Also visit Maldon Minstrel Award

Roddy Read Memorial Song Writing Award

The Roddy Read Memorial Song Writing Award is an integral part of the Maldon Folk Festival. Both professional and amateur budding songwriters are invited to apply.

Countdown to Entry Closing

Again, the winner of the Roddy Read Memorial Songwriting Award will receive a FL1AC dreadnought guitar courtesy of our generous sponsors, Cole Clark.

This song writing contest commemorates the long-standing contribution to the festival by the late Roddy Read. Roddy was the masterful, witty, humourous, ‘no-nonsense’ MC of the festival concerts for many years.

Previous Winners

2011 Olivia Hally & Pepita Emmerichs (Oh Pep!) "Hanging Around"
2010 Lauren Lee Williams
2009 Tony English
2008 Geoff McArthur ‘Sparkle and Shine’
2007 Rose Bygrave ‘Erarerama’
2006 Neil Robertson ‘Celebration’
2005 Heidi Hibberd ‘Lyndee I Have Lost Your Number’
2004 Mark Cryle ‘Anytime You’d Fall’
2003 Caithlin Meave ‘Buddha and Steel’
2002 Bruce Watson ‘Dad’s Clothes’
2001 Bek Fletcher ‘Fly’
2000 Ben Smith ‘One Little Black Face’
1999 Graham Dodsworth ‘Excuse Me’
1998 Mark Jackson & Cassy Nunan ‘I Just Received’
1997 Tiffany Eckhardt ‘On My Knees’
1996 Geraldine Hughes ‘Caravans’
1995 Enda Kenny ‘My Own Road’
1994 Steve Dennis ‘Don’t Cry for Me’
1993 Don Cowling ‘The Ordinary Man’

Sadly, Roddy passed away in 1992 but hopefully this award will in some measure ensure that his contribution to Maldon is not forgotten. Featuring both professional and amateur songwriters, the contest has become a popular event for both performers and patrons.

Entrants submit their songs in advance of the festival for a selection of final songs for judging on the Saturday afternoon. The song judged the winner at this concert will be awarded a guitar, courtesy of our sponsors. They will also receive the unique Roddy Read trophy. In addition, the winner will perform their song at the Sunday Main Stage Concert and will be guaranteed a programmed gig at the following Maldon Folk Festival.

21 this year! 21 this year! Happy coming of age to the Maldon Folk Festival Roddy Read Memorial Songwriting Award 2013 about to celebrate its 21st birthday!

Put that insistent riff that's on rotation in your head to good use, drag out the nearly finished lyrics and complete the song that's been percolating for this past twelve months. Or enter 'something you prepared earlier' if you fancy***. Whatever you do songwriters all, shake off the Winter inertia and enter this year's Roddy Read. If performance isn't your niche but you write songs, then nominate someone to play your piece for you. The entry form and conditions of entry are downloadable below.

***Please, please read the conditions and instructions carefully to avoid disappointment and all the very, very best of luck.

How To Enter

Applications open on 1st July 2013.

You will need to submit:

A completed and signed, official entry form. Download the Roddy Read Award Entry Form.
A recording of the song, on cassette or CD, (playable on a standard CD player), with only the name of the song written on it as identification. Failure to comply will result in disqualification.
Note: No digital format files entries will be accepted, (eg: MP3 or wma).
A legible copy of the lyrics in English with only the name of the song written on it as identification. Failure to comply will result in disqualification.

Entry Fee
An entry fee of $15 per song.
Only cash, postal orders or cheques are accepted. (No EFTPOS available.) Make entry fee payable to: "Maldon Folk Festival"

Application Closing Date
Entries must be received at the address below, before closing date Friday September 6th, 2013.

Send To
   Roddy Read Memorial Songwriting Contest,
   98 St Georges Road,
   Northcote VIC 3070

More Information

Further details are available on the downloadable Roddy Read Award Entry Form. If you need any further clarification, contact the contest coordinator, Wendy Ealey, at the Roddy Read Memorial Songwriting Contest:
- Phone: (03) 9489 0504 or
- Email: wendyealey.mc@optusnet.com.au

2012 Songwriting Awards Report

2012 Winner: Michael Waugh
Winning Song: Heyfield Girls

Thanks to everyone who participated in the 2012 Roddy Read Memorial Songwriting Awards and the Minstrel Awards. The 2012 Roddy Read Memorial Songwriters Award finals concert - celebrating the 20th year of the award - was held on the Saturday of the festival in the Old Courthouse building. An acoustically divine venue, ever so slightly dusty with just the one entrant losing their seat... when it collapsed, but happily no stockings were laddered or injuries sustained.

The Courthouse still had the three judges 'thrones' and 'the dock' and was just dripping with atmosphere and a sense of history. It was a fantastic place and promises to be a superb venue for the future.

We decided to pass on using the dock, but took great pleasure in popping our very terrifying judges in their proper place. Our stalwart presiding judge Trevor Shard looked very natural and at ease in the position looming over the proceedings and his very generous and discerning companion judges Michelle Chandler and Marissa Yeaman added much pomp and ceremony to the afternoon.

In actual fact there was a sad lack of pomp or ceremony throughout the afternoon and audience, song presenters and judges alike had a thoroughly enjoyable time. The beauty of the event is the camaraderie among the people who have entered their songs and there is such an atmosphere of support and goodwill in the room that the competitive aspect of the event is all but forgotten as people enjoyed the diverse array of songs and the huge amount of writing and performing talent.

I am always so glad not to be a judge and this year I was especially so. There were quite a few songs which called for a bit of eye dabbing, some funny numbers and some pretty slick 'licks'. A great variety for everyone to enjoy. But there had to be a winner and everyone was very much at peace with the judges' choice - that choice being the song 'Heyfield Girls'. A right little tear jerker, tenderly rendered and beautifully sung by its writer Michael Waugh.

Thanks to the committee and to Cole Clarke for the truly beautiful guitar which Michael was delighted to formerly adopt at the presentation the next day. And thanks to all those who entered a song as well as the brave souls who performed on the day, the esteemed judges on the shortlisting panels as well as on they day, and the very supportive and lively audience. A truly wonderful afternoon's music.

Entries for 2012 open in July so I hope everyone is hard at work penning, plucking and plinking their way to a crop of new and wonderful songs to enter in this year's Award.

Have a great year everyone and see you in the Spring!

Wendy Ealey, Coordinator, Songwriting Contests, Maldon Folk Festival

top Back