Our ESU members have a great love of Bush Poetry. Sometimes it’s sentimental, but often it’s full of an irreverent and larrikin spirit that is authentically Australian.
Bush Poetry is one way to explore the endless possibilities of our language and demonstrate its potential for expressing emotion, humour, truth and beauty
In July 1998 the ESU Queensland Branch’s inaugural bush poetry evening was held at Palma Rosa under the stewardship of our member Trisha Anderson. The evening was presented with the express intent of bringing the bush, and all of its characters and history, to the city.
These Bush Poetry nights soon became sold-out events. Every six weeks, poets and performers from all over Australia gathered to entertain – and audiences were genuinely enthralled. Thanks to Trisha, who is a poet in her own right, we have been privileged to meet many of Australia’s finest bush poets – of all ages.
A CD was compiled from these performances. Called “Palma Rosa Poets Live”, this CD was a finalist in the 2002 Australian Bush Laureate Album of the Year. Copies of this CD may still be available from Trisha Anderson, mob: 0419 025 295.
This tradition of telling stories of the bush will continue at our new home, Cook Terrace.