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 tells
his stories in verse via his 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 could 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". He
now has a total of 6 published Books for sale.
Jack Drake was a regular performer at festivals, shows
and celebrations around Queensland and New South Wales. He
has recited his poetry works at the Gympie Muster Poets
Breakfasts and performed at Tamworth Country Music Week
for the last twenty five years, as well as many
appearances at other festivals and events.
However he has now retired from performing.
On
his CDs Jack recites his own work plus the classics,
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.
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!
ANNOUNCEMENT:
It is with deep sorrow we
have to advise that Jack passed away at 3am on
Monday morning 9th December, 2024 peacefully while
sleeping.
He had been struggling
with Asbestosis for some time.
He did his last Bush Poetry performance at the 2024
Apple and Grape Festival in March.
His funeral was on Wed 18th December at 10.30 am at the
graveside, Stanthorpe Cemetery followed by refreshments
at the Eukey Hall, Eukey via Stanthorpe.
He will be greatly missed.
"The Cattle Dog's Revenge. That is an
Aussie Classic." Dalby, Qld
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