The Toolangi C. J. Dennis Poetry Festival

08/12/2021

As I am no longer involved with the C. J. Dennis Society, I am handing over the administration of this page to Society Acting Secretary, Sharon Keogh.

13/11/2018

It is my sad duty to report that Vic Williams, co-owner of ‘The Singing Gardens’, and husband of Jan Williams, passed away last night.

Vic was a great friend of the C. J. Dennis Society. Through their ownership of ‘The Singing Gardens’, dating back to the 1960s, Vic and Jan worked tirelessly, with their family, to restore the gardens to their former glory, and maintain the legacy of C. J. Dennis.

Vic was a great supporter of the festival ‘behind the scenes’, and a large part of the reason why the gardens always looked so beautiful come October.

I knew Vic to be unfailingly good-natured and tolerant of any misadventures (small or not so small!) that might come his way.

The Society owes Vic a great debt, and will be forever thankful for all his efforts over the years. Our thoughts are with Jan, her sons, and their family and friends, at this most sad and difficult time.

Funeral details will be announced in the Age and Herald Sun newspapers.

Stephen Whiteside

President
The C. J. Dennis Society

22/10/2018

Results of 2018 Toolangi C. J. Dennis Festival Poetry and Short Story Competition

Open Poetry Award
First Prize - "Anzac Eyes" (David Campbell)
Second Prize - "Bill" (Kyrie Covert)
Third Prize - "Ozrap: as things stand" (John Bond)
Highly Commended
Black Saturday (John Bond)
My Herald Stuff? (Stephen Whiteside)
Ode to a Spring Morning (Jim Kent)

Open Short Story Award
First Prize - "Opening Night" (Shelley Hansen)
Second Prize - "Rosemary's Summer Harvest" (John Jenkin)
Third Prize - "Miss Daisy" (Jim Kent)

Adults Writing for Children (adult judging)
First Prize - "Ozzie's Snozzle" (Kesta Fleming)
Equal Second Prize - "The Class Photo" (Jenny Erlanger)
Equal Second Prize - "If" (David Campbell)
Highly Commended
"Getting to Sleep" (Jenny Erlanger)
"Career Moves" (Doc Bland)

Adults Writing for Children (children judging)
First Prize - "Scruffy Dog" (Jan Williams)
Second Prize - "The Class Photo" (Jenny Erlanger)
Equal Third Prize - "Wishes" (Maureen Halloran)
Equal Third Prize - "Shadow" (Agi Dobson)

Poems by Students in Primary School
First Prize - "Far and Few" (Robert Simpson)
Second Prize - "The Unfair Bear" (Jessica Nakad)

Poems by Students in Secondary School
First Prize - "Peek-a-boo" (Michelle Dinuan-Mason-Sanmiah)
Second Prize - "Melting Globe" (Michelle Dinuan-Mason-Sanmiah)
Third Prize - "My Australian Home!!!" (Nicky Louw)

Congratulations to all the winners!

04/10/2018

Just to avoid any confusion, the Toolangi C. J. Dennis Festival is being held in 2018, not 1918!

03/10/2018

23/08/2018

This year, the Toolangi C. J. Dennis Poetry Festival is celebrating the centenary of the publication (in 1918) of 'Digger Smith'. This is the third in the series of books featuring Bill (the Sentimental Bloke) and Doreen, and their friends. The book is set as the First World Was is coming to an end. 'Digger Smith' is an old friend of Bill and Ginger Mick. He returns home having lost a leg and, with it, much of his confidence. Bill and Doreen conspire, together with their friends, to reconcile him with his girlfriend, and help him to begin to build a future for himself. The book also explores the nature of war itself, and the ways in which returned soldiers in general can be re-integrated back into society. Like so much of Dennis' work, it is a clever mix of humour and pathos. The book will be presented in full on the Saturday afternoon and evening of the festival by the C. J. Dennis Society. The festival will take place this year on the weekend of Saturday 20th and Sunday 21st October at "The Singing Gardens", former home of C. J. Dennis, in Toolangi, 70 km east of Melbourne.

30/04/2018

The 2018 Toolangi C. J. Dennis Poetry Competition is now open for entries.

The entry form can be found on the Society's website, here:
http://www.thecjdennissociety.com

Please note that the closing date has been brought forward to 15th August.

As was the case last year, we now have a short story category also (maximum 500 words).

Happy writing!

The C.J. Dennis Society arose spontaneously in 2010 during a Toolangi Festival weekend. In the same beautiful "Singing Gardens" where Dennis wrote much of his work, an enthusiastic audience heard talented performers bring his verse to life. It was agreed that Dennis deserved to be better known,.....

23/11/2017

Here is the last of the links to my blog for photos of the festival. This time, it contains a lovely bunch of shots sent to me by Will Moody.

Some photos from Will MoodyNovember 22nd, 2017 | C. J. Dennis, Festivals, News, Photos, Poems for adults, Poems for children, Significant dates in the life of C. J. Dennis, Stories for adults, Stories for children, Toolangi, Toolangi C. J. Dennis Poetry FestivalFinally (I think!), here are some phot...

16/11/2017

Thank you to the members of the C. J. Dennis Society who have sent me heaps of wonderful photos from this year's festival!

I have featured them in three new posts on my blog, which can be found here:
http://www.stephenwhiteside.com.au/more-glug-photos/

http://www.stephenwhiteside.com.au/photos-of-the-2017-toolangi-c-j-dennis-poetry-festival-awards-ceremony/

http://www.stephenwhiteside.com.au/a-few-more-of-shelleys-shots/

More “Glug” photos!November 15th, 2017 | C. J. Dennis, Festivals, Photos, Poems for adults, Poems for children, Significant dates in the life of C. J. Dennis, Stories for adults, Stories for children, Toolangi, Toolangi C. J. Dennis Poetry FestivalPhotos! Photos! Photos! Since I sent my plea out to…