Welcome
to my website. I hope you enjoy the poetry you find here.
I have been writing bush poetry for a number of years now, and was lucky to have gained several awards in written competitions when I first started, which gave me the confidence to keep persevering. My poetry is often a little emotional, and sometimes deals with quite difficult subjects, which I attempt to tackle with sensitivity and understanding. It is not bush poetry as some people know bush poetry, in that most of it is not about 'the bush'! However, just as our traditional poets such as Banjo Paterson and Henry Lawson wrote about what was happening in their lives at the time, so too do I write of things happening in my life, or in my lifetime. I believe that that is the way we will ensure that our history is also retained for posterity.
About Me
I was born in the Midwest wheatbelt town of Three Springs, in Western Australia, one of three children. Born to a father that loved to work, we rarely went on holidays or family outings, except during the polocrosse season, when we would head off every weekend for Dad to play or train. My love of horses grew from those times, as horses have always been a big part of my life.
Of the three children, I was the only one interested in riding as a child, and, after getting my first horse at the age of about 9yrs, I spent my out of school hours either at the local swimming pool, or riding the country side with a friend. Through this, I developed a love of the bush, which was further encouraged by listening to Dad regularly reciting bush poetry in the evenings. He had a great repertoire of poems, and recited them with gusto and enthusiasm. It was from here I developed my enjoyment of the rhyme and rhythm of bush poetry.
After completing my nursing training, marrying and raising three children, I wrote my first poem for public airing after joining in part of the Outback Heritage Ride which rode relay around Australia in 2000. I had such a great time in those few short days, and met such wonderful people, that the poem wrote itself, as a tribute and thank you to those who made me so welcome on the ride.
However, it was not until early 2006 when I found the bushverse site (www.bushverse.com) that I really started writing, and only then, because of the great support, encouragement and advice of the forum members. Since then, I entered a few written competitions, with some success, and have now started doing more reciting at bush poets breakfasts (though that is certainly not my comfort zone!!)
I am the WA representative of the Australian Bush Poets Association (www.abpa.org.au) and a committee member and editor of the magazine for the WA Bush Poets & Yarnspinners Association.