Home of the Stan Coster Memorial Bush Ballad Award.
The first Stan Coster Memorial Australian Bush Ballad Award was held in 1998 and attracted 53 nominations. Over the years the number of nominations continues to grow with numbers increasing every year.
2010 Winners of the Instrumental/Group or Duo - Anne Kirkpatrick and Dianne Lindsay.
Photo by: K Parson
The award comprise of seven categories.
Male Vocal
Female Vocal
Instrumental/Group/Duo
Album of the Year
Songwriter
New Talent
Comedy Song
The Barry Thornton Encouragement Award.
The awards are a special feature for the patrons and in particular the artists as it gives them an opportunity to showcase their talents. The Encouragement award is of special importance to the committee as it gives members a chance to vote for whom they believe to be a hard worker at their "craft" throughout the year and who is an up and coming Bush Balladeer.
The awards are open to Bush Ballad material performed and written by Australian artists and songwriters.
Material must be recorded and released in Australia between 1st October and 30th September of the year of nomination.
Nominations may be submitted by either recording artist, songwriter or producer.The Bungendore Muster committee has a strong belief in the promotion and preservation of Australian Country Music and the Stan Coster Memorial Bush Ballad Awards and provide a venue for artists to showcase their talents. The success of new artists like Jeff Brown from Queensland (winner of the Stan Coster Memorial Australian Bush Ballard Award new talent in 1999) going on to win the Bush Ballad of the Year in Tamworth 2005 is testament to the value of this event.
Guidelines For Judging Categories:-
Vocal Sections: Vocal Ability, Expression, Affinity with the Lyrics
Album: Overall Bush Ballad Content, Quality of Lyrics and Vocals, Production
Songwriter: Quality and Meaning of Lyrics, Melody
NOTE: Vocal ability and performance will NOT be criteria for judging.
Judging: The awards will be judged by a panel of five (5) judges. The Judges’ decision will be final and NO correspondence will be entered into.
Finalists: Finalists in each category will be advised no later than 15th December and will be expected to be present at the awards. If you would like a nomination form please email or call 02-6238-0224.
Dianne Lindsay & Anne Kirkpatrick - Long Road Home
Album of the Year
Dean Perrett - A Thousand Campfires
Song Writer
Johnny Kaye & Tom McIvor - Manarichie Rails
Comedy Song
Tom McIvor - Coleslaw
Barry Thornton Encouragement Award
Bec Hance
Previous winners
2009
Male Vocal
Glenn Jones - Brewery Flat
Female Vocal
Anne Kirkpatrick - Took his Saddle Home
Instrumental/Group or Duo
Lindsay Butler - Call of Spring
Album of the Year
Glenn Jones - Jonesy Sings Reg Poole
Song Writer
Peter Denahy - Took his Saddle Home
Comedy Song
Reg Poole - Ode to the Road
New Talent
Rachel Richards - The Drover
Barry Thornton Encouragement Award
Doug McIntyre
2008
Male Vocal
Graham Rodger - Woman on the Land
Female Vocal
Lynette Guest - Murray River Blues
Instrumental/Group or Duo
Tom Maxwell and Lynette Guest - A Bushman Can't Survive
Album of the Year
Jeff Brown - Harvest Time Again
Songwriter
Trevor Day - An Empty Plate
Comedy Song
Trevor Day - The Homemade Chair
New Talent
Greg Bain - Can I Sing Trumby
Barry Thornton Encouragement Award
Lana Ross
2007
Male Vocal
Reg Poole - A Tribute to Slim
Female Vocal
Anne Kirkpatrick - Peppimenarti Cradle
Instrumental /Group or Duo
Brian Letton and Owen Blundell - Rolling Wagons
Album of The Year
Dean Perrett - New Traditions
Songwriter
Graham Rodgers - The Battle of Long Tan
Comedy Song
Ernie Constance - If they Put a Tax on That
New Talent
Julie Perandes - Me and Moonlight
Barry Thornton Encouragement Award
Denise Brooks
2006
Male Vocal
Brian Letton - Two Chords
Female Vocal
Jenny Bennetts - Camooweal
Instrumental /Group or Duo
Lindsay Butler - Ride the Sunlander
Album of The Year
John Williamson - Chandeliers of Stars
Songwriter
John Williamson - Bells in Bushman's Ear
Comedy Song
Keith Jamieson - Twenty Million Bulldog Ants
New Talent
Amos Morris - The Rain Don't Tumble down in July Here
Barry Thornton Encouragement Award
Ashley Cook
2005
Male Vocal
Brian Letton - Leave him in the Longyard
Female Vocal
Laura Downing - Circle of Sawdust
Instrumental /Group or Duo
Lindsay Butler and Laurie Minson - When the Rain Tumbles Down in July
Album of The Year
Tracy Coster - Coster Country
Songwriter
W Crosbie and Jeff Brown - Fred Gutte
Comedy Song
Tracy Coster - Lawson's Loaded Dog
New Talent
Matt Manning - You've Got to Go West Young Fella
Barry Thornton Encouragement Award
Alisha Smith
Track to Tomorrow Award
In 2008 the Bungendore Country Muster committee introduced a new award “Track to Tomorrow”. This award is to encourage and support a young up and coming Bush Balladeer.
The 2008 winner was Pat Brown Jnr from Woolgoolga we wish him all the best with his singing career.
In 2009 we were proud to announce that Lindsay (Waddo) and Reagan
Waddington of Kross Kut Records had sponsored recording time for the
winner of the 2009 Track To Tomorrow. We sincerely thank Kross Kut
Records for their support.
Pictured Trent Holder winner of the Track to Tomorrow Award with Waddo of Kross Kut Records.
Young artists under 18 years of age at the 30th September 2009 are invited to nominate.
If you wish to enter this competition please reply email to
1. Entrants must be between 13 to 18 years of age as at 30th September 2010 proof of age may be required
2. This competition is open to young balladeers wishing to follow a career in Australian Bush Ballads
3. Must not have recorded commercially
4. All entries must be received by 30th December 2010
5. The selected Track to Tomorrow winner will be required to perform at the Bungendore Country Muster on Saturday 5th February 2011 during the Saturday afternoon concert
6. Entrants must complete the official entry form to be considered
Bec Hance
