Victorian man David Campbell is officially the new bard of the Australian Outback.
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Cloncurry Shire Council congratulated Mr Campbell as the winner of the first Cloncurry Prize ~ Spirit of the Outback poetry competition announced at an official event at Chinaman Creek Dam on Monday evening.
Mr Campbell took out the $10,000 first prize in the national competition, launched in December 2020 ahead of over 220 poems from writers all over Australia.
Mr Campbell's, 'The Heart and Soul of Australia', impressed the judges by capturing the essence of the Outback and he travelled to Cloncurry from the South Coast of Victoria for the official announcement.
Mr Campbell said he was delighted to take out the prestigious prize in its first year.
"This competition is a wonderful initiative by the Cloncurry Shire Council," Mr Campbell said.
"In providing one of the richest poetry prizes in Australia, the Council is encouraging poets to use their skills to continue the great poetic traditions established a century ago by such well-known names as Dame Mary Gilmore, who is buried alongside her husband in the Cloncurry cemetery, Henry Lawson, 'Banjo' Paterson and CJ Dennis.
"I greatly appreciate the opportunity to be involved and congratulate those instrumental in creating the award...may it provide inspiration to poets in all styles of poetry for many years to come."
Cloncurry Mayor Greg Campbell (no relation) said the competition was launched to draw attention to the Outback and promote it to the rest of Australia.
"The concept of the prize was to highlight our wonderful country and ignite our sense of national pride during the COVID-19 lockdown," Cr Campbell said.
"David's poem represents the spirit of the outback and pays tribute to services in the bush, which included a reference to the Royal Flying Doctor founded in Cloncurry."
The Cloncurry Prize will now be an annual prize and an open competition, and all styles of poetry are encouraged. This year's winners included a ballad and contemporary poetry.
Other prize-winners announced on the evening, included runner up, 'Broken Down',by Jennifer Harrison and meritorious mention, 'A portrait in the Theatre of Desire', by Brian Obiri-Asare.
Copies of the poems and future information on the competition will be available on the Cloncurry Shire Council website.
Start writing for the 2022 'Cloncurry Prize ~ Spirit of the Outback 'for your chance to pocket $10,000.
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Derek Barry
Editor of the North West Star Mount Isa since January 2016. Prior to that, an editor at several regional southern Queensland newspapers. Passionate about telling local stories. Comes with a strange accent to due an Irish accident of birth.
Editor of the North West Star Mount Isa since January 2016. Prior to that, an editor at several regional southern Queensland newspapers. Passionate about telling local stories. Comes with a strange accent to due an Irish accident of birth.
