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.
The award comprise of seven categories.
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.
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Previous winners
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| 2011 | |
| Male Vocal | Glenn Jones - Goodbye Old Chap |
| Female Vocal | Judy Stevens - Australia All Over |
| Instrumental/Group or Duo | Peter Simpson - Akubra's in the Snow |
| Album of the Year | Glenn Jones - Brumbies Run |
| Song Writer | Graham Rodger - The Cooper Coming Down |
| Comedy Song | Ted Egan - Queensland Opera |
| New Talent | Trudy Hintz - Memories Won't Let Me Be |
| Barry Thornton Encouragement Award | Trent Holder |
2010 | |
| Male Vocal | Brian Letton - Sorry Mate |
| Female Vocal | Dianne Lindsay - Cooper after Rain |
| Instrumental/Group or Duo | Dianne Lindsay & Anne Kirkpatrick - Long Road Home
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| Album of the Year | Dean Perrett - A Thousand Campfires |
| Song Writer | Johnny Kaye & Tom McIvor - Manarichie Rails |
| Comedy Song | Tom McIvor - Coleslaw |
| New Talent | John Battle - In the Outback of Australia |
| Barry Thornton Encouragement Award | Bec Hance |
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| 2009 | |
| Male Vocal | Glenn Jones - Brewery Flat
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| Female Vocal | Anne Kirkpatrick - Took his Saddle Home
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| Instrumental/Group or Duo | Lindsay Butler - Call of Spring
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| Album of the Year | Glenn Jones - Jonesy Sings Reg Poole
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| Song Writer | Peter Denahy - Took his Saddle Home
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| Comedy Song | Reg Poole - Ode to the Road
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| New Talent | Rachel Richards - The Drover
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| Barry Thornton Encouragement Award | Doug McIntyre |
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| 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 |
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| 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 |
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| 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 |
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| 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 |
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.
