Wednesday 14 November 2012

Melbourne Cup & The Mug Punter

G'day

"I'm a punter once-a-year when I join in with the cheer and frivolity that is the Melbourne Cup
I read the racing guide and look for omens far and wide then with hopeful heartbeats open purse strings up" 


Yep, that's me, a once-a-year Melbourne Cup Day punter. And as put my marks in the wrong place on the TAB ticket and listened to the questions and comments from other once-a-year punters I reckoned my latest poem, 'Mug Punter', hit the nail right on the head.

This poem even had a run at a Cup Day function address on Queensland's Gold Coast, and I'm still grinning when I think about my brother-in-law presenting 'Mug Punter' to his audience. Bet they enjoyed watching what he was doing more than hearing the poem!

Cheerio,

Nerelie

Saturday 27 October 2012

The Great Australian Doorstep T V Program, October 27

G'day everyone

I really hope you saw Spida Everitt's T V program, The Great Australian Doorstep, on H D ONE yesterday afternoon. If you missed it, then look out for repeats or visit the webpage for details about how you might be able to see it.

Boy, oh boy, did I get a big surprise when the Barmah segment began, but just how good was it to see the wonderful footage of parts of the beautiful river red gum forest that's right on Barmah's doorstep.

Our local identities, Jerry, Gerry and Doug were the stars of the show, along with the spectacular footage from the Kingfisher as it cruised over the Moira Lakes - a.k.a. Barmah Lakes.

The annual Barmah Muster weekend celebrations were also a feature of the program and where else could it end but inside the very welcoming Barmah Hotel? 

When you hit the road and come to Barmah for a drive through its beautiful river red gum forest to see the internationally known and much loved Barmah Forest Brumbies (check out their facebook page), why not indulge in a Kingfisher cruise on the local waterways, a chat to our locals and a delicious counter lunch or tea with a nice cold drink at the Barmah Pub. 

I guarantee that once you've visited this great little town and its local area you'll keep coming back time after time.

Cheerio for now,

Nerelie


Wednesday 10 October 2012

Great Australian Doorstep - Reminder

G'day Again,

Just a quick reminder that the Barmah township and Barmah Forest feature program on Spida Everitt's Great Australian Doorstep is planned to be broadcast on Saturday, October 27. Please check viewing guides for details.

We reckon you'll really enjoy seeing some of the characters and sites of this great little location, right on the River Murray.

Cheerio for now (again),

Nerelie

Travelling Performer

G'day Everyone,

What a fantastic experience - being the Aussie Bush Poet travelling performer on The Ghan from Adelaide to Darwin in late September.

This really was a privilege, and to present two performances in the Adelaide Lounge, two in the Red Gum Lounge and reading my new poem, 'The Camel of Iron: The Ghan' over the P A system for all passengers was a once in a lifetime experience.

Not only did I get to share my love of some of Australia's best loved traditional poetry, having my original work so well received by an audience ranging from seniors to young children was incredibly encouraging.

As well as that, seeing our great red heart and travelling from our southern coastline to our northern coastline in the comfort of one of Australia's best known trains, The Ghan, was fantastic. I really recommend this trip to all Australians and international visitors.

Cheerio for now,

Nerelie

Monday 17 September 2012

Rivers 'n' Ramblings

G'day 

I'd really love you to see Rivers 'n' Ramblings. It looks great, well I think so anyway. The front cover has one of Leigh's great photos of the Port of Echuca from the NSW bank of The Murray River, (although technically both banks are NSW's but that's neither here nor there), with four of our fantastic paddle steamers lined up on the high water.

Sixteen of my original works of Australian Bush Poetry are then presented for your enjoyment and the back cover has a photo of the Echuca Bush Poet (me) on board the P. S. EMMYLOU on The Murray River, just around the first western-ish bend from the historic Port of Echuca.

So, what's my bush poetry like, I hear you ask. 

My aunt and uncle said yesterday that they really like the book and they're going to read through it this week. For the first time they saw me present one of my works, Feet of Clay with its new stanza:

"But late one night, through mists of time, came the ghostly voice of Ned"

and said they'd never imagined that's what my Bush Poetry was actually like - and I wasn't wearing my drizabone and Barmah Bush Hat.

You'll have to come and see one of my performances if you want to know more. Now, that'll be very hard for many of you. I've just checked the statistics for Not Clancy's Blog and here's a big "G'day" to visitors from the United States, Russia, Germany, Latvia, United Kingdom, South Korea, Malaysia, Netherlands and Ukraine. So you might have to get a copy of either Wattle 'n' Wanderings or Rivers 'n' Ramblings

If you're interested in either of my books then please contact me on the blog and we'll work out how to get them to you.

Cheerio for now

Nerelie


Tuesday 4 September 2012

Wattle 'n' Wanderings - a sibling

G'day Folks

Remember my first volume of original Australian Bush Verse, Wattle 'n' Wanderings, that was launched at last year's fantastic Echuca-Moama Arts Festival? If you don't remember, or if you weren't aware of W 'n' W then scroll through the older posts and you'll find an image of its cover featuring our beautiful golden wattle.

Its sibling is well and truly on the way. The proof copy has been examined, a few little touch ups have taken place and it's now in the tender care of Barrie, our wonderful local printer.

This is all very exciting, and just as we celebrate all sorts of new arrivals, the arrival of this new volume will be celebrated with the bottle of bubbly that's chilling nicely and should be ready to be popped later this week.

Stay tuned to the blog for more news ...

Cheerio for now

Nerelie

Monday 3 September 2012

Echuca Library news ...

G'day Everyone,

How's this for great news? 

Echuca's new Library has averaged 800 visitors a day since it opened last week and 200 new Library cards have been issued.

"Oh, get yourselves a Library Card, it won't cost a cent coz it's free ..."

I really don't think this little ditty can or should claim any credit, but isn't it fantastic that Echuca's amazing new facility is drawing so many people into the wonderful world of libraries, books, reading, and other resources.

Have you been in and had a look yet? Do you have a Library Card? And what are you reading?

I'm currently re-reading the beautiful 'Lorna Doone', and am also reading Tom Keneally's 'Daughters of Mars', and an assortment of traditional and original bush poetry - would that be an anthology?

Happy Reading and Cheerio for now,

Nerelie