SEMI FINALISTS FOR THE 2025 songwriting competition

In alphabetical order:

BUSH BALLAD A Mates Lament –  Craig Wilson Australia My Home –  Katelann Grealy Black Cockatoo  –  Lloyd Back Chasing Rabbits In Her Sleep  – Terry Bennetts Dead Man’s Hill  –  Peter Coad Desert Blooming –  Owen Smith Country On Their Mind – Peter Simpson Heroes of the Past  – Kevin Sullivan Higher Ground –   Peter Campbell, Victoria Edwards Kamikaze Kangaroo  –  Ruby Holden Keep on Riding –  Sandy Louise, Shaun O’Friel Living In The Lucky Country  –  Stanley Lenz My Country My Australia –  Kathy Carver, Clem O’Dea Paddocks of Yellow   –  Ian Dencker Real Big Scrub  – Matthew Carey Singer of Renown – Len Conner, Colin Fraser St Andrews Hotel  – Dusty Starr Take Me Back There  –  Jeanie Cuskelly The Ballard of Jimmy Porter  – Russell Leeming This Old Wagon –  Garry Jones Trains Don’t Come Here Anymore  –  Jeannie Kleynhans Uluru –  Clayton Saunders We Need It Here In This Town  – Michael Craig Where Kilometres Turn Into Miles – Graeme Clark Wild Colonial Boys – Brendan McMahon

COUNTRY BLUES Don’t Count Me Out  – Dominque Maurice

Don’t Walk Away   –   Megan Jane Ashley

Electric Skyline   –   Miranda Nagy

Everybody Knows Your Name –  Lucie Tiger O’Connor

Fear The Future –  Darrin Truran, Aaron Frost

Festival Blues   –   Peter Campbell

Fitzroy River Blues   –    Stanley Lenz

Forked Tongue Blues   –  Miranda Nagy

Help Me Baby  –   Brendan McMahon

It’s Called Love….It’s Called The Blues  –  Aiden Boak, Kai Boak, Allan Caswell, Kim Ferguson

Million Grey Pieces  –  Jaci Elliott

Red Dirt Heart  –   Jax de Celis

Redwood Leaves  –  Jo Caseley, Syd Green

Road Trip   –   Jeannie Kleynhans

Segregation Blues  –  Peter Campbell

Singing The Blues  –  Sandy Louise, Cheryl Van Der Velden

The Highway Man –  Paul White, Craig Pinkney, Susan Bluck, Mick Burn, Bob Greaves

The Pavement is My Bed  –  Antonio Nero

Viking  –  Neil McCann, John Littrich

 

 COUNTRY ROCK Astronaut –  Adam Dennis Backyard Barbie –  Phillip Doring, Gavin Fitzgerald,  Russell Perrott Blackfire   – Kate (Dunn) Ballantyne, Indea Foreacre Collide   –  Shanleigh Carey Drive –  Savannah Sharpe Get What You Believe –   Umberto Giancristofaro Gone Away  –  Dane Owen Head Above Water  – Katelann Grealy Hell or Highwater – Sandy Louise McNaughton Hold You Up – Jonah James I Don’t Miss That Woman  –  Kai Boak, Allan Caswell, Aiden Boak,  Kim Ferguson I’m Ready – Michelle Little Lyn Bowtell In Case You Didn’t Know It  – Jacqueline (Jax) de Celis It’s Hell No   –   Dominique Maurice I’ve Got Your Back – Craig Campbell,  Michael Sims,  William Ashworth Just One Minute   – Ian Burns Keep A Little Faith  – Paul White,  Craig Pinkney, Mick Burn,  Susan Bluck,  Bert Giancristafaro Leave A Light On  – Nicole Bylund Let Love Be Love  – Greg McInnes Like An Old Friend – Georgia Rose Donachie, Kelly Brouhaha Living In My Shed   – Peter Campbell Losin You  – Craig Campbell,  Michael Sims, William Ashworth Love This Life – Jeanie Cuskelly Make My Way  –   Amber Kenny, Lyn Bowtell Never Coming Back Again  –  Mark Rigney Out On The Clay   – Peter Campbell Over By The Summer – Tilly Rose Bosworth, Paul Ray Pink Is My Colour –  Coral Renee Romantic Side  – Aiden Boak, Allan Caswell, Kai Boak, Kim Ferguson She Believes – Robert (Bob) Derschow Solid Ground  – Lindsay Waddington Speed Humps   – Brendan McMahon Tequila Talking  –  Lucie Tiger O’Connor That Old Life  – Catherine Lehnen, Michael Lehnen, Lachlan Bryan Tommy’s Gold  –  Matt Scullion Two Feet  -Sally Pottinger Up On The Row –   Pat Kenny Valleys Of Your Mind – Stephen Jackson, Richard Cooke

 

GOSPEL SPIRITUAL

Below An Open Sky  –   Brendon Walmsley

Broken –  Brendon Walmsley, Merelyn Carter, David Carter

Driving Away – Gemma Filewood

God Loves Country Music – Brendon Walmsley

He’s Got The Whole World  –  Brendon Walmsley, Colin Buchanan

I Believe –  Gemma Filewood

Heaven Someday – Katelann Grealy, Ruby Jane Sherriff

Home  –    Greg McInnes, Ashleigh Dallas

One Love  –  Linda Milne

Sitting On Empty   –  Peter Shurley

The River is Risin’  –   Kerrie Gambley

Universal Love – Holly Lee Jones

What Would I Say To Jesus  –  Tina Pettaras

Who’s That Walking On The Water –  Peter Shurley

You Felt Like Home -Sandy Louise McNaughton

LOCAL HEROES & EVENTS

Baby Goanna  – Paul Ricketts, Lindsay Waddington

Behind the Scenes –   Lloyd Back, Lindsay Waddington

Betty’s Song  –  Shanleigh Carey

Captain Starlight  -Jeannie Kleynhans, Stewart Porter

Country Music Man – Rodney Vincent, Michael Cristiano

Dry River – Slim Dusty Sings to  Me –  Bill Marsh

Emily Smith  -Neil McCann, John Littrich

If He Could Talk –  Wendy Wood

Johnny Gibson Was A Friend Of Mine – Alan Gilmour, Shirl Llewellyn

Local Hero – Peter Campbell, Brendan Smoother, Dan Murphy

Mickey Brennan’s Lament – Neil McCann, John Littrich

My Old Man –  Craig Wilson

One Hundred Thousand Migrants – Marion Shilo

Our Fallen Heroes – Brian Murray, Jean Murray

Rodeo Rider From the Scrub – Michael Craig

Smoke Filled Skies –Sandy Louise McNaughton

The Boy From Birchip – Matt Scullion

The Horses Stay Behind (One Last Ride) – Kerrie Gambley

The Piano Player –  Kevin Sullivan

The Voyage of Flinders, Bungaree and Trim – Wayne Horne, Mick Melit, Paul Carmody

True Blue Aussie Son –  Lance Birrell

NOVICE

A Mates Lament – Craig Wilson

Call Me A Soldier – Michael Ryan

Dancing Out of Time – Craig Wilson

Demons – Craig Wilson

Dusty Hill – Josephine Lemon, Ian Hallett

Every Road Leads To You – Josephine Lemon, Ian Hallett

Goodbye Tula – Craig Wilson, Maria Kelsall

Good Ol Country Boy – Ralph Mills

High Country Hero – Joy Hendon

It Took Me By Surprise – Craig Wilson

I Love You – Josephine Lemon, Ian Hallett

My Old Man – Craig Wilson On My Way – Josephine Lemon, Ian Hallett

Real Big Scrub – Matthew Carey

Replay – Lucy Watson

Road Maps and Detours – Craig Wilson

Singer of Renown – Len Conner, Colin Fraser

Still In Love – Guy Italiano

Stockman’s Pirouette – Joy Hendon

This Canvas of Mine – Johnny Voegeler

 

TRADITIONAL SECTION

A Lonely Beach  –  Johnny Voegeler

Always Ride A Train –  Lindsay Waddington,   Allan Caswell

Ashes To Dust  – Katelann  Grealy

Auburn Sun – Owen Smith

Behind the Scenes –  Lloyd Back, Lindsay Waddington

Blue Butterfly – Tina Pettaras

Defining Moments – Shelly Jones, Lester Treuer

Charlie Crow – Paul  Ricketts, Lindsay Waddington

Clouds Over Clonbinane  – David Clements

Cooladdi  –    Brendon Walmsley

Country Music Man – Rodney Vincent, Michael Cristiano

Eyre Highway Track -Kathy Carver

Famous For Being Famous – Peter  Campbell

Golden Handcuffs   –  Matt Scullion

Heartbeat Of Australia  –  Shaza Leigh Butler

If He Could Talk  – Wendy Wood

It’s Called A Break Up Cause It’s Broken  – Wendy Wood

Leave a Light on – Nicole Bylund

Little White Dress –  Danita Harris

Mary Mcgee –  Mark Rigney

Mickey Brennan’s Lament – Neil McCann, John Littrich

Mountain Man  – Darrin Truran

Murrurundi Royal Hotel  – Kathy Coleman

Outback Ball – Brendan McMahon

Redwood Leaves  – Jo Caseley, Syd Green

Riverbank Red  –  Lawrie Minson, Matt Scullion

Road To Riverleigh  – Brendon Walmsley

Road Maps and Detours  – Craig Wilson

Saltbush Sally  –   Alice  Benfer, Sam Hawksley

Sit ‘Round the Table   –  Beth Compton

The Grey Nomads   –  Stanley Lenz

The Highland Life  – Kylie Adams-Collier

The Horses Stay Behind (One Last Ride)   – Kerrie Gambley

The Jacaranda Tree –     Dianne Coombes

The Longest Country Mile – Alan Gilmour

The Old Condamine   –  Virginia Hermel

They Built It On A Dream   – Peter McDonald

The Window Seat  –  Savannah Sharpe, Lyn Bowtell

This Drought Won’t Break Me – Garry Jones

Threeways  –  Kevin Sullivan

Wildflowers On The Outback – Alice Benfer, Gregory M Dillon

Workin’ Folks –  Catherine Lehnen, Michael Lehnen

 

YOUTH SECTION

Bloody Hands – Ellerie-Rose Armstrong-Kearns

Graveyard –  Tilly Rose Bosworth

I Thought I Had It All Figured Out – Lucy Beveridge

Little Dear – Lucy Beveridge

Movie Of Us – Aaliah Skuse, Regan Farrell

Sammy – Ellerie-Rose Armstrong-Kearns

Waiting On The Rain – Jack Gregory When You Learn To Let Go – Lucy Beveridge

ALT SECTION (BALLAD/ROCK)

A Little Less –  Tilly Rose Bosworth, Jay Santilli

Autumn Baby  – Becci Nethery

Behind Closed Doors – Shaza Leigh, Kat

Crimson – Shanleigh Carey

Cut Green – Leigh Wilkinson, Diana Davis

Devil’s Telephone  –    Lucie Tiger O’Connor

Did We Quit Too Soon – Tina Pettaras

Faces At The Races  –   Bennie Bishop

Fools Rush In  – Sandy Louise, Campbell Fry

Gravity   –  Crystal Robins

Hearts Drawn in the Sand –  Dianne Coombes

I Thought I Had It All Figured Out  – Lucy Beveridge

I Love You, Did You Know That? –  Becci Nethery, Mary VI Harrison

Let’s Get Crazy  – Brendan McMahon,  Felicity Urquhart

Livin A Country Song – Jackson Renshaw, Brendon Warmsley Looking Out My Window –  Steve  Jackson, Richard Cooke Love Like Me – Robert Derschow Ornaments  –  Tamsin Lancaster, Max Jackson Prayin’ Courage  –  Amber Kenny,  Lyn Bowtell Psycho  – Tamsin Lancaster, Nick Zaharias Ripples On a Pond  –  Dianne Coombes Rumours – Shanleigh Carey, Riley Carey Small Town with a Big Heart  –  Dianne Coombes, Angus Gill Start Again –  Pat Kenny, Kelsey Berrington Stay For One More –  Michael Ferguson Storytellers – Bruce Mackay,  Anthony Snape Sweet Summer – Kate (Dunn) Ballantyne, Melody Pool The Catch  –  John Stokes The Rain Is Steady  –  Abigail Wighton The Roustabout – Bruce Mackay, Anthony Snape Warrior – Kate (Dunn) Ballantyne, Sandy Summers,  Angela Easson We Feel The Fire –  Dusty Starr Wildflowers – Ian Burns,  Lyn Bowtell Wild For The Country  – Susan Muranty, Elizabeth Usher

LYRICS SECTION

Another Piece of You – Kathleen (Kath) Stewart

Australia Has It All – Colin Fraser

Bigger Than Texas – Matthew Carey

Bush Lemon Love –  Alice Benfer

Can’t Hold Onto Time – Russell Leeming

Carved In Time –  Alice Benfer, Sam Hawksley

Coober Pedy – Kupa Piti – Terry Bennetts

Down Through The Seasons – Alice Benfer, Brendan Smoother

Each Time His Lid Was Doffed – Kevin Pye

Half Metal, Half Memory  – Shebie King

Heroes of the Highway – Kathleen (Kath) Stewart

Holding Horses For The Farrier – Natasha Van de Kaa

I’m Coming Home – Mark Rigney

It’s Just A Matter When – Kevin Pye

It All Comes Back to Me – Kevin Pye

It Takes All Night – Marion Shilo

Kelly Dixon – Kevin Pye

Macca Was a Good One – Kevin Pye

Old Bill – Christine Eccleston

Rain Will Fall –  Dianne Coombes

Take It From Here – Christine Eccleston

The Ballad of Cathryn Jean – Kathleen (Kath) Stewart, Anne Fraser

The Bugle In His Mind  – Kathleen (Kath) Stewart, Christine Eccleston

The Causeway  –  Diana Davis

The Soldiers Battle   –  Colin Fraser

This Old Dog of Mine –  Kevin Pye

Train Bound For Nowhere  – Shebie King

Pretty Sally Behind The Bar – Christine Eccleston

Territory Kiss – Christine Eccleston

When I Wear That Hat – Lloyd Back

Who’ll Sing Australia Now – Brooke Seabrook

OPEN SECTION

Amends – Amber Kenny, Jane Bach, Alyssa Trahan

A New Era – Sandy Louise McNaughton, Michele Anne Heatherington

Blackfire Hill – Mark Rigney

Come Out, Come Out – Neil McCann, John Littrich

Harvest Moon –  Lucie Tiger O’Connor, Mark Narmore, Stephanie C. Brown

I’ve Already Fallen – Wendy Wood

Love Can Fool You – Ava Bizzanelli, Allan Caswell

Moth To A Flame – Ava Bizzanelli

My Love, He Drives The Nullabor Tonight – Wendy Wood

Shelter – Neil McCann, John Littrich

Side of My Heart – Ava Bizzanelli

Skin And Bones – Janine Garvey, Eric Collier

Something We Know – Alice Cotton, David Garnham

Stars – Neil McCann, John Littrich

Storytellers – Bruce Mackay, Anthony Snape

Sweet – Beth Compton

The Roustabout – Bruce Mackay, Anthony Snape

Upper Class Bogan –Owen Smith, Matt Scullion

Whatever Floats Your Boat – Shelly Jones, Lester Treuer

What I Deserved – Beth Compton

TSA NEW SONGWRITER

Barefoot On The Dirt – Paul Ricketts

Beautiful Girl – Tina Pettaras

Change – Linda  Mizzi

Faces at the Races – Bennie Bishop

Flowers – Crystal Robins

I Feel You – Gabriella Forman

Let Him Go – Linda Mizzi

Masquerade – Coral Renee

Stay For One More  – Michael Ferguson

Till The End Of The Night – Jax Tonic, Michael Carpenter

Two Feet – Sally Pottinger

Sister – Amber Kenny, Syd Green

Take Me Back – Iain Mumford

That’ll Do Me Just Fine – Darren Gillis

Two Dollar Lair  – Colin Fraser

Vase – Tamsin Lancaster

Waiting On The Rain – Jack Gregory

Whisper Through the Trees – Johnny Voegeler