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Saturday 11 February

  • Banjo Paterson Cup at Epiroc Ladies Day
    • Horse race  meeting hosted by Racing Orange the week before the Festival, with a feature race to celebrate Banjo Paterson
    • Towac Park Racecourse, Canobolas Road, Orange
    • Complimentary tickets available at Yeoval Banjo Museum or at Orange360 office
    • Gates open at 12pm. No booking needed.

Fri 17 February 

  • Banjo’s birthday party (17 February 1864)
    • Banjo Paterson Park, Ophir Road, Orange
    • 6 pm to 8 pm
    • BBQ food on sale or BYO picnic and drinks.
    • BYO chairs.
    • Entertainment and opportunity for walk-up performances
    • Entry: free.
    • Contact: Elizabeth Griffin 0437 868 595

Sat 18 February

  • Poetry Brawl
    • 6.30  to 10.00 pm
    • Hosted by the Molong Advancement Group and the Freemasons Hotel
    • Contestants must perform a 1-minute original poem to include a secret phrase “been there before”
    • Good prizes
    • Judge is Robyn Sykes, award winning bush poet
    • Family Courtyard, Freemasons Hotel, Bank Street, Molong
    • Under 18: 7 pm to 8 pm; Open: 9 pm to 10 pm.
    • Under 18: Free; Open: entry $5. Guests free but booking essential
    • Book via Trybooking.com from 9 January 2023
    • Purchase dinner at the pub.
    • Contact: Jude Taylor 0405 021 265

Sun 19 February

  • Poets’ brunch and entertainment at Yeoval
    • Relax in the shade of the trees for real country hospitality.
    • Free entertainment and open mic for walk-up poetry and music.
    • Visit the Banjo Paterson – More than a Poet Museum
    • 43 Forbes Street, Yeoval.
    • 10 am start, no booking needed
    • Donation appreciated.
    • Contact: Alf Cantrell 0427 208 913
  • Afternoon tea at Boree Nyrang
    • From 4 pm
    • The property where Banjo’s grandparents used to live and where his mother grew up
    • Hosted by the Molong Historical Society
    • Booking details to come
    • Tour the ‘new’ house (1903), visit historic site, Billy  tea and damper for afternoon tea.
    • Entertainment by Australian performance bush poetry champion, Greg North
    • Dress up in your favourite Banjo character.
    • Contact: Elizabeth Griffin 0437 868 595

Mon 20 February and Tuesday 21 February

  • In-School bush poetry performances
    • Presented by Bush Poets Melanie Hall and Susie Carcary (Mel and Susie)
    • Free to schools
    • Book in with Debbie Smith 0488 107 123

Monday 20 February

  • The Life and Rhymes of Banjo Paterson Show and book launch

    • Three-times Australian champion bush poet, Gregory North, presents the history and selected verse of Orange’s most famous son – Banjo Paterson. The show is accompanied by visuals and his companion book will be launched on the night. Great entertainment.
    • at the Orange Senior Citizens and Pensioners Centre
    • 77 Kite Street, Orange (access and parking in the Woolworths’ Car Park)
    • 7.30 to 9 pm
    • $5 entry
    • Contact Greg North 0425 210 083
    • See www.gregorynorth.com.au for more about Greg.

Tue 21 February

  • Lunch at the Ironbark Hotel, Stuart Town
    • Stuart Town was originally named Ironbark – of “The Man from Ironbark fame”
    • Enjoy lunch and poetry at the historic Ironbark Hotel
    • Catch the XPT train from Orange at 12 noon and return to Orange at 4 pm
    • 12.30 pm to 3 pm
    • Bookings and train information: call Renee Wykes 0458 157 650

Wed 22 February

  • Breakfast and poetry
    • Performances by school students and walk-up poets
    • Drop in on your way to work or after your morning walk
    • Civic Centre South Court, 147 Byng Street, Orange
    • 8 am to 10 am
    • No booking needed
    • Contact: Len Banks 0428 459 117
    • Schools contact Debbie Smith 0488 107 123
  • Memory Workshop
    • Improve your memory for bush poetry, prose, song lyrics and plays with Melanie Hall and Susie Carcary
    • Come along to a workshop designed to give you tips and tricks to help improve your memorisation. Mel and Susie have identified a range of mnemonics and techniques to assist you in your efforts to expand your repertoire and memorise your original work. Come along for a fun session, bring pen and paper if you wish
    • Duntryleague Guesthouse, Woodward Street, Orange
    • 11 am to 1 pm
    • $10 per person
    • Contact: Len Banks 0428 459 117 to book in
  • Blackened Billy Verse Competition presentation
    • Announcement and presentation of the winners of the 33rd Annual verse writing competition
    • Combination in-room and Zoom attendance to accommodate entrants and enthusiasts from across Australia (Zoom link to come)
    • at the historic Duntryleague Guest House, Woodward Street, Orange
    • 3 pm
    • Information and entry form available at https://blackenedbillyversecompetition.com . Entries close 30 November 2022.
    • Contact: lux@blackenedbillyversecompetition.com
  • Wrath of Grapes

Thu 23 February

  • National Bush Poetry Performance Championship
    • Enjoy the best bush poets from across Australia perform in 4 categories of original (humorous and serious) and borrowed (traditional and modern) poems
    • This highly entertaining national competition is brought to Orange by the Australian Bush Poets Association and the Rotary Club of Orange.
    • Presentation of winners on Friday at 4 pm
    • To enter go to abpa.org.au/events.html
    • Judges are Melanie Hall, Susie Carcary and Greg North
    • at the Orange Ex Services Club, 231-243 Anson Street, Orange
    • 10 am to 5 pm
    • Audience entry by donation
    • Contact: Tim Sheed (ABPA) 0438 861 271 or Len Banks (Rotary) 0428 459 117

Fri 24 February

  • National Bush Poetry Performance Championship
    • Continued from Thur 23 February.
    • 10 am to 5 pm
  • Yarn Spinning Competition

    • The culmination of weekly yarn telling evenings during January and February
    • Relive the days of telling yarns around a campfire or at the bar.
    • 5-minute time limit on yarns and family friendly language.
    • Prizes donated by the Metropolitan Hotel.
    • Pub meals available to purchase.
    • Metropolitan Hotel, Corner of Anson and Byng Streets, Orange
    • 7 pm
    • Contact Joanne Murphy at the Metro 02 6369 1444

Sat 25 February

  • Youth poetry competition
    • Individual performance of original poetry by school students
    • Beaut family entertainment
    • Competition details and entry form available on-line at rotarycluboforange.org.au Competition entry free
    • at the Orange Regional Conservatorium of music, 73A Hill Street, Orange
    • 9 am to 12.30 pm
    • Audience entry by donation
    • Contact: Len Banks 0428 459 117
  • Open poetry competition
    • Individual performance of original poetry by adults not entering the National Championships
    • Beaut family entertainment
    • Competition details and entry form available on-line at rotarycluboforange.org.au Competition entry $10
    • at the Orange Regional Conservatorium of music, 73A Hill Street, Orange
    • 1 pm to 5 pm
    • Audience entry by donation
    • Contact: Len Banks 0428 459 117
  • Entertainment and walk-up poetry competition at the Cargo Inn
    • Fun and laughter with bush poetry performances
    • Come along with your own poem or a classic (4 Min Max.) to perform in the inaugural Cargo Cup
    • Judging by Bush Poets Mel and Susie
    • Cash prizes for best performance and best character
    • Free entry and the bar and bistro open at 5 pm
    • 34-38 Belmore Street, Cargo
    • 38 km from Orange on the Cargo/Canowindra Road
    • Contact accounts@cargoinn.com.au if you are bringing a poem
    • Sponsored by See Saw Wines & MSM Milling
  • Presentation of Deidre Penhall Memorial prize for Poetry
    • Announcement and presentation of winners of this inaugural poetry writing competition for young women
    • Competition details and entry form available on-line at rotarycluboforange.org.au Competition entry $10
    • Competition entries close 21 December 2022.
    • At the Cargo Inn in conjunction with the entertainment and walk-up poetry competition listed above.
    • Contact: Len Banks 0428 459 117

Sun 26 February

  • Rotary Community Market
    • Craft and produce market
    • Entertainment and open mic for poets
    • Stallholder bookings at rotarycluboforange.org.au
    • at the Orange Civic Centre Northcourt (Cnr. Peisley and March Streets)
    • 9 am to 2 pm
    • Entry by donation
    • Contact: Sue Patterson 0427 588 805
  • Strawhouse Sunset Banjo 2023
    • Join Meg & Justin of Strawhouse Wines and guest musicians, The Hip Replacements for chilled classics, some Banjo and a twang of banjo as we celebrate the Banjo Paterson Festival in and around the Strawhouse Tasting Room and Deck.
    • Ticket includes a welcome glass of wine and the band.
    • The Kiss Kitchen team will be dishing up some delectable treats to keep you fueled for the evening.Strawhouse Wines, Boree Lane, Orange

      5 pm – 8 pm

    • Book with Justin Byrne 0402 498 419