Banjo Paterson Australian Poetry Festival
Andrew Barton (Banjo) Paterson was born in Orange on 17 February 1864. We celebrated the 150th anniversary of his birth in 2014 with a community festival. Since then, Orange has run an annual festival. Each year, the Rotary Club of Orange partners with Orange’s tourism organisation (Orange 360), the Orange and District Historical Society, the Yeoval community and the Councils of Orange, Cabonne and Blayney to celebrate Australian poetry. This celebration, the Banjo Paterson Australian Poetry Festival includes:
- Events in Molong, Yeoval, Millthorpe, Cargo, Canowindra, Orange
- Events in wineries, pubs, museums, historic sites, schools and outdoors.
- An Australian Poetry Competition for poets reciting their own original poetry
- Displays and activities at Yeoval in conjunction with the exhibition “Banjo Paterson – more than a poet”
- Breakfast and poetry in the Civic Centre precinct, Orange
- Birthday celebrations for Banjo Paterson’s birth in Orange
Thanks to our sponsors:
- MSM Milling
- McArdle Cleaning and Restoration Services
- ACES Air Conditioning and Engineering Services
- Hansen Optometrists
- Ron Finemore Transport
- and more to come – if you can provide some sponsorship contact Len Banks on 0428 459 117
2024 Banjo Paterson Australian Poetry Festival
The Festival begins with a celebration of Banjo’s birthday on Saturday 17 February 2024 and runs through to Sunday 25 February 2024.
There will be about 20 events over that time and at least 7 opportunities for walk-up performances in pubs, wineries and open air at breakfast.
A draft program of events is being developed and will be available in September
Included in the program for the Festival in Orange, are the following poetry competitions:
1. A Youth poetry performance competition
Run by the Rotary Club of Orange, this is a performance competition for school students (Primary School and High School students in separate categories) to perform their own original poem. Entries close on Monday 12 February 2024 and the competition will be held at the Orange Ex Services Club on Friday morning 23 February 2024.
Details and entry form for this competition will be available shortly
2. An adult novice performance competition for those poets who have not won a poetry performance competition.
Run by the Rotary Club of Orange, this is a performance competition for poets to perform their own original poem. Entries close on Monday 12 February 2024 and the competition will be held at the Orange Ex Services Club on the afternoon of Friday 23 February 2024.
Details and entry form for this competition will be available shortly
3. An adult open performance competition
Run by the Rotary Club of Orange, this is a performance competition for poets to perform their own original poem. Entries close on Monday 12 February 2024 and the competition will be held at the Orange Ex Services Club on the afternoon of Friday 23 February 2024.
Details and entry form for this competition will be available shortly