2008 in Review

This proved to be a very exciting and interesting year for me, the only downside being I was so busy that I was once again struggling for time to write new material. Don’t despair because the ideas are still coming and I did manage to pen a handful of new poems which will be part of my shows in 2009.

The year kicked of in style with the Tamworth country Music Festival allowing me the opportunity to perform at North Tamworth Bowling Club on Sam Smyth’s show, sam is doing a fantastic job reviving a venue that was nearly dead when he took over. Once agin I squeezed in a couple of guest spots working with Grant Lurhs at The Bestbloodybushpoetsbreakfast Show at West’s and of course had the honour of assisting my old mate, Neil McArthur, compere the legendary Longyard Bush Poet’s Breakfast.

This was the last year at Tamworth for the “Sex Lies and Bush Poetry Show” when we called it quits after 8 years. The tyranny of distance between where the various members live was making it increasingly difficult to liaise on new ideas and material for the show, so we decided to bow out before the quality of our shows began to suffer. Thanks to everyone who supported us over the years, lots of special memories like going from 4 paying customers for our very first show to receiving a standing ovation at our Longyard show in 2007. The crew had some face changes over the years and I thank, John Major, Neil McArthur, Jack Drake, Adam Kilpatrick, Laura Downing, Rupert McCall, Glennie Palmer, and Mike Horswood for their contributions and mateship. Also a special thanks to all those who appeared as guest artists on our shows.

On to a couple of my regular outings at Boondooma Homstead and Broxburn, both events had humble beginnings, but are ever growing and improving and attracting bigger and more enthusiastic crowds each year.

Gigs at places like Cecil Plains, Capella, Casino, Farmfest, Pamona, Millmerran were followed by jamming two quick days in at Jondaryan Homesteads Heritage Festival before bolting to Gympie for their iconic Music Festival. Gympie is a great event and I really enjoy the chance to catch up with all my poetry mates. Marco Gliori’s efforts in keeping the poets breakfasts fresh and vibrant need recognition. Since 1993 I have only missed the Muster once and I can’t wait for next years.

Back on the road to Springsure, Nebo, Texas (another growing event) before fronting up in my home town of Millmerran for the bi-annual Australian Camp Oven Festival. This is my toughest gig of the year as not only do I organize the two poets breakfasts but also do the roving announcing for two days. Thank you to the committee for sticking with me right from the first festival. This year poets, John Major, Bill Kearns and Jack Drake added to the growing reputation of this festival’s poet’s breakfasts. The Festival went on to be awarded the honor of Queensland’s Best Rural Event Of The Year, not bad for a simple idea that myself and legendary camp oven cook Ned Winter dreamt up all those years ago.

Back in the poor old Pajero to head for Widgee where I was asked to organize the bush poets breakfast for the first time, it all went well thanks to poets, Ray Rose, Jack Drake, John Major, Noel Stallard and Merv Webster.

Straight to Mud, Bulls and Music, undoubtedly one of my favorite events, where I have organized the Bush poets breakfasts since they were introduced. This year the organizers provided us with a great new “Wine Bar” venue that worked like a charm, we had audience members hanging over the rails looking in thanks to Ray Essery, Laura Downing and Brad McLean ( who is new on the scene but showing heaps of promise) who acquitted themselves wonderfully. To anyone wanting a great weekend this is a must not miss event.

My last event for the year saw me flown to Whyalla South Australia to compere a massive Christmas party for the staff and families of One Steel. They were wonderful hosts and this was a very enjoyable way to finish of the year.

Other highlights of the year for me, included publishing and launching my latest book “Three Hats Later” at the Australian Camp Oven Festival in October and also fulfilling a lifetime ambition by recording and releasing a CD of the works of the late William H Ogilvie, who has been my poetry hero since I was a child. Thank you to the Regional Arts Development Fund for coming to the party with part of the funding. I have donated a fairly large quantity of these CD’s to local school and town libraries, as it is difficult to get your hands on the works of this great poet. If you love bush poetry or horses I am sure you will enjoy this CD.

A poet’s life can be really varied and this year proved no exception with the Hamish & Andy Radio Show ambushing me unexpectedly and asking me to perform a poem on their show, the boys loved it and later asked me to attend the Australian Premier of the movie “Sex and The City” and write a review in poetry by midday the following day.

The poem was completed on time and broadcast nation wide on Hamish and Andy’s Radio Show the next day. The results were amazing, I received requests for the poem from as far way as New Mexico and was asked to perform the poem live via a radio station in New Zealand when the movie was released there. Hamish and Andy are claiming a world first for reviewing a movie in poetry form. Lots of fun.

Not long after I received an offer from Channel 7 to write and voice-over their adds for the Aust vs France and the Aust vs New Zealand Rugby Union Tests, for a sports tragic like myself this was a huge buzz, and despite the immense pressure I enjoyed the challenge immensely.

The other big news from the year was that I can now officially claim to be a songwriter, I have mucked around writing songs for a while now but never really know what to do with them. I bit the bullet this year and sent my song ‘Rough Country Ringer’ to highly respected singer songwriter, Graham Rodger, who recorded it on his award winning album “The Fire Within”.


Tamworth 2009

The new year kicked of with a warm up gig at Ned Winter’s before heading off to Tamworth Country Music Festival. Back at the Longyard Breakfasts and West’s with and additional appearance on the Australian Bush Laureate Awards Show. I was honoured to receive 4 x Final 5 nominations in the awards:

Book of The Year “Three Hats Later”
Album Of The Year “The Tartan Saddlecloth”
Bush Poem Of The Year “Will Ogilvie – A Tribute”
Best Recorded Poem Of the Year “His Epitaph”

I won the Golden Gumleaf for Album of the Year and was delighted to be able to invite my daughter, Kelly, on stage to accept the award with me(she and her fiancée Gavin drove an 11 hour round trip just to surprise me and be there to support me on the day) as she had contributed by putting Ogilvie’s wonderful poem “Where The Brumbies Come To Water” to music and recording this track on the CD for me.

Although it was Kelly’s first time in a recording studio, she has produced an amazingly haunting ballad that is destined to attract a lot of attention. Thanks to my wife Cindy for her photography and work in designing the album cover. Roger Illot once again proving himself to be the master of recording spoken word.  Kim Brown for one again coming to the rescue with the technical side of the art work design.

L-R: Kelly Fogarty, Gary, and presenters Dianna Corcoran and Nick Erby.

Congratulations to all other Golden Gumleaf winners and finalists. I received my award from Diana Corcoran and Nick Erby and really appreciated Nick’s comments that after 14 years as one of Australia’s leading poets that he believes I am currently producing some of my best work.

I was also very excited to be awarded a Highly Commended in the prestigious Blackened Billy Competition. I rate this competition as one of the 2 most prestigious written awards in Australian Bush Poetry. As a performing poet I very seldom enter written competitions so this was a big thrill for me.

Luckily this year Tamworth did not include Australia Day which allowed me to perform at two separate Australia Day celebrations at Crows Nest and Leyburn. Both were great laid back events although the heat at Leyburn was nearly the end of me.

A couple of small gigs and some more treatment on this back of mine and then joining Muzza Hartin and Dion Cross at the famous Chinchilla Melon Festival. Hope to see you there.

It is shaping up to be a busy year again, so I will try and keep you updated via
'Gary's Blog'.

Take care.