G'day and welcome to Jack Drake's bush poetry website

You've logged on to some fair dinkum Australian bush poetry entertainment written and produced in the Queensland, Australia mountains near Stanthorpe in south-east Queensland. After years as a horseman, stockman, rodeo competitor and outback showman bush poet Jack recites his bush poetry and tells his stories in verse via his bush poetry performance CDs and books.

Jack Drake is a product of the bush who has lived the life he writes about. He has straightened up at the end of eight hours on a shearing board and twisted his handpiece off ready for a well earned beer.

He knows the satisfaction of riding a horse he has bred and broken-in with a saddle he has made himself for a day’s mustering. Like most bush boys, he can handle shoeing tools, fencing gear, carpentry and welding equipment, and turn his hand to any of the hundred and one tasks necessary for survival in the bush.

Born in rural New Zealand in 1950, he is now a naturalised Aussie and proud of it. He has loved words and verse ever since his father gave him a copy of Banjo Patterson’s verses when he was 10 years old.

Initially he self published books of his own poetry called "Duck for Cover", "Still Ducking", "Dinkum Poetry" and "Saga of the Dog", but in 2003, Central Queensland University Press published his anthology of 86 poems plus 6 short stories entitled "The Cattle Dog's Revenge". This is now the only book available for sale.

His first CD "The Cattle Dog's Revenge" was released in 2001 and his second CD "Dinkum Poetry" was released in 2002.

Jack recites his own works plus other bush favorites, with fire and gusto to the delight of his audiences both old and young. His life long experience with horses, sheep, cattle and all bush things adds a ring of authenticity to his renditions.

Until August 2001, he ran a horse back, trail riding business known as “Red Gum Ridge Trail Rides” 18 kms SE of Stanthorpe high up in the border ranges, which kept his hand in as a saddler, farrier, horse educator and an occasional blade shearing demonstrator.

Jack judges both written and performance bush poetry competitions which included the National Championships in Western Australia.

His wins in bush poetry competitions include:

• The Tenterfield Oracles of the Bush Written Section in 1999, and Performance Section in 2000 and 2001
• The Asthma Foundation of NSW's “Bush Poet of the Year 2001” in Sydney on 30th April 2001
• The Original Performance Section, National Bush Poetry Championship at the Brisbane Ekka 11th August 2001 as well and wins and placings in many other regional contests
• His CD “The Cattle Dog’s Revenge” was a finalist in the 2002 Australian Bush Laureate Awards at Tamworth and his latest CD “Dinkum Poetry” has been nominated as a finalist for 2003
• Golden Gumleaf Award 2004 for Best Original Book of Verse "The Cattle Dog's Revenge"
• Highly Commended place in the Bronze Swagman Award for 2012 "The Water of the Wells - Beersheba 1917"
• “2011 Golden Gumleaf Award for “Australian Bush Poetry Classics”  CD Album of the Year.

“Jack is available for bookings as a poet comedian for Bush Poetry or Balladeers Festivals, Breakfasts or Workshops, plus as an After Dinner Speaker on Outback History.”

His books and CDs have sold as far afield as Britain, Canada, New Zealand and the United States as well as all over Australia. A piece of Jack’s poetry also adorns the wall of “Café Oz” in Paris, France.

His CDs have had air play on Alan Jones and John Laws radio programmes as well as ABC National and a host of regional stations.

Click here to order Jack's CDs and books now!

"The Cattle Dog's Revenge. That is an Aussie Classic." Dalby, Qld

www.bushverse.com Australian Bush Poetry, Verse & Music

Australian 1 Search Engine & Directory

Australian Entertainment Business Directory