Update 29th June 2010

Where has the year gone, I can't believe it was early February when I last got the chance to update my blog.

February was highlighted by a trip to Ballarat Vic for the wedding of Shannon McArthur, middle sun of Neil and Colleen, Neil and Colleen proved the perfect hosts and Cindy and I had a great time, Shannon and Abbey's wedding was picture perfect.

March saw a return visit to the wonderful Tenterfield Oracles of the Bush Festival which I believe is the best, stand alone, poetry event in the country. Oracles have been very loyal to me over the years and it was a pleasure to write the poem for this years Local Legend, Rhonda Rovera. Murray Hartin, Peter Capp, John Major and myself made up the poets line-up and Kelly Fogarty habdeled the singing duties, winning a legion of new fans and handeling numerous technical difficulties, with sound, in her stride.

Flinton's yearly race meeting was run on Easter Saturday and was evrythink good about a romote race meeting, great characters, great fun and a good time had by all. I think we will be going back next year for another dose of country hospitality.

Boondooma Homestead Bush Balladeer week just continues to grow, thanks mainly to the efforts of Buddy Thompson and Lynn Bennett and a very loyal fan base. Always feels like your performing for a group of friends and is a very relaxed time. Great place to celebrate a country Anzac day as well.

Broxburn Bash was given a major overhaul this year and as always with change, came a fair amount of critisum, but the festival had been getting smaller over recent years and the committee showed courage to try something different and the results speak for themselves, crowds were way, way up and I believe there was still plenty of great country music for the traditional attendies to enjoy. Well done, I say and good luck for next year. I had a ball calling the Mechanical Bull Ride on friday night and the poets breakfast on Sunday with Peter Riddle.

A return gig at Miles show hosting the main stage entertainment and working in unison with Neil Stewart who was doing a great job announcing the ring activities. Miles is my birth place and once again I hope to be back there next year.

A couple of mid-week workshops at Highfields State School was a real highlight for me with dedicated teachers and a really bright and interested student body, no doubt one of the most enjoyable school jobs I've done yet, which is good as this is becoming a bigger and bigger part of my poetry activities. The kids never fail to surprise me with some wonderful, thoughtful ideas always emerging at the most unexpected moments.

Keith Jamerson and Alisha Smith invited me back to Bouldercombe for their second annual show, once again due to their efforts it was bigger and better than last year and I can't wait to get back there next year, relaxed and easy going with plenty of really professional artists to work with. It was at Bouldercombe that news broke about my inclusion in the Australain Team to contest The World Championships of Performing Arts in Hollywood USA this year (more about this later) and I was overwhelmed by the congratulatory messages and support shown by fellow artists and audience alike. Greg Dillon left me staggered and humbled when he came on stage to present me with a personal $500 donation towards my costs and threw the challenge to the rest of the audience to match it during the weekend, and bless their great Aussie hearts they came very close to doing just that. Thank you seems way to little to say, but it's all I have other than to promice to do my very best in USA.

A return to Casino Beef Week after about four or five years to what is always a fun event with the bush poetry always organised by Ray Essery at the Cecil Hotel, Greg and Nicki are such wonderful hosts and run a great pub, probably the best run pub I have ever seen, and if your looking for a great steak you just can't beat it. Ray and I were joined by John Lloyd and there was standing room only at all poetry sessions. We were invited to Paul George's propety for breakfast with a busload of visitors rom Sydney, we did a couple of poems and the boys spontaniously took the hat around when Ray told them of my Aust Team selection, you have just got to love Australia.

A quick trip back close to home to workshop and pefform for the students of Pittsworth State School, once again the kids were a joy to work with and I think I may have signed a couple of hundred autographs on the day. Thanks Mike.

U-turn and back down to Tucabia with daughter Kelly in tow to perform at Squatters Rest with Ray Essery and Bill Kearns and Kelly, great atmosphere and lovely hosts made for a fantastic evening and two encore's were called for during the night, both for young Kelly, if she keeps impressing audiences like this I will have to sack her from any of my shows, as she has a nasty habit of stealing the limelight. LOL. Always a pleasure to work with Ray and Bill who are great entertainers and even better blokes.

Back to sunny Queensland to perform at the Aust 4 x 4 Gathering hosted by the Pajero Club. Had a great time and Cindy and I were looked after like royalty, got to share the stage with Uncle Bob's Jug Band which is always a pleasure. Weather turned very nasty with below zero tempretures but it did little to dent the spirit of a great bunch of people. Worked as an auctioneer for a host of great items, kindly donated to the event, and people were kind enough to think I was a proffesional. Just goes to show what you can achieve with a big mouth and a small brain. Cindy had a busy weekend marketing her handbags, for those who don't know she is a consultant for a range of handbags which have interchanable covers, she has owned one for two years now and loves it, so jumped at the chance to become a consultant, been doing it just two months and has been in top three salespeople in Aust for both months. Give her a call if you have someone who is interested, same contacts as me.

Wandoan Camel Races with a young Gary Lowe joining me for the day, great fun day and well organised by the lovely Tammy Stiller and her team. Well done Wandoan we had a great day.

The rest of my news to date all focuses around my selection in the Australian Team to contest the 14th Annual World Champonships Of Performig Arts in Hollywood, Los Angeles, USA in July 2010. I recieved my invitation to join the team with just two monthes to get organised and life has been a whirlwind ever since. Unfortunately every contestant has to self fund their trip, but we are encouraged to seek sponsorship and fundraise.

Two months is not enough time for most large businesses to consider this type of sponsorship, although Millmeran Power and RV Villages Aust Inc. both stepped up, so thank you to them. Cindy and I, with the backing of Millmerran Commerce and Progress Inc., organised a fundraising concert in Millmeran and Jan Holt and Wilma Cann and their committee organised another one in Chinchilla to help raise funds for me. Artists gave of their talents for free, businesses in both towns donated prizes for raffles and many individuals donated, cooked, sold tickets and helped in so many ways.

Cindy and I have been deeply touched by the eforts of these wonderful people and by the amount of people who turned up, on short notice, to support both events.

Rural media outlets like Win TV, Country Life, Pittsworth Sentinel, Clifton Courier, Chinchilla News and Goondiwindi Argus, ABC Radio and Manfred Vijars have been sensational in their support.

Many individual, both those I know and even those who have just seen me peform somewhere over the years, have donated varying sums towars my expences and it is impossible for me to find the words to express Cindy's and my gratitude to each and every one of them. Despite the recent fall in the value of the Australian Dollar it looks very likely that the support I have been shown will very neatly cover ALL of my costs associated with the trip. We will now only be out of pocket for the expences to have Cindy accompany me, which is way more than we ever could have hoped for in our wildest dreams.

To each and every person who contributed to this amazing effort, can I simply say from the very bottom of my heart that Cindy and I are deeply touched by the level of support we have recieved in so many ways. More than once during this whirlwind journey either Cindy or myself have been reduced to tears by the sheer magnitude of peple's generosity. The combined efforts and expresions of support have served to steel my resolve to compete to the very limit of my ability when I wear the Aussie colous in LA. Thank You, Thank You, THANK YOU.

The good news continues, I have been asked to be the Flag Bearer during the Team March as part of the Opening Festivities, which I concider to be one of the greatest honours of my life.

Off to Capella this weekend, then July 11th Cindy and I will be climbing on the plane to take Australain Bush Poetry to the world stage, against over fifty other countries. I am proud to be the first bush poet to be picked in the Australain team, I am proud and delighted to be representing my country, prouder still to be asked to carry the Flag and oh so proud to be representing all the wonderful people who have supported me in getting to live my dream.

Cheers