The Kyabram Town Hall Writers Group is inviting the community to submit anecdotes, poems, and short pieces up to 1000 words about Kyabram and its surroundings, with a deadline extended to July 31, 2026. L-R: Neville Archibald, Judy Campbell, Bethany Archibald, Sunshine Parsons, Maria Radanov, Edie May
The Kyabram Town Hall Writers Group and the Ancient and Honourable Guild of Australian Town Criers Australian (AHGATC) are marking the town's 150th anniversary with a three-day program in Kyabram, beginning Friday, November 6, 2026.
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The weekend includes historical readings, a town criers championship and community storytelling performances, with a commemorative book also planned.
The Writers Group is calling on the community to submit anecdotes, poems and short pieces, up to 1000 words, about people and events connected to Kyabram and the surrounding area, past and present.
Submissions must be true and can be funny, sad or informative, with the deadline extended to July 31, 2026.
Kyabram Town Hall Writers Group facilitator Maria Radanov said the weekend was central to a broader project marking Kyabram's sesquicentennial.
“Community reflections of Kyabram, we have called for submissions from the community,” she said.
“That has got a lot to do with our weekend, which starts on November 6, which is the Friday night.”
On the Friday evening, a subgroup will present 'Voices of the Past', drawing on historical editions of the Kyabram Free Press.
“For the ‘Voices of the Past’, they are going through the Ky Free Press, the old copies, to see what the story of Kyabram was through the articles, letters to the editor, and so forth,' Ms Radanov said.
“That will be a bit of a performance, not a play, but a spoken performance on the Friday night at the Kyabram Town Hall.”
Saturday, November 7 features the AHGATC Australian National Town Crying Championships at Edis Park, running from 11am to 1pm.
Competitors from Queensland, NSW, South Australia and Victoria are expected, with a possible international entrant from England.
The public is encouraged to attend and vote for their favourite town crier.
Campaspe and Murray shires town crier Judy Campbell.
Photo by
Riverine Herald
Sunday, November 8 features 'Stories from Kyabram', with selected community submissions performed as readings.
“These submissions, we will choose a number, and we will have them performed as readings as well, that will either be by the author or we can designate a town crier or someone else to do that,” Ms Radanov said.
AHGATC president and host crier Judy Campbell, who also serves as town crier for Campaspe Shire Council and Murray River Council, said competitors would deliver two cries, one promoting their hometown and one on the theme of Kyabram's sesquicentennial.
Ms Campbell, who has held the role since 1993, said town criers are judged across several categories.
“The town criers are judged on their volume, sustained performance, overall presentation accuracy, the content of their cry, and the delivery,” she said.
“They are also judged on how they are dressed, how it represents their area and the workability of the outfit that they are wearing.”
The Writers Group, which has 16 members and meets weekly at Kyabram Town Hall every Monday at 4.30 pm, has been running since 2019.
The group previously published 'Celebrating Women' in 2022, which remains available at the town hall.
A new commemorative book drawing on the weekend's material is expected late 2026 or early 2027.
To submit or for more information, contact the Kyabram Town Hall Writers Group at kyabramwritersgroup@gmail.com or call 0427 194 885.
More information about the Ancient and Honourable Guild of Australian Town Criers Australian National Town Crying Championships can be found at ahgatc.org/upcoming-events
(mercer) Tatura ShowTown Crier Judy Campbell
Photo by
Julie Mercer
