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Merv Webster wins T.S.A. Award!
... Merv writes:
Chris and I left Bargara and headed off on the 2nd January. We had the weekend with some old friends who owned the Bailey Bar Caravan Park in Charleville where we spent a number of years performing our show through the winter months. Rick and Ursula are living in Gympie these days and have a nice little block on the outskirts of town.
We then headed down to the coastal village of Kingscliffe in Northern New South Wales to spend a week with my Mum and two sisters. Had a wonderful week relaxing and doing the touristy things one does. Had a great week except for the backing into a coconut tree one morning in the Park. [Dang thing just jumped out in front of me.] Well that's what I told Chris and I'm sticking to my story.
I'm currently writing a book on my Grandmothers Father's family, The Sewells and spent some time in Tenterfield, Glenn Innes, and Uralla, old haunts of the family, catching up with relatives and getting pictures and information for the book.
Arrived in Tamworth on Thursday the 15th of January and man it was hot. We set up our caravan at our friends, The Seilers, who live about six kilometers out and prepared to start our shows the following day.
Some ten thousand people descend on Tamworth for the ten days of the Festival and there are entertainers in every nook and cranny all over town. Cooled off through the week and it was great to catch up with so many old friends.
Wednesday was the T.S.A. Awards night and Chris and I were in anticipation with my finalist nominations in the Lyrics Only section of the National Country song writing contest. There were five finalist spots and I had two. Gina Jeffreys and Greg Champion were the hosts and when it came to the Lyrics Section all the finalists were announced and then Tom McIvor for Sundown Music, sponsors for the section, announced the winner was ... Drum roll ... Merv Webster, How the Times Have Changed So Quickly.
I was chuffed and enjoyed my moment of glory on the stage and as the old saying goes ... never let a chance go by ... grabbed a kiss of Gina before leaving.
Chris performed out at the Long Yard Hotel Bush Poets Breakfasts and decided to have a go at the Ergon energy Bush Poetry Performance Competition. She made the finals in the Original section and was up against 11 blokes. She picked up a third against some of Australia's best male bush poets and was feeling pretty good about it.
It was great to share songs off my last two albums and all in all we had a great time.
Below is the song that won the T.S.A. Lyrics Section.
THE TIMES HAVE CHANGED SO QUICKLY
There's a gentle breeze that's blowing midst the pine trees here tonight
as I watch the shadows dancing to the campfire's flick'ring light.
Parked beside me are the comforts of a brand new four-wheel drive
and a modern pop-top caravan to help us folk survive.
Then my thoughts they slowly drifted back to days of long ago;
to the creak of drays and wagons and the cry of Cobb & Co.
Though your battling pioneer spirit is a thing I do admire,
sadly all we share in common is a cosy roadside fire.
How the times have changed so quickly as the cent'ries slip away
but in awe we trace your footsteps with the mod cons of today.
And I sense beside the campfire there's still something else we share.
Yes the pride in this great Nation that advanced Australia Fair.
With your bullocks and your horses you trudged down the long red road
always heading further westward searching out a new abode.
And you bore the searing summers heat the chill of winter too
till you found a piece of country where you made your dreams come true.
But just like the wand'ring turtle our home follows close behind,
With our fridge and gas stove with us and a beer or wine in mind.
We enjoy the air conditioning or the heater in our van
Though like you I share a campfire by the roadside if I can.
How the times have changed so quickly as the cent'ries slip away
but in awe we trace your footsteps with the mod cons of today.
And I sense beside the campfire there's still something else we share.
Yes the pride in this great Nation that advanced Australia Fair.
(c)Bush Poet and Ballad Writer -Merv Webster
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