THE Dorothea Mackellar Poetry Festival began on the weekend with a series of poetry recitals around Gunnedah.
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Despite the rainy weather, locals performed some Australian favourites to mark the start of the 30th anniversary event.
Poetry was performed alongside the Dorothea Mackellar statue in Anzac Park, at St Mary’s College and outside the C. R. Ewing and Sons Real Estate office in Conadilly Street.
Councillor Rebecca Ryan and Olivia Heath began with a recital of My Country at Anzac Park, followed by Dawn, recited by Adam Carpenter.
Other recitals included a performance of The Old Bush School at St Mary’s College, and Clancy of the Overflow at C. R. Ewing and Sons.
About 65 people were booked into a literary lunch with author Susan Duncan, who lives at Tarrangaua, the house built at Sydney’s Pittwater for poet Dorothea Mackellar.
The lunch was held at Wild Orchards Restaurant.
The weekend also included Up Close and Personal, a screening of short films about Dorothea Mackellar on Sunday.
This Saturday will be the Dorothea Mackellar open day at the Water Tower Museum.
On Wednesday, August 27, the festival will include a high tea with writers Corinne Fenton and Nette Hilton, the judges of the Dorothea Mackellar Poetry Awards.
There will be poetry workshops at schools on Thursday, August 28, and the awards will be announced on Friday, August 29.
A display of watercolours by Jean Isherwood will also be opened on the day.
A photography exhibition called Dorothea Mackellar’s Vision has been cancelled due to lack of entries.
On Sunday, August 31, the festival will host themes from Dorothea, Bill Gleeson’s musical. For more information, visit www.dorothea.com.au, or contact the project officer on 6742 1200.
