Bush poet speaks at Rotary club

The Rotary Club of Woy Woy's latest guest speaker was Gosford bush poet Peter Mace.

"Peter received a large round of applause before he even started his presentation and said he thought he might quit while he was ahead.

"Luckily for us he didn't," said club publicity officer Mr Vic Deeble.

Mr Mace spoke to the club about his early life and how he discovered his talent for bush poetry.

"Peter told us how he had always appreciated bush poetry and how he used to attend the Tamworth Country Music Festival," Mr Deeble said.

"The Festival had a poetry competition and, at his first attempt, he made the final.

"His second attempt was no good at all, but on his third attempt he came away a winner, and won three times in all.

"He also won Reciter of the Year at the National Folk Fest and Champion of the Year.

"The National Folk Festival has a new award to commemorate 'Blue the Shearer'.

"Peter won the trophy for the best original poem," Mr Deeble said.

After speaking about his achievements, Mr Mace recited some bush poems.

"Peter recited The Road to Gundagai and Waiting for a Train.

"This was followed by a humorous poem, Garden Waste, written by English poet Les Barker," Mr Deeble said.

He also recited John Dengate's Catastrophe in South London before reciting a piece of original poetry dedicated to veteran Chad Elliot.

"Chad signed up to the armed forces at age 20, and was medically discharged at aged 25, after joining the Special Forces as a commando and serving three tours of Afghanistan.

"Five-thousand applied, and Chad was one of eight who got through.

"The poem was entitled A Veteran at 25 and there was not a movement in the house as Peter recited."

SOURCE:

Newsletter, 14 May 2019

Vic Deeble, Rotary Club of Woy Woy