The NSW South Coast is far enough away from Brisbane that it would prevent 83-year-old rhyme-master John Davis from attending the Ekka at the best of times.
Throw in COVID-19 and he definitely wouldn't have participated in the 2020 RNA bush poetry competition, but when it was turned into an online competition, Mr Davis still had to contend with mastering the technology to film himself reciting and then submit two entries.
"I didn't even know how to do a video clip," he says in a voice full of expression.
"I had to learn how to do that - my son talked me through it on the phone - and then a grandaughter helped me put the entries in.
"Those two performances were the hardest I've ever had to do because I was looking at myself - it was really off-putting."
Hard it may have been but Mr Davis, who hails from Ulladulla, scored second place in class 1, reciting an established poem in the open section, and first place in reciting his own original poem, Full Circle.
The two performances combined made him the 2020 overall champion.
Sally Gall
Based at Blackall, CW Qld, where I've raised a family, run Merino sheep and beef cattle, and helped develop a region - its history, tourism, education and communications. Get in touch at 0427 575 955 if you've got a story idea for me.
Based at Blackall, CW Qld, where I've raised a family, run Merino sheep and beef cattle, and helped develop a region - its history, tourism, education and communications. Get in touch at 0427 575 955 if you've got a story idea for me.
