Current State of the Project
January 2023 Update prompted by a supporter enquiry.
Hi James ---- I am interested in knowing the current state of your project. Am wondering how much support you are getting from Australian bush poets, specifically the ABPA and the outfit up at Winton. Will this facility celebrate all Australian poets, or will it focus mainly on bush poets (I favour the latter)? Just curious. I myself am classified, I suppose, as an American cowboy poet. Thanks,
The mission statement of the Australian Poetry Hall of Fame can be read below on the home page of the website.
Personally I have no bias nor prejudice towards bush poetry or any other poetry and my major aim is to promote, preserve and nurture poets and poetry of all types.
However, my personal opinion is that the divide between city and bush poets is unnecessary and my role is to bridge the divide.
As for support..... there are a few really dedicated supporters here in Guyra, also Armidale and a few around the country, however mostly it is in "word and thoughts" and not "money and actions" which is not exactly useful for moving the project forward quickly. I am doing nearly all the work here from sun up until sundown every day of the week for the last 2 years and 10 months.
As for the ABPA, I haven't heard from them nor had any help from them. I am a member of the ABPA. The Winton people.... one fella dropped in once on his way past....that's all.
Now in answer to your first question "the current state of the project" I opened 24 March 2020 which was the first day of our national covid lockup and have done as much as I can and have time and energy for. Our Wednesday Words Open Mic poetry night continues every week and you can watch it on the YouTube Channel. The Hall celebrating poets is coming along with 32 famous poet portrait drawings and 7 portrait paintings as well as information and poetry posters about poets. I want to paint more portraits and put the poetry of famous poets on Youtube but have been rejected for 2 grant applications for this project and currently don't have the time or money to do it but am working on it. I really want big poet murals and poetry murals.
2023.... aiming for a festival, competition, and more events. And most of all getting help... to spread the word. ....bring people in and inspire more poets.
So how can you help?
1. First donations are appreciated so that I can improve the "Hall of Fame" in particular get some A1 size poet info/poetry posters with QR code linked to videos to assist people with visual impairment. You can donate at the Gofundme link below.
2. You can send poetry books new or old to go into the Australian poetry archive Australian Poetry Hall of Fame
144 Bradley St Guyra NSW 2365.
3. You can check out our web store and buy some of our merchandise like the “Guyra Lamb and Potato Festival Tee Shirt”
4. Drop in and ask what you can do to help.
https://www.australianpoetryhalloffame.com.au/
https://gofund.me/58d078b5
