Happy New Year from Jim Haynes
January 2011
Hi there,
• Where did 2010 go!? .... The world spins faster as you get older!
• Just a thought as we didn't do our usual huge card mailout in December. I can't bring myself to do email Christmas cards ... I'm too old fashioned. With all the techno changes, I'm reminded of a line by the great Cowboy Poet, Badger Clarke. Talking about how the West was changing he said, "I thank the Lord I wasn't born no later than I was." I feel like that quite often ... wonder what causes it?
• In a few days I will be on my way to my 27th Tamworth Festival. Maybe we will see you at the BIG BUSH BREKKY VARIETY show at Diggers.
• We have the hilarious Darren Carr and Paddy Ryan back again, plus Melanie Dyer and a great young fiddle player, Rebecca Holdorf. As usual we have surprise guests each day ... from Melinda Schneider to Carter and Carter and many other old mates.
• This year Rustling Russell and I have made my section of the show a musical comedy feature rather than poetry and stand-up comedy - after all, we have Paddy and Darren to do that! We have a slightly earlier start this year ... 7.45 AM.
• Out at Wests Grant Luhrs and the hilarious Greg North are joined by Paddy and the gorgeous gals of 'BRADE' (they sing like angels ... and LOOK like angels!) and others for the BEST OF THE BUSH show every day at 7.30 AM
Of course the 16th ANNUAL BUSH LAUREATES are on TUESDAY 18th January at the TOWN HALL - What a line up of Talent we have this year:
• Featured bush poets are John Best, Jim Brown, Jack Drake, Marco Gliori, Murray Hartin, Greg North, 'Fr John O'Brien', Peter Mace, Paddy Ryan and Noel Stallard.
• Country music guest artists are Carter & Carter, Dianna Corcoran, Melanie Dyer, Christie Lamb, Amber Lawrence, Grant Luhrs and Tamara Stewart.
• I will compere the Awards and six Golden Gumleaf trophies will be awarded on the day, for Book, Poem, Album, Single Recorded Performance and Children’s Poem of the Year and the Judith Hosier Heritage Award.
• For those of you making the Tamworth trek tickets available at the Visitor Information Centre at the corner of Peel and Murray Streets, telephone 02 6767 5300, or online at http://www.tcmf.com.au.
I hope to see you somewhere during the year but have a great year if we don't catch up and take care of yourselves and your loved ones. Don't forget our great package trip to NORFOLK ISLAND in May - you or someone you know might like to come.
Jim
