The Narrabri Historical Society staged a poetry afternoon at St Cyprian’s Church Hall on Saturday, September 24.
Bush poet Gregory North entertained more than 30 attendees who enjoyed his unique style of poetry reciting.
The entertainment was followed by afternoon tea.
A former truck, coach and taxi driver, Mr North is now a three-time Australian champion, professional bush poet and entertainer.
A resident of the Blue Mountains NSW, he writes and performs bush poetry and yarns.
His quirky humour and use of numerous accents make him unique among bush verse entertainers.
With the aid of hats and various props, he ‘lives’ each character, whether it’s the coal seam gas miner, the complaining granny or a rather camp version of Clancy of The Overflow.
Since his first major competition win at the ‘Man From Snowy River Festival’ in 2004, Greg has won a string of performance poetry awards including Australian Bush Poetry Champion in 2008, 2009 and 2010.
In late 2006 he won his first award for written poetry – a first place in the Gippsland Wattle Bush Poetry Award – followed by many other wins in written competitions.
Known for his rendition of Banjo Paterson’s ‘The Man From Snowy River’ in 15 different accents and a variety of other characters, he is certainly not your regular bush poet.
Both hilariously funny and movingly poignant, in demand at festivals, schools, competitions and corporate functions, this man of many hats is one of the most unique and talented people to have appeared in the Bush poetry genre for many decades.
