Entry close: 29 February 2016
The award is sponsored by Norman McVicker estate with the aim of promoting literature to young people.
Total Prize: $2200
Short story
1st Prize $800
2nd Prize $200
3rd Prize $100
Poetry
1st Prize $800
2nd Prize $200
3rd Prize $100
Highly Commended and Commended Certificates awarded.
Word and Line counts:
Short story: 2000 words max
Poetry: 100 lines max
Theme
Open
Norman wrote three columns about Budgee Budgee published on 13th, 20th and 27th April, 2009.
Jack Stanford, now living in retirement in Mudgee with his wife Edna invited Norman to visit him.
Jack was born in Budgee Budgee and lived most of his life in the area around Black Springs Road where he and Edna raised their family on an orchard property. Black Springs Road was named for springs of water close to a house owned by Tudor Allen. In one spring the water is black whilst in another it is blue.
As Jack reminisced about his life Norman made notes: Jack thought that Budgee Budgee was Aboriginal meaning “plenty, plenty” or plenty of water.
The reason “five corners” can no longer be found in the Budgee Budgee locality is because the farms in the early days of settlement usually had flocks of sheep. The sheep ate the “five corners” to the root stock whereas cattle did not touch them. The plant mainly grew on the side of a hill.
In 1930 there was an extreme drought and a lot of local vegetation died. Jack recalled when he was aged about 18 the temperature was 100 degrees Fahrenheit for a month. Apparently St John’s Wort is a recurring curse but can be eradicated by persistently spreading pure salt on new growth.
The names “Pipeclay Creek” and “Pipeclay Lane” appear to have been called after the area once known as “ Pipeclay” but it may have previously been another name now unknown. How it came to be called “Pipeclay” is also unknown but it may have been because the clay in the creek was suitable for making clay pipes used to smoke tobacco.
Jack had an interesting story to relate about the Ulan Road Pipeclay Creek Bridge. Before the bridge was built there was a ford crossing about 50 metres on the western side of the bridge. The remains of the crossing are still visible. On at least three occasions when Pipeclay Creek was in flood people were drowned whilst attempting to cross. Their horse and buggies were swept away. Jack thought they were a Mr Box, a Mr Brack and local poet Kevin Pye’s great grand parent.
Jack recalled that a teacher who taught French at Mudgee High School and his wife, a teacher at Mudgee Public School, were often stranded when the creek flooded. Often they had to travel to Mudgee via School Lane joining up with a road to Mudgee to the West.
Jack was able to pin point the exact location of the Huxley Butcher shop. It still exists in a building which in the 1980s was the scene of a herb farm and shop next to what was then Bramhall Winery.
The story of gold being found close to the Budgee Budgee Inn valued at £3000 was confirmed with the added anecdote that many believe gold can still be found in the vicinity but he was never lucky enough to find any.
Jack was asked about his ancestors. His mother was from the Roth family and he attended the family re-union in 2008 held in Mudgee.
Subsequent to Norman talking to Jack Stanford he met up with Lee Paine who reminded him that her family lived in Budgee Budgee when they migrated from England in 1950. Her parents, Jack and Norah Hodgkinson lived with their family in a little old house in a paddock near what is now Box Lane. Only the chimney remains standing today.
Jack was a carpenter and builder who renovated the house to make it habitable. Lee lived there for approximately six months before she left to become a teacher at Newcastle Teachers’ College.
Lee recalled that on one occasion the school bus could not make the Pipeclay Creek crossing due to a flood. Lee thought the bridge was built in the 1960s after the family had moved to a house in Eurunderee.
From time to time, selected columns will be published on this site. Watch this space for changes. Click here for the latest selection.
The book Tales from along the Wallaby Track was launched on the 27th March 2009. For more information about book, click here.
Local state MP (Orange), Mr. Andrew Gee made a private member statement to pay tribute to Norman McVicker OAM, on the 13th June 2012.
Please read here: Andrew Gee MP private member statement
There is also an article written by Norman’s colleague, Tom Lee in the UK, published on the “Stage People”:
Please click here to read the Stage People UK
Finally, on the Sydney Morning Herald Timeline:
| Speakers | Gee Mr Andrew |
| Business | Condolence, Private Members Statements, PRIV |
Mr ANDREW GEE (Orange) [10.21 a.m.]: On Tuesday 29 May 2012 the town of Mudgee paid its last respects to Norman John McVicker, OAM, who passed away on 21 May at the age of 92. The late Mr McVicker retired to Mudgee in 1980 after a distinguished career as a freelance journalist and scriptwriter. He was born at Tempe on 19 January 1920. Norman McVicker went into radio in 1937 after completion of his secondary education at Canterbury Boys High School the previous year. From 1949 until his retirement he was the audit manager for Qantas Airlines’ audit department and in his spare time maintained his passion for drama. He founded and was a director of Pocket Playhouse Children’s Theatre, which operated from 1961 to 1973. In 1966 Prime Minister Harold Holt appointed Mr McVicker as a member of the Australian UNESCO Committee for Drama and Theatre, an appointment he held for five years.
By Iris Byrne
Norman John McVicker was born on the 19th January 1920, in Tempe. Eldest son of Harold and Winifred.
His interest in writing and performing arts began in the early years. In 6th class he wrote his first stage play and later a version of Cinderella for a Younger Set. After leaving school he wrote scripts about Australian history and episodes of radio serials for the 2UW Children’s Session. His first radio play was broadcast on the 19th of January 1937 from 2SM, on his 17th birthday.
Between 1940 and 1946 he was a member of the Australian Army Service Corps. He completed a course in journalism through the Army Education Service with Alan Marshall, author of “I can Jump Puddles”.
In 1947 he founded St Peters Community Players that evolved into the Pocket Playhouse, a unique Little Theatre. The theatre operated, without subsidy, until 1973 when it closed after eighty nine seasons. During this time the Pocket Children’s Theatre emerged playing matinees on Saturdays and a professional production of Spoon River for the NSW Arts Council toured 28 country towns.
During these years he became a Council Member of the British Drama League of Australia and in 1966-71 a member of the Australian UNESCO Committee for Drama and Art having been appointed by Prime Minister, Harold Holt.
Between 1949 and 1980 he was audit manager for British Commonwealth Pacific Airlines (BCPA) later integrated with QANTAS. He freely referred to BCPA as “Ben Chiefly Private Airlines”.
He and Brendan Dunne retired to Mudgee in 1980. They were both actively involved in cultural activities in Mudgee. Norman was a foundation member of Mudgee Arts Council and assisted with musical productions at St Matthew’s School and Mudgee High School.
In 1989 he commenced writing the “Tales from the Wallaby Track” for the Mudgee Guardian whilst lobbying for the restoration of Eurunderee School. He continued writing for 23 years having written 1185 local and national articles, some of which are yet to be published by the Mudgee Guardian, as he often said, that he would still be writing from his grave.
In 2003, he received the Order of Australia Medal for ‘Service to the performing arts, particularly theatre, and to the community of Mudgee‘. This was followed by Life Membership of Mudgee Arts Council for services to the arts in Mudgee.
In 2007, he received The Premier of New South Wales Service Award for outstanding services to the community to be followed the same year by 2007 Seniors’ Week Achievement Award for outstanding contribution to the community in the field of Education and Lifelong Learning.
In those years, he made many friends of all ages and backgrounds, too many to mention, many are here today. He could spend hours talking to people, exchanging life experiences with them, this gave him great pleasure. He never ran out of interesting stories to tell which captivated his listeners. He was one of life’s treasures.
When visiting Norman in recent years, you would be greeted by his security guard, a possessive cocker spaniel. He was very fond of cocker spaniels and had several throughout his lifetime.
His passion for words was also reflected in spending some of his leisure time watching Letters and Numbers Show and playing scrabble. You wouldn’t dare place a misspelt word on the board or you would get a vicious glare.
Norman was a generous and remarkable man. He touched the lives of many people wherever he went. He gave young people a great start in their careers and he was a great mentor to many people. One example, he proofread Sof’s thesis and suggested that he should be the one receiving the doctorate.
His eccentricity was undeniable and often flexed any rigidity of daily lives. For example, he would talk to Telecross members every morning longer than he should, extracting stories from them which is not permitted. Rules didn’t apply to Norman.
In later years, Sof Lee moved to Mudgee and became his carer, a task Sof carried out with great expertise, making it possible for Norman to live in his own home while pursuing his interests in writing.
There are many other examples and stories about Norman and it’s impossible to tell all of them in this Eulogy.
His passing is an End of an era.
Norman is best summed up in one word, UNIQUE!
Maybe one day we will meet on the Wallaby Track.
Norman McVicker (Qantas Years)McVICKER,
Norman John OAM.
NX120293 AASC
On May 21st, 2012.
Late of “Wattle Grove Farm”, Budgee Budgee and formerly of Kurnell and Tempe. Eldest son of Harold George and Winifred Mary (both deceased), loved brother of Basil (deceased), brother-in-law of Joy (deceased) and uncle of Marilyn, Peter, Michael and their children. Long time friend and companion of Brendan (deceased). Special friend of Sof and Betty (deceased) and his extended family.
5th Generation decendant of
First Fleeter
Edward Whitton.
Founder and Director of The Pocket Playhouse, Sydenham.
Aged 92 years
Date of Birth
19th January, 1920
Relatives and friends are advised that a Mass of Christian Burial for the repose of the soul of the late Norman McVicker will be celebrated at St. Marys Catholic, Church, Mudgee, on Tuesday (May 29th, 2012) appointed to commence at 1 p.m.
At the conclusion of Mass, the cortege will proceed
to the Catholic portion of Mudgee General Cemetery for interment.
See also: http://tributes.smh.com.au/obituaries/smh-au/obituary.aspx?n=norman-mcvicker&pid=157777409
Norman McVicker's Budgee Budgee site 
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