Yarns Night Resurgence

THE humour of the yarns, the warmth of the crowd and the turn of phrase at last night’s yarns night embodied what is great about country communities.

There was no competition and the crowd didn’t mind if someone lost their place, or was nervous about telling their first yarn, everyone was supported to have a go.

There were stories about paddling a canoe across Sydney Harbour while being chased by sirens, old bronco riders riding the turbulence of a jumbo, a few versions of what happened to the colt from Old Regret after he was caught, the cows perspective of artificial insemination, the dog poo dance, stories of local identities and traditional favourites such as the Man from Snowy River.

Harold Briggs performed the Man from Snowy River without missing a beat. Photographer: Mandy Kennedy.

This year performers included:

• Tim McLoughlin;
• John Langen;
• Sally Mitchell;
• Greg Scott;
• Tac Towns;
• Harold Briggs;
• Joan Collison;
• Adrianne Casey
• Doug Avard;
• Stephen Tussin and
• Reagan Murphy.

Tim McLoughlin who hosted the evening said there was a resurgence of support this year with more than 120 people at the RSL.

“This year we’ve got a good crowd and we got a few of the old team back together; Greg and Sally hadn’t been for a few years and I was hoping Tony Parry would be here, but it’s been a great night,” Mr McLoughlin said.

Pat Monyleux was glad she went to Yarns Night. Photographer: Mandy Kennedy.

Tim said he encourages people to try their hand at telling yards and reciting bush poetry in front of a crowd and keeping the oral art alive.

“You’ve got to have a go to learn technique, there were people here tonight who had good voices and good material, mostly it is just getting up and having a go and having the confidence to do it,” he said.

“If you don’t get a response down there it gets very lonely on stage, but crowds like this tonight are great to perform for,” he said.

“In some places it is still quite popular in Tamworth you get 700 people fill the longyard and that wasn’t the only venue around town, there are plenty of people who like to come and listen.

“There are eve kids in it, so there is a younger generation coming through.

“We used to go into school and it worried me that there were children who didn’t know Banjo Patterson, because it is part of our heritage,” he said.

“When I went to visit my mum in the nursing home I’d recite the Man from Snowy River or the How McDougal Topped the Score and she didn’t know who I was or who she was, but she still knew the words,” said Tim McLoughlin.

Sally Mitchell explaining what happened after the colt was caught. Photographer: Mandy Kennedy.

Sally Mitchell was the first female to win the traditional category at the Yarn’s competition in Tamworth during the Country Music Festival and said her passion is performing for children.

“When I first started performing it was hard to find material in the traditional poetry which is what I enjoy doing,” said Ms Mitchell.

“So I found myself performing ‘A Bush Christmas’ in Tamworth at the Country Music Festival and it was working and then I found the “Riding of the Rebel” which was me at heart all about a horsewomen, which I could relate to and when I performed that poem at the Imperial I lost myself in the poem and it was amazing as a performer,” she said.

“I have written a couple, but I consider myself as a performer rather than a writer,” she said.

“I find working part of an awesome foursome working with men and having the difference in material works well,” she said.

“What I am passionate about is performing for school children kinder to year 6,” Sally Mitchell said.