brawl, Charleville Bush Balladeers Weekend, 1997.
*2nd 1st Central Queensland Bush Poetry Championships, Rockhampton, 1997.
*3rd Dark & Stormy one minute poem at the Bundy Mob's Bush Poets Muster, 1997.
*Joint winner of the Battered Bugle at the Surat, Cobb & Co. Festival, 1997.
 

*Winner Original King of Rhyme, Gympie Muster, 1997.
*Most improved poet at the Cloncurry Bush Festival, 1997.
*1st original and humorous verse and 2nd in traditional, Camooweal Drovers Yesteryear Festival, 1997.

*Overall champion poet, Hervey Bay Whale Festival, 1997.
*3rd original verse, North Pine Camp Oven Festival, 1997.
*3rd original verse at the Glengallon Bush Poetry Festival, 1997.

*Finalist, Imperial Hotel Bush Poetry Championships, Tamworth, 1998.
*2nd original verse at the Oasis Hotel Bush Poetry Competition, Tamworth, 1998.
*Overall champion poet, Jondaryan Country Music Rush, 1998.

*Finalist in Tenterfield's Oracle of the Bush Bush Poetry Competition, 1998.
*Winner Central Queensland Bush Poetry Championships, Rockhampton, 1998.
*3rd Will Ogilvie section and yarn spinning at the Bard of the Outback, Cunnamulla, 1998.
*2nd original and 3rd traditional, Glengallon Country Music and Bush Poetry Festival, 1998.

*Finalist Qantas-Waltzing Matilda Bush Poetry Championships, Winton, 1999.
*3rd original performance bush verse at the Australian Bush Poetry Championships, Yarrawonga-Mulwala,1999.
*2nd Central Queensland Bush Poetry Championships, Rockhampton, 1999.

*Finalist original section at the Imperial Hotel Bush Poetry Championships, Tamworth, 2000.

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CHRIS - BUSH POETRY PERFORMANCE COMPETITIONS

*Winner  Novice competition at the Oasis Hotel Bush Poetry Competition 1998.

*Winner traditional section at the Jondaryn Music Muster, 1998.
*Finalist Tenterfield's Oracle of the Bush Bush Poetry Competition, 1998.
*2nd traditional section at Bard of the Outback, Cunnamulla, 1998.
*3rd Overall Bard of the Outback, Cunnamulla, 1998.
*3rd contemporary verse section Bundy Mob's Bush Poets Muster 1998.
*Winner traditional section at the Battered Bugle at the Surat, Cobb & Co. Festival, 1998.
*2nd traditional section at the Millmerran Bush Poetry Festival, 1998.
*2nd humorous section at the Glengallon Country Music and Bush Poetry Festival, 1998.
*2nd original and humorous and 3rd in traditional, Camooweal Drovers Yesteryear Festival, 1998.

*Finalist traditional Imperial Hotel Bush Poetry Championships, Tamworth, 1999.
*Finalist Qantas-Waltzing Matilda Bush Poetry Championships, Winton, 1999.
*Winner women's original Australian Bush Poetry Championships, Yarrawonga-Mulwala,1999.
*Ladies Runner up overall Australian Bush Poetry Championships, Yarrawonga- Mulwala,1999.

*2nd original Australian Bush Poetry Championships, Yarrawonga- Mulwala, 2000.
*Finalist traditional finals, Imperial Hotel Bush Poetry Championships, Tamworth, 2000.

*Finalist original Imperial Hotel Bush Poetry Championships, Tamworth, 2002.
*Finalist, Qantas-Waltzing Matilda Bush Poetry Championships, Winton, 2002.

*Winner, Boondooma Spirit of the Bush, performance poetry competition, Boondooma Homestead, 2004.

*2nd  Open Women's Original Bundy Bush Poetry Muster's  July 2006
*3rd Open Women's Traditional Bundy Bush Poetry Muster's July 2006

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MERV - WRITTEN BUSH POETRY COMPETITIONS

*Highly commended, Henry Stuart Russell competition for written verse with 'Basher Brogan's Pride', 1997.
* Winner of the Bush Lantern Award for written verse 'Piccaninny Dawn' at the Bundy Mob's Bush Poets Muster, 1997.

*Published 'To Have Loved A Friend' in 'Around the Campfire', best poems from the Blackened Billy, 1998.
*3rd 'The Curing of Young Fred McPhie' on Monto's Dairy Festival, written competition, 1998.

*2nd Gympie Golden Pen humorous section in written competition for 'I'll Ne'er Forget That Day Old Mate' 1999

*Published 'A Sure Thing'  in 'Around the Campfire', best poems from the Blackened Billy, Tamworth 1999.
*Winner serious written verse, 'Sarah', Australian Bush Poetry Championships, Yarrawonga-Mulwala, 1999.

*Winner of battlers section, written verse, 'A Bush Kid's Plea', Tenterfield's Oracles of the Bush. 2000
*2nd, Book of the Year at the Australian Bush Poetry Championships, Yarrawonga- Mulwala, 2000.

*Published 'The Park Bench Reconciliation'  in the 2001 Bronze Swagman Book of Verse.

*Highly commended 'What Do I Tell My Children',  Blackened Billy written competition, Tamworth, 2002.

*Won Cecil Plains written bush poetry competition with Leichhardt’s In The Bush, 2002.
*3rd 'What Do I Tell My Children', , Serious Written Competition, Australian Bush Poetry Championships, 2002.
*Published 'Dear Oh Deer!' in the 2002 Bronze Swagman Book of Verse.
*Highly Commended 'The Passing of Stumpy Shore' Highly Commended, Bush Lantern Award, 2002

*Highly Commended 'The Secret's Out' , Nimbin Agricultural and Industrial Soc. written competition 2002

* Winner 'A Loowd Conversation'  Tamworth Rage Page on the Internet.
* 1st A.B.P.A. 2003 Written Bush Poetry Championships with 'The Passing of Stumpy Shore.'

DATELINE : OCTOBER 6, 2003

MERV WINS ABPA POETRY COMP

THE AUSTRALIA Bush Poets Association (ABPA) has announced that Merv Webster has won the 2003 Written Poetry Championships.

From Bargara, Queensland, Merv's winning poem was titled The Passing of Stumpy Shore.

The written competition was omitted from the Australian Championships this year and until ABPA President Frank Daniel decided to do something about it, was almost a non-event.

Support from executive members and a number of leading writers approached, brought the written section back to life.

Inaugural ABPA member, Carmel Randle of Preston, Queensland, was appointed judge.

Leanne Jeacocke of Thangool, Qld, was named runner-up with The Day Dad Dug the Bore.

Highly commended went to Jump on Twenty Three by Veronica Weal of Mt Isa (Qld), The Toll by
Ellis Campbell of Dubbo (NSW), Five Days a Week by Ken Dean, Marrangaroo (NSW), Pioneer Woman by Ann Griffiths, Penrith (NSW), Counting on Daylight by Graham Fredriksen, Kilcoy (Qld), Bill Drummond by Doug Hutcheson, Logan Central (Qld), Give Us This Day Our Daily Bread by Doug Hutcheson, It's A Dogs Life, by Janine Haig Eulo (Qld), Final Journey by Ellis Campbell and The Shearing Shed Speaks by Brian Bell, of Glenbrook NSW.

* Published "When The Evidence Went Missing" in the 2003 Bronze Swagman Book of Verse.

* Published "Robby" in the 2004 Bronze Swagman Book of Verse.

* Published "A Lifeline In The Bush"  in the 2005 Bronze Swagman Book of Verse.
* Award of Excellence "Bert's Will" The Poetry Soup International Outstanding Poetic Achievement Poetry Soup Awards Nov 2005.

* Award of Excellence "Hard Hat Heroes"  The Poetry Soup International Outstanding Poetic Achievement Poetry Soup Awards July 2006.

*Shared Winning Poem "Something for Our Stevie" , Tamworth Rage Page on the Internet 2006.

*Winning Poem "The Oriental Cure" , Tamworth Rage Page on the Internet 2007.

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CHRIS - WRITTEN BUSH POETRY COMPETITIONS

*Winner serious written Australian Bush Poetry Championships, Yarrawonga- Mulwala, 1999.

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MERV - SONG LYRICS COMPETITIONS

* Finalist and winner Lyrics Only section the 2005 Northern Territory Country Music Songwriting Awards with "Chasing Buttons"

* Finalist Lyrics Only section the Tamworth Songwriter's Association Songwriting Awards with "Chasing Buttons"
* Finalist and winner Lyrics Only section the Tamworth Songwriter's Association Songwriting Awards with "The Maintop Balladeer"
* Finalist Lyrics Only section the Tamworth Songwriters's Association Songwriting Awards with "Flowers on a Friday"

* Finalist, winner  Lyrics Only section 2006 Northern Territory Country Music Songwriting Awards with "Granddad's Crusty Damper"

*Finalist - Lyrics Only section S. E. Qld. Branch of the Tamworth Songwriters's Assoc. Songwriting Awards with "Flowers on a Friday"
*Finalist and 2nd Lyrics Only section in the S. E. Qld. Branch of the T. S. A. Songwriting Awards with "I Wish I Were a Crocodile"
*Finalist and 3rd Lyrics Only section in the S. E. Qld. Branch of the T. S. A. Songwriting Awards with "Son Play another Coster Song"

* Finalist Lyrics Only section the 2007 Tamworth Songwriter's Association Songwriting Awards with "Keeping the Culture"
* Finalist Lyrics Only section the 2007 Tamworth Songwriter's Association Songwriting Awards with "That Motel Whiskey Dream"
* Finalist Lyrics Only section the 2007 Tamworth Songwriters's Association Songwriting Awards with "So Many Roadside Epitaphs"
* Finalist, Winner Lyrics Only section 2007 Tamworth Songwriters's Association Songwriting Awards with "I wish I Were A Crocodile"

* Finalist Lyrics Only section 2008 Tamworth Songwriter's Association Songwriting Awards with "The Lady in the Lockett"
* Finalist Lyrics Only section 2008 Tamworth Songwriter's Association Songwriting Awards with "How Two Boys Lived Their Dream"

* Finalist Lyrics Only section 2008 Northern Territory Country Music Songwriting Awards with "How Two Boys Lived Their Dream"

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MERV -YARNSPINNING COMPETITIONS

*Winner camp fire yarns, Jondaryan Country Music Rush, 1997.
*Winner  camp fire yarns, Bundy Mob's Bush Poets Muster, 1997.
*Winner yarn spinning competition, Mapleton Yarn Festival, 1997

*Winner Gatton Heritage Festival Yarn Spinning Competition, 1998.
*3rd place, yarn spinning at the Bard of the Outback, Cunnamulla, 1998.
*Winner yarn spinning competition, Millmerran Bush Poetry Festival, 1998.

*Winner of the Australian  Junior Yarn Spinning Championships, Winton Waltzing Matilda Competition,1999.
*Winner of Australian Bush Poetry Championships, yarn spinning competition, Yarrawonga- Mulwala 1999.

*Runner up at the Australian Bush Poetry Championships, yarn spinning competition, Yarrawonga-Mulwala 2000.

*2nd place in the Australian Junior Yarn Spinning Championships Winton Waltzing Matilda Competition, June, 2002.

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CHRIS & THE GREY - PUBLISHED BOOKS AND ALBUMS

PRODUCT PAGE

*Released Book 'Tales of Uncle Jim' at the Tamworth Country Music Festival, 1997.
*Released Book 'In Days Gone By' at the Bundy Mob's Bush Poets Muster, 1997.

*Released Book 'A Muster of Verse & Yarns' at the Bundy Mob's Bush Poets Muster, 1998.

*Released Book 'Laughter & Tears From the Bush,' 1999.
*Released Cassette, Chris & The Grey - A Selection of Bush Verse, 1999.

*Released Book 'You're Joking! Milk In Billy Tea' October, 2000.

*Released Cassette, Pull Up A Stump & Listen Tamworth Country Music Festival, 2001.
*Released CD Pull Up A Stump & Listen April, 2001.
*Released Book 'Excuse Me! It's the Gidyea', October, 2001.

*Released CD Chris & The Grey - A Selection of Bush Verse and Tamworth, 2002. 
*Released CD Laughter & Tears From the Bush Tamworth, 2002.
*Included on compilation CD Bush Balladeers Volume 4 THE BALLAD OF THE BLOWFLY 2002.

*Released Book 'A Muster of Australiana', Tamworth, 2003. 
*Released CD, BLACKLISTED AND OTHER BUSH VERSE September, 2003. 
*Included on compilation CD Bush Balladeers Volume 5 MURDER!  BLOODY MURDER. 2003

*Included on compilation KATHERINE COUNTRY MUSIC MUSTER 2004 THE PASSING OF STUMPY SHORE.
*Released EP/CD THE BUSHMAN & THE BALLADEER, LAKE COOROIBAH COUNTRY MUSIC JAMBOREE, NOVEMBER 2004.

*Released Book 'Keeping the Culture', Far North Bush Poetry Festival, Mareeba, 2005. 

*Included on Compilation CD Bush Balladeers Volume 7 R.M. Williams - A Man Who Had Tried. 2006.
*Released EP/CD "From Bard to Balladeer" Far North Bush Poetry Festival, Mareeba, 2006. 

*Released CD "The Storyteller" Boondooma Heritage and Bush Balladeer's Muster, Boondooma Homestead, 2008. 

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CHRIS & THE GREY - GOLDEN GUMLEAF BUSH LAUREATE AWARDS

*Finalist in the Golden Gumleaf Bush Laureate Awards for 'In Days Gone By' Tamworth, 1998.

*Finalist at Golden Gumleaf Bush Laureate Awards, 'Laughter & Tears from the Bush', Tamworth, 2000.
*Finalist at Golden Gumleaf Bush Laureate Awards, Chris & The Grey Album Tamworth, 2000.

TRUE BLUE POETS COMPETE FOR GOLDEN GUMLEAVES

Bush poets are Australia's true blue voice and that goes without saying for the top five finalists selected for the 2000 Australian Bush Laureate Awards.

The Australian Bush Laureate Awards honour excellence in the recording and publishing of Australian rhymed verse and are presented annually at the Tamworth Country Music Festival.

The top five finalists have been selected from categories including Book of the Year, Album of the Year and Single Recorded Performance of the Year.

Among the "true blue voices" who are finalists for the 2000 Awards are Slim Dusty for Outback (Single Recorded Performance of the Year), Dobe Newton for Holy Dan (Single Recorded Performance of the Year), Kelly Dixon for From Under the Cross (Book of the Year) and Frank Daniel for Chuckin' Rocks (Album of the Year).

Jim Haynes, who will co-compere the 2000 Australian Bush Laureate Awards with Nick Erby, is impressed with the standard of the finalists.

"It's great to see the quality of finalists improving from year to year," he said.

"The Australian Bush Laureate Awards ensure that rhymed verse remains an active part of Australia's heritage into the new millennium."

Finalists will be competing for the highly coveted Golden Gumleaf trophies which will be presented during a showcase of talent including Troy Cassar-Daley, Tania Kernaghan, Adam Brand, Ted Egan and a host of other stars.

The Australian Bush Laureate Awards will be staged at 2pm, Tuesday 25th January 2000 at the historic Tamworth Town Hall. Tickets are available from the Tamworth Information Centre on 02 6755 4305.

THE FULL FINALIST LIST IS... (listed alphabetically by author/artist)

 

BOOK OF THE YEAR	Author	Publisher
Chuckin' Rocks	Frank Daniel	Truthful Publications
Gone Wookatook	Graham & Louise Dean	G & L K Dean
From Under The Cross	Kelly Dixon	K Dixon
Paradise Revisited	Graham Fredriksen	G Fredriksen
Laughter & Tears From The Bush	Merv Webster	M Webster
SINGLE RECORDED PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR	Artist	Record Company
Outback	Slim Dusty	EMI Music
A Library Burns	Col Hadwell	Reelspirit Music
Turbulence	Murray Hartin	Shoestring Records
Sir	Damian 'Dib' Morgan	ABC Audio
Holy Dan	Dobe Newton	ABC Audio
ALBUM OF THE YEAR	Artist	Record Company
Chuckin' Rocks	Frank Daniel	Bloody Dog Studio
The Best Of Snakes Alive	Bob Magor	Out Of Reach Music
Have A Go!	Damian "Dib" Morgan	ABC Audio
The Best Of Songs & Stories Of Australia	Dobe Newton	ABC Audio
Chris & The Grey - A Selection Of Bush Verse	Chris & Merv Webster	Artist First

The JUDITH HOSIER HERITAGE AWARD (a special award) will be announced during the presentations in
the Tamworth Town Hall, Tuesday, January 25, 2000.

*Finalist, 'Let's Set Our Children Free' , Best Single Off An Album, Bush Laureate Awards, Tamworth, 2002.

*Finalist in the Golden Gumleaf Bush Laureate Awards for 'A Muster of Australiana' Tamworth, 2004.

DATELINE : DECEMBER 22, 2003

BUSH LAUREATE AWARDS FINALISTS ANNOUNCED

FINALISTS FOR the 2004 Australian Bush Laureate Awards, to be staged during the upcoming Telstra Tamworth Country Music Festival, have been announced.

For Book of the Year, they are... A Muster of Australiana by Merv Webster (self published), An Australian Treasury of Popular Verse by Jim Haynes (ABC Books), Australian Wildlife Poems by Philip R Rush (self published), Bulldust & Ballads Vol 2 by Ray Rose (Central Queensland University Press) and The FMG and Other Verses by Bob Magor (self published).

For Original Verse Book of the Year, the finalists are Australian Wildlife Poems by Philip R Rush (self published), Bulldust & Ballads Vol 2 by Ray Rose (Central Queensland University Press), The Cattle Dog's Revenge by Jack Drake (Central Queensland University Press), From Wagonettes To Roadtrains by John Lloyd (Jabiru), The FMG and Other Verses by Bob Magor (self published) and What A Bloody Turnout by Tom Oliver (Tom & Louisa Oliver).

For Album of the Year, finalists are Banjo by Karm Gilespie (on the Rangemaster Studios label, produced by Paul Colman & Karm Gilespie), Banjo's Classics by various artists (Stanza TV, Jim Brown), Down Memory Lane by Milton Taylor & Carmel Dunn (Restless Music, Milton Taylor), Lest We Forget by Ray Rose (Razorback Studios, Ray Rose) and Muz! by Murray Hartin (Shoestring Records, Barry Henninger).

Finalists for Single Recorded Performance of the Year are Down Memory Lane by Milton Taylor (from the album Down Memory Lane on the Restless label, produced by Milton Taylor), Mulga Bill's Bicycle by Karm Gilespie (Banjo, Rangemaster Studios, Paul Colman & Karm Gilespie), Slim - You Done Us Proud by Marco Gliori (Right Track Studios, Marco Gliori & Dave Cowell), The Hog Whisperer by Murray Hartin (Muz!, Shoestring Records, Barry Henninger), The Old Campaigners by Ray Rose (Lest We Forget, Razorback Studios, Ray Rose).

The 2004 Australian Bush Laureate Awards will be staged in the famous Tamworth Town Hall on Tuesday afternoon, January 20.

*Finalist in the Golden Gumleaf Bush Laureate Awards for 'Keeping the Culture' Tamworth, 2006.