The Kyabram and District Bush Verse Group, a small but passionate collective formed in the early 1990s, is on a mission to keep Australian bush verse alive and kicking.
With about 15 dedicated members, this group is doing a great job preserving a vital piece of Australian cultural heritage.
Kyabram and District Bush Verse Group president Greg McKenzie thinks keeping this tradition from fading is crucial.
“The group aims to ensure that Australian bush verse doesn't disappear from our society,” he said.
“We're out in the community, doing our bit to promote bush verse.”
Despite their modest numbers, these verse enthusiasts run a nationwide competition with bush poets from all corners of the country chomping at the bit.
The Betty Ollie Award, as Mr McKenzie said, “is very well regarded and keenly sought after by well-known Australian bush poets”.
It's not just for the old hands, either—they've got a junior section to get the young guns involved.
They recently teamed up with the Kyabram Lions Club for 'Around the Campfire,' which took place on Sunday, October 20 at the Kyabram Club.
Des Ginnane from Numurkah took out the yarn-telling category, scoring the ‘Johnny Johanson Yarnspinning Award’ perpetual trophy.
Meanwhile, Kathy Vallance from St Arnaud nabbed 'The Herb McCrum Poetry Award' perpetual trophy for her poetry skills.
Mr McKenzie said bush verse was more than just words on a page.
“It's part of our appearance on the landscape here in Australia,” he said.
“A lot of it has an Irish or Scottish base to it; it's the Banjo Paterson, Henry Lawson type verse that we're looking at, and we think it's important to continue that.”
“Keeping it alive is important because it's part of our heritage, where we've come from.”
If you would like to learn more about the Kyabram and District Bush Verse Group, you are welcome to attend their Christmas party on Sunday, December 8, at noon at the Kyvalley Hall, 534 Scobis Rd, Kyvalley.
If you would like to go along for a good meal and top-notch bush verse, contact Greg McKenzie at 0418 599 924 to secure your seat.