Page 17 - eMuse Vol.9 No.11

You are invited to be part of the
2021 Blackened Billy

Verse Competition

The 31st Annual Competition continues the legacy of Tamworth
Poetry Reading Group (TPRG). Since 1991, thousands of entries Ned Kelly’s career came to an abrupt conclusion at the end of
have been submitted, recording many aspects of Australian coun- the hangman’s rope, 10 .00 am 11 November 1880. From his cap-
th
try and character. Past Award winners provide exemplary guid- ture at the siege at Glenrowan to his execution over four thousand
ance for writers seeking rhyme and metre mastery. people protested and failed to prevent it.
“The Blackened Billy Verse competition has encouraged writers to Among those protesting were Ned’s brother, Jim, and his sister,
put pen to paper to produce the most incredible range of rhyming Kate, who was one of the better known siblings and half siblings.
verse, over the years honing their skills to now produce some of Hearsay or legend claims Kate was the fiancee of Aaron Sherritt,
the best bush poetry ever written, as good as, if not better than notorious for betraying the Kelly gang to the police, and being shot
Paterson or Lawson.” - Jan Morris, on behalf of the Tamworth for his trouble.
Poetry Reading Group (November 2019). Kate also had another admirer, Alexander Fitzpatrick, who at-
Competition Founder Jan remains a guiding force. The 2021 Billy is tempted to ingratiate himself into the Kelly family. After making
in the kiln. Made in the hills of Moonbi, by two blokes who play with unwelcome advances towards young Kate, he was attacked by
clay above where the fibreglass chook is perched to attract tourists Ned’s mother, beaten by one brother and allegedly shot by Ned,
and draw attention to the poultry industry. Ian and Fred have been although the doctor who attended Fitzpatrick did not confirm a
crafting the unique and hard-won Billy trophy annually since 1991. gunshot wound.
The Billy plaque will be custom-curved and engraved in Tam- The event resulted in Ned’s mother being arrested, and the
worth – as it has always been. The winner’s trophy plaque will brothers being hunted further by police. Kate was a central catalyst
be engraved and attached in the community hosting the awards to these circumstances .
ceremony. The minor question is where will that ceremony be? After heilping hold the family together following the arrest of
The more inviting question is ‘Will your name make it onto the their mother, at the age of 25, Kate married William Henry Foster of
Trophy Plaque?’ Forbes. She was a skilled and respected horsewoman, and perpetu-
ated the family line by bearing six children, three of whom survived
The 2020 Awards Ceremony was celebrated as part of the Banjo to adulthood .
Paterson Australian Poetry Festival. It is anticipated the Awards
Kate’s colourful life ended tragically when she was just 35 years
for the 31st Billy will be announcing during the 2021 Festival, old. Some two years after her sister Maggie died, Kate went miss-
currently estimated to run from 13-20 February. Covid times add ing, on 6 October 1898.
question, and Festival organisers will not decide for some time Eight days passed before her body was located in a lagoon at
yet about happenings. Late October at earliest. In the interim, Condobolin Road near Forbes. Initial indications were that she
entrants should submit the BB2021 entries prior to the 30 Novem-
ber closing date . died of drowning, but the Magisterial inquiry that was held into her
death on 15 October did not indicate how or why this could have
In 2020, the Blackened Billy Verse Writing Competition was occurred .
warmly welcomed by locals, poets and media, with newspaper Kate’s death certificate stated there was no evidence, but family
and television tuning in to capture and share advice of the win- and friends believed her depression following Maggie’s death con-
ners. The success of previous poetry events in Orange has lured an tributed to her own death.
Australian Performance Poetry Championship to Orange for 2021.
Excited to see what opportunities are realised, as the Covid-19 By Dennis Hill
saga unfolds. Entrants for the 2021 Blackened Billy Verse Competi- From the Facebook page of Australia History
tion may submit entries via postal or electronic means. Republished with Thanks
Publication of future Tribute Books containing Blackened Billy
Winners is likely. Will you be in it?
$1000 Prize Pool
First Prize $500 plus Trophy and Certificate
Second Prize $250 plus Certificate
Third Prize $150 plus Certificate
Highly Commended 5 x $20 plus Certificate
Commended 5 x Certificate
Entries are to be typed, on an A4 sized page, using 12-point clear
typeface (e.g. Arial or Times New Roman), 1.5 line spacing.
Entry Fee ($10 per poem, or 3 for $25).
Critique Fee(s) $10 per poem
There is no limit to the number of entries. Electronic submission
closes at midnight AEST on 30 November 2020. Postal entries
must be postmarked no later than 30 November 2020.

Enquiries to Lux@blackenedbillyversecompetition.com or post to
BB2021, P O Box 644, Gladstone Qld 4680.
November 2020 eMuse 17