Four awards for poet

AFTER starting writing poetry later in life, Bendigo poet David Judge has won four awards this year.

They follow on from wins, placings and highly commended entries earned since he began writing after his 50th class reunion at Hawkesbury Agricultural College.

In April, Judge was awarded the Silver Brumby Award at the 2025 Man from Snowy River Bush Festival in Corryong.

The award recognises outstanding artistry in the creation of Australian rhyming verse relating to people places and the Australian way of life.

“I also won the award in 2022,” said Judge. “It is an honour to be chosen again.”

Following on from successes in 2022 and 2024, Judge received the 2025 Banjo Patterson Writing Award for Contemporary Poetry in August.

“I also won the 2025 Fellowship of Australian Writers (NSW) Alison Cerhan Australian Ballad Award, the 2025 Silver Swagman Award and the 2025 Mansfield Readers and Writers Award for Bush Poetry,” said Judge.

“Writing bush poetry involves strict rhyming and line structure.

“Rhyme comes naturally to me, and I have been inspired by Banjo Paterson and Henry Lawson.

“My ideas come from reading, research, travelling and family history.”

Judge recently released his latest book, a poetic memoir including many of his award-winning poems.

A Sense of Place, A Septuagenarian’s Reflections in Rhyme, reflects on his own life, interspersed with personal photographs.

To purchase a copy contact Judge at [email protected].