Thank you on behalf of The Probus Club of Mount Waverley for the great repertoire performance you gave of the Bush Balladeer’s stories and poems.
I have received many accolades from the Members who thoroughly enjoyed your presentation of early bygone days life in the Australian bush, as many members could relate to their early days growing up and hearing those stories.
Rob Trembath // The Probus Club of Mount Waverley
Thank you Don for facilitating the Positive Ageing Forum to open our 2023 Monash Seniors Festival. Your professionalism, warmth and humour contributed to a successful and enjoyable event.
Terry Larkman, Acting Coordinator Social Inclusion Community Services // MONASH COUNCIL
We would like to extend our deepest gratitude for your wonderfully engaging performance held on the11th October as part of the 2023 Bayside Healthy Ageing Seniors Festival.
Throughout the day we were thrilled to welcome around 50 guests, and it was genuinely heartwarming to see our seniors out and about, laughing and enjoying the event. We have received a lot of positive feedback including:
This event was most enjoyable, realistic, down to earth, and historic.
Powerful and moving oratory, discussion, history & great Australian poetry. Don`s presentation is strong, animated and moving. Bring him back please.
Don's memory is phenomenal. Thoroughly enjoyed his performance.
Most enjoyable and a hearty good laugh. I would go and attend one of Don' session anytime or anywhere. Well done with your choice.
2023 Bayside Healthy Ageing Seniors Festival
It was great that you could entertain us at our recent luncheon at the Brisbane Treasury.
We especially loved the poem Turbulance, and the one about the husband who found out why his wife was having so many babies.
Don, you were just great.
Merle Grundy, Secretary // wings away
Many thanks for your wonderful contribution to the ceilidh on Friday evening. We very much appreciated your willingness to share the great gift you have. The poem you selected was perfect: the story was dramatic and challenging and its conclusion was incredibly moving. Lawson was indeed something of a genius, and his poetry gathers force when recited to an appreciative audience.
The Melbourne Scots // Kooyong Tennis Club
Don was outstanding in his Bush Poetry Presentation to our Probus Club 60 members. He had our members in rapture throughout his one hour presentation as was witnessed by the standing ovation he so richly deserved at the conclusion of his presentation. The mixture of Bush poems by such well known such as poets Banjo Paterson and Henry Lawson with some of the newer Bush Poetry was great!
A number of members said Don was the best ever Speaker we have had at our Probus --and we have had some outstanding speakers over our 31 year history.
Roger Wilson OAM // President Beaumaris Probus Club
Sincere thanks for delivering a very interesting and entertaining talk to the Probus Club of Donvale Hill today. I have already had a number of members expressing their appreciation and enjoyment listening to your presentation of genuine Australian poetry and the background history of our famous poets and writers. We could have enjoyed listening to your presentation much longer but the venue is booked for a callisthenics class in the afternoon.
I am sure those who were present will be passing their favourable comments to other friends and family members. I have already started listening to your CD’s which I am sure will give me and members of my family much enjoyment in the future.
Peter Podolak
On behalf of the Combined Probus Club of Burwood East Inc., I would like to extend our sincere thanks for your Poetry presentation to our members.
It was a great presentation and I will definitely view those plastic chairs with suspicion from now on.
Everyone had a good laugh.
Darryl Foulds
Just a quick note to let you know that the members of the Combined Probus Club of Burwood thoroughly enjoyed your presentation on Wednesday the 3rd. 'Best speaker we've ever had' was mentioned to me several times, particularly one from the former Speaker co-ordinator who'd been doing this job for many years. You've done me proud Don!
John Deray // Speaker Co-ordinator, Combined Probus Club of Burwood
Don had them eating out of his hand, hanging off every word!
Just wanted to say a huge THANKYOU for doing such a great job entertaining 200 plus Lions at our Regional Conference Dinner at Marysville. Don, you were truly amazing the way you held the audience's captive attention for 45 minutes! They 'hung' off every word, and you could hear a pin drop when you were reciting those classics, and the room erupted with applause at the end of each poem. Many said you were 'just brilliant' as they left, and were still talking about you the next morning... Personally, I can't wait to book you again for another event soon! Many, many thanks!!
Graham Taylor // President, Marysville and District Lions Club Inc
A large part of the success of the Conference was the team bonding that started the event off through your Bush Poetry you very eloquently recited and entertained us with on our first evening. It was immediately clear from the atmosphere you created and the rapt attention of the audience that you are a master of your art. That wonderful Australian Poetry in that valley setting helped get the next few days off to a perfect start. We also greatly appreciated your judging of our own Bush Poetry competition and your encouragement of our amateur poets.
Richard Forrester // Insurance & Investment Division, Bendigo Bank
On behalf of the Rotary Club of Heidelberg, I wish to thank you for such a great performance at our function last night. Members and guests greatly enjoyed the range of poetry you presented in such an engaging way; it really captured the Spirit of Australia that we all love.
Bruce Nichols // the Rotary Club of Heidelberg
You recite those great Australian poems in a way that makes them sound as if that was always the way they were meant to be heard. It was inspirational stuff.
Murray Verso // Club President // Rotary Club of Williamstown
The standing ovation from the almost 900 delegates to our conference was something I had not seen at a Rotary Conference before, it was a shame that your following commitment to the game of cricket did not allow you to stay for an encore; however once they had the taste for your poetry and the way it was delivered you may never have got away!
John Davis // Distric Govenernor. Rotary District 9800 Inc
What a pleasure it was to have you perform at our Conference Network Annual Dinner. You helped make the night a success with your recital as the Bush Poet and for this I would like to thank you. The audience was captivated throughout by your eloquently and passionately narrated poems from our great Australian heritage.
Jennifer Hutchison // CEO. Yarra Valley & The Dandenongs Marketing
On behalf of the City of Monash I would like to thank Don for his contribution as Master of Ceremonies. Don had the audience engaged throughout the day, kept the stage schedule on track and was highly professional and organised. Thank you once again Don.